Mary Blair original concept painting of It's a Small World ride. Original concept painting of two African boys seated on an elephant. Accomplished in oil on a 10 in. x 13 ¼ in. illustration board. After a stellar career at Walt Disney Studios, Mary Blair left Disney in February 1953 to become a freelance artist. At the request of Walt Disney, she returned to the Studio in the early 1960s to design the "It's a Small World" Pavilion for the 1964 World's Fair. After the Fair the pavilion was moved to Disneyland and became the It's a Small World ride that is still one of the most popular attractions in the park. This project represented a new pinnacle in Mary Blair's career. After a decade of freelance jobs that rarely challenged her – here was a project she deeply cared about, working for Walt Disney who always inspired her best work. Pinholes at corners.