Collection: Jennie Lea Knight

Jennie Lea Knight (1933–2007) was a prominent Washington, D.C.-area artist, best known as an abstract sculptor whose work drew significant inspiration from natural forms. A native of Washington, D.C., she studied at institutions including the Institute of Contemporary Arts (with Ken Noland) and American University, where she later became an instructor, also teaching at the Corcoran School. In 1956, she co-founded Studio Gallery in Alexandria, Virginia, one of Northern Virginia's first professional galleries, and by 1964 she was concentrating exclusively on sculpture, often working in bronze using the lost-wax method and large-scale, minimalist wood forms. Her work is included in major collections such as the Smithsonian American Art Museum and The Phillips Collection, and she served as chief of installation for the American Pavilion at the 1972 Venice Biennale.