Sawyer, Lelia G. (American, 1883-1977) Oil Painting. “Floral Still Life.” Oil on canvas. Signed lower right L. Sawyer. Each year the Leila Gardin Sawyer Memorial Awards are awarded to artists through organizations such as the American Artists Professional League and National Association of Women Artists to advance the cause of the fine arts, support, and to encourage women artists through exhibition opportunities, educational programs, a slide registry, and maintenance of an historic archive. Founded in 1889, The National Association of Women Artist is the oldest fine arts organization in support of women artists in the United States. In good condition. Measures 24” x 36”. Frame measures 29 ” x 41 ”.

From The Hour – Norwalk, CT Newspaper “For Leila Sawyer Whose Light Was Hidden” - Feb. 27, 1979: Leila Sawyer painted her immediate environment, flowers, the appointment of her home, view from her widows, and familiar scenes in New York City., France and Westport. Having studied with two well-known American painters, William Metrit Chase and Charles Gilber, she painted with poetic vision, wit and character. She lived and studied also in Chicago, Berlin, Fountainbleu and in Paris at the Ecoles des Beaux Arts. Born in 1883, Leila Sawyer was the daughter of Alice Tilton, an accomplished artist in her own right who had studied in Paris and Berlin where she and John Gardin, Leila’s father had set the Fourth of July as their wedding day in a gesture of patriotism to the U.S. Leila;s sister and brother-in-law were the well-known American artists, Laura Gardin Fraser and James Earle Fraser. Not wanting to capitalize on the Gardin name, she chose to be known professionally as Leila Sawyer. Early in her married life with Oliver Henry Sawyer, she lived in Greenwich Village where she painted many rooftop scenes. Following the death of her husband she moved to a Beekman Place apartment where her brush captured many moods and seasons of the East River area and the United Nations complex. Her Westport scenes included the surroundings of the her own home as well as that of the studio of James and Laura Gardin Fraser. Though Leila Sawyer had little interest in the commercial aspects of painting, once having lost a sale because of her unwillingness to set a price on a much-admired painting of eggs in a green china bowl, she nonetheless accepted a commission by the Shell Oil Co, to paint shells for placement in the salons of some of their ships. Her work managed to achieve a wide acclaim considering that she was greatly hampered by inordinate shyness and it is generally agreed she never received the public recognition her talents deserved. She participated in many organizations furthering the arts and served her communities as a member, exhibitor and by bequests upon her death on Dec. 30, 1977.