Wilton, Anna Elizabeth Keener, 1895-1982

Artist, educator. Born in 1895 in Flager, Colorado. Received her B.F.A. (1916) and her B.A. (1918) from Bethany College in Linsborg, Kansas. Received M.A. from the University of New mexico, Albuquerque in 1951. Also studied at the Kansas City Art Institute, Chicago Art Institute, and Detroit School of Design. Was an internationally recognized and honored artist. Life Fellow of the International Institute of Arts & Letters. Charter member of the Art of American Society. In addition to these organizations, she was a member of numerous educational and art organizations. Her art centered around the Southwest and Navajo culture. She taught on secondary and college levels in New Mexico and at Bethany College in Linsborg, Kansas.

An artist and educator, Anna was born in 1895 in Flager, Colorado. She received B.F.A. (1916) and B.A. (1918) degrees from Bethany College in Linsborg, Kansas, and received her M.A. from the University of New Mexico (Albuquerque) in 1951. She also studied at the Kansas City Art Institute, Chicago Art Institute, and Detroit School of Design. Anna used her maiden name "Keener" for her artistic endeavors but was known as Mrs. Anna Wilton in her teaching and scholarly pursuits. She was an internationally recognized and honored artist. The Southwest in general and Navajo culture in particular served as a focus for her work. Written works include Spontaneity in Design (1923), describing the "scribble" approach to design. Anna was a Life Fellow of the International Institute of Arts and Letters and a charter member of the Art of American Society. In addition to these organizations, she was a member of numerous educational and art organizations. Her experiences as an educator ranged from a rural New Mexico one-room schoolhouse to the campus of Eastern New Mexico University in Portales. Anna Keener (Wilton) also taught at secondary schools and colleges in Kansas. She actively promoted art in education and everyday life and was among the organizers of the New Mexico Arts Commission. As a member of Artists Equity, Inc., Anna worked for legislation to establish a National Council of the Arts. She died in 1982.