New cultural space honors the late ‘pop-art nun’ Corita Kent
CORITA KENT in 1970.
By Nancy Redford
The Corita Art Center (CAC) will open its new gallery and workshop site in the heart of the Los Angeles Arts District on March 8, 2025, at 811 Traction Ave. This will give visitors a chance to engage with the work of one of Los Angeles’ most significant cultural figures of the ’60s and ’70s — Corita Kent, a nun turned educator, artist and social justice activist.
“Corita was a pioneering artist who challenged societal norms and used her creativity to inspire reflection, connection and change,” said Nellie Scott, CAC executive director. “We are honored to open our doors to serve others at a time when Los Angeles, the nation and the world need Corita’s artwork, messages and social practice the most.”
The inaugural exhibition at the Center will debut the full suite of Kent’s “heroes and sheroes,” 29 prints that represent a pivotal moment in her artistic journey, made during the social upheaval of the late 1960s.
The gallery will also feature murals inspired by Kent’s artwork, created through collaborations with Los Angeles-based designers, sign painters and community organizations. These include a mural of Kent’s iconic “Ten Rules,” a set of guiding principles she co-authored with her students at Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles and murals inspired by her serigraphs In (1964) and Left (1967), which used directional street signs as source material.
Born Frances Elizabeth Kent in 1918, Corita entered the religious order of the Immaculate Heart of Mary as a young woman, taking Sister Mary Corita as her religious name. She became a teacher at Immaculate Heart College, eventually chairing its art department, and there began her path to printmaking in the 1950s. Her vibrant colors and bold imagery captured the nation’s attention. Her work was acquired by private collectors and numerous institutions, including The Museum of Modern Art in New York City, Museum of Fine Art in Boston, the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles and the Library of Congress.
SISTER CORITA Kent in her studio, around 1965.
Photo courtesy of Corita Art Center
In 1968 she took a sabbatical, released her vows and moved to the East Coast, choosing to go by the name of Corita. She was an independent artist until her death in 1986 at age 56 from cancer. Kent left her unsold works and copyrights to the Immaculate Heart community, which eventually funded the Corita Art Center (CAC) to honor and preserve her legacy for future generations.
In addition to providing a home for the artist’s work, the Center also features an archive and offers opportunities for collaborations with nonprofit and educational organizations. Staying true to Kent’s vision that art should be accessible to all, it will continue to offer free admission to all visitors.
Category: People
