Since her birth in 1918, Frances Elizabeth Kent, otherwise known as Corita Kent or Sister Mary Corita Kent, lived many lives. A former nun, teacher, activist, and artist, her legacy is one deeply rooted in love, tolerance, and her faith.
Her art was her activism. Heavily text-based, vibrantly coloured screen prints incorporated popular branding, slogans, and signage, as well as clippings from newspapers, lyrics, poetry, and scripture. These familiar words were used verbatim, often in large paragraphs, with each piece spreading a message.
Sharing anti-war sentiments, expressions of acceptance, and encouraging kindness, Kent’s style shocks with shade whilst inspiring a closer look at the smaller segments of text.
Honouring her works, Bauer Pottery offers a selection of Kent’s pieces in tile form. From the simple “Love Heart” and “Love is Hard Work” to a series of the iconic Wonder Bread designs, these tiles offer a little of her loveliness to fans new and old.
A new post by Hanna Simpson, Diary of a Tile Addict, January 2025.