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	'''Violet Oakley''' (June 10, 1874 – February 25, 1961) was an American muralist, illustrator, and artist ~~who became~~ the first American woman to receive a public mural commission. Based in Philadelphia ~~for most of her career~~, ~~Oakley was instrumental in bringing the mural arts tradition to~~ the city and state, ~~most notably~~ through her ~~extensive~~ work in the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg.		'''Violet Oakley''' (June 10, 1874 – February 25, 1961) was an American muralist, illustrator, and artist. She made history as the first American woman to receive a public mural commission. Based in Philadelphia, she transformed how the city and state approached mural arts, especially through her landmark work in the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg.

	== Early Life and Education ==		== Early Life and Education ==

	Oakley ~~was born in~~ Bergen Heights, New Jersey, ~~to a~~ family ~~with artistic inclinations—her~~ grandfather and father were both artists. She ~~studied~~ at the Art Students League of New York, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) in Philadelphia, ~~and~~ in England and France.<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Violet-Oakley \|title=Violet Oakley \|publisher=Britannica \|access-date=December 2025}}</ref>		Oakley came from Bergen Heights, New Jersey, born into an artistic family. Her grandfather and father were both artists, so she grew up around creative work. She trained at the Art Students League of New York, then at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) in Philadelphia. On top of that, she spent time studying in England and France.<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Violet-Oakley \|title=Violet Oakley \|publisher=Britannica \|access-date=December 2025}}</ref>

	At PAFA, she studied under Cecilia Beaux ~~and became~~ part of a circle of influential female artists. ~~She was deeply influenced by the~~ Pre-Raphaelite movement ~~and~~ the Arts and Crafts philosophy.		At PAFA she studied under Cecilia Beaux. She found herself part of a tight circle of influential female artists. The Pre-Raphaelite movement shaped her sensibilities, as did the Arts and Crafts philosophy. Both would influence her entire body of work.

	== Career ==		== Career ==
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	=== Pennsylvania State Capitol ===		=== Pennsylvania State Capitol ===

	~~Oakley's most significant~~ achievement ~~was her~~ murals for the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg. ~~Beginning~~ in 1902~~, she worked~~ on ~~this project for over two decades, creating~~:		Her biggest achievement? The murals for the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg. She started this monumental project in 1902 and spent more than twenty years on it. The work included:

	* '''Governor's Reception Room murals''' (1902-1906)		* '''Governor's Reception Room murals''' (1902-1906)
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	* '''Supreme Court Chamber murals''' (completed 1927)		* '''Supreme Court Chamber murals''' (completed 1927)

	~~Her work in the~~ Capitol made her the first woman to ~~receive~~ a public mural ~~commission~~ in America. ~~The murals address themes of~~ law, justice, religious freedom, and Pennsylvania's Quaker heritage.		These Capitol commissions made her the first woman to land a public mural contract in America. Not a small thing. Her designs tackled law, justice, religious freedom, and Pennsylvania's Quaker heritage. Every panel mattered.

	=== Other Notable Works ===		=== Other Notable Works ===
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	== Philadelphia Studio ==		== Philadelphia Studio ==

	~~Oakley maintained~~ her studio at "Cogslea," ~~a property~~ in the [[Mount Airy]] neighborhood of Philadelphia. ~~The studio, which~~ she shared with fellow artists Jessie Willcox Smith and Elizabeth Shippen Green, became a ~~center of~~ artistic ~~activity~~ and ~~mentorship~~.		She ran her studio at "Cogslea," located in the [[Mount Airy]] neighborhood of Philadelphia. But she didn't work alone there. She shared the space with fellow artists Jessie Willcox Smith and Elizabeth Shippen Green. The place became known as a hub for artistic innovation and for training younger artists.

	~~The~~ three women~~, known as~~ the "Red Rose Girls" ~~for~~ the roses ~~that grew~~ at their home~~, formed~~ one of the most successful artistic collaborations of the early ~~20th~~ century.		These three women earned the nickname "Red Rose Girls" because of the roses blooming at their home. Their partnership was one of the most successful artistic collaborations of the early twentieth century. Real chemistry between them.

	== Activism and Later Life ==		== Activism and Later Life ==

	~~Beyond her art,~~ Oakley ~~was passionate~~ about international peace and women's suffrage. She ~~attended the~~ League of Nations conferences in Geneva and ~~created artwork supporting~~ the peace movement.		Oakley cared deeply about international peace and women's suffrage. She traveled to League of Nations conferences in Geneva and produced work that championed the peace movement. Her activism wasn't separate from her art; it was woven through everything she did.

	She ~~continued~~ working into her eighties ~~and died~~ in Philadelphia in 1961. ~~Her estate and many works are preserved at the~~ Woodmere Art Museum in Philadelphia.		She kept working well into her eighties. Death came in Philadelphia in 1961. The Woodmere Art Museum in Philadelphia now holds her estate and preserves many of her works.

	== Legacy ==		== Legacy ==

	Violet Oakley~~'s contributions include~~:		Violet Oakley changed things. Her impact includes:

	* ~~Breaking barriers~~ for women in public art commissions		* Opening doors for women in public art commissions
	* Creating some of ~~the~~ most significant murals ~~in Pennsylvania history~~		* Creating some of Pennsylvania's most significant murals
	* ~~Influencing~~ generations of Philadelphia artists		* Teaching and inspiring generations of Philadelphia-based artists
	* ~~Advancing~~ the mural arts tradition that ~~continues~~ in Philadelphia ~~today~~ through the [[Mural Arts Program]]		* Strengthening the mural arts tradition that's still alive in Philadelphia through the [[Mural Arts Program]]

	== See Also ==		== See Also ==

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{{Infobox person
|name = Violet Oakley
|image =
|birth_date = June 10, 1874
|birth_place = Bergen Heights, New Jersey
|death_date = February 25, 1961
|death_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
|occupation = Muralist, illustrator, artist
|years_active = 1897–1960
|notable_works = Pennsylvania State Capitol murals, Philadelphia Academy of the Fine Arts
}}

'''Violet Oakley''' (June 10, 1874 – February 25, 1961) was an American muralist, illustrator, and artist who became the first American woman to receive a public mural commission. Based in Philadelphia for most of her career, Oakley was instrumental in bringing the mural arts tradition to the city and state, most notably through her extensive work in the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg.

== Early Life and Education ==

Oakley was born in Bergen Heights, New Jersey, to a family with artistic inclinations—her grandfather and father were both artists. She studied at the Art Students League of New York, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) in Philadelphia, and in England and France.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Violet-Oakley |title=Violet Oakley |publisher=Britannica |access-date=December 2025}}</ref>

At PAFA, she studied under Cecilia Beaux and became part of a circle of influential female artists. She was deeply influenced by the Pre-Raphaelite movement and the Arts and Crafts philosophy.

== Career ==

=== Pennsylvania State Capitol ===

Oakley's most significant achievement was her murals for the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg. Beginning in 1902, she worked on this project for over two decades, creating:

* '''Governor's Reception Room murals''' (1902-1906)
* '''Senate Chamber murals''' (1911-1920)
* '''Supreme Court Chamber murals''' (completed 1927)

Her work in the Capitol made her the first woman to receive a public mural commission in America. The murals address themes of law, justice, religious freedom, and Pennsylvania's Quaker heritage.

=== Other Notable Works ===

* Murals at the Church of All Angels, New York
* Illustrations for major publications
* Portraits and other paintings held in museum collections
* Stained glass designs

== Philadelphia Studio ==

Oakley maintained her studio at "Cogslea," a property in the [[Mount Airy]] neighborhood of Philadelphia. The studio, which she shared with fellow artists Jessie Willcox Smith and Elizabeth Shippen Green, became a center of artistic activity and mentorship.

The three women, known as the "Red Rose Girls" for the roses that grew at their home, formed one of the most successful artistic collaborations of the early 20th century.

== Activism and Later Life ==

Beyond her art, Oakley was passionate about international peace and women's suffrage. She attended the League of Nations conferences in Geneva and created artwork supporting the peace movement.

She continued working into her eighties and died in Philadelphia in 1961. Her estate and many works are preserved at the Woodmere Art Museum in Philadelphia.

== Legacy ==

Violet Oakley's contributions include:

* Breaking barriers for women in public art commissions
* Creating some of the most significant murals in Pennsylvania history
* Influencing generations of Philadelphia artists
* Advancing the mural arts tradition that continues in Philadelphia today through the [[Mural Arts Program]]

== See Also ==
* [[Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts]]
* [[Mount Airy]]
* [[Woodmere Art Museum]]
* [[Mural Arts Program]]

== References ==
<references />

{{#seo:
|title=Violet Oakley - Philadelphia Wiki
|description=Violet Oakley, pioneering muralist and first American woman to receive a public mural commission, known for Pennsylvania State Capitol murals.
|keywords=Violet Oakley, Philadelphia artist, muralist, Pennsylvania State Capitol, PAFA, women artists, Mount Airy
|type=Article
}}

[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Artists]]
[[Category:Women in History]]
[[Category:Mount Airy]]

Violet Oakley - Revision history

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