Francis Lee Rogers, Painter of Central Park's Birds, Found Beaten to Death at 63
On Sunday, September 27, Francis Lee Rogers, a 63-year-old artist without a home known for her depictions of Central Park's birds and landscapes, was found brutally murdered beneath the gazebo she considered her residence. According to law enforcement sources speaking to the New York Post, Rogers had been killed, but the New York Police Department has yet to confirm her identity to Hyperallergic due to the ongoing investigation. A well-known figure in the park, especially in the Ramble, she often painted and observed birds. Robert "Birding Bob" DeCandido remarked to Hyperallergic, "We referred to her as the Grandma Moses of Central Park." Rogers, who lived a challenging life and used various aliases, was featured in Karen Gehres's 2007 documentary, Begging Naked. Her tragic death highlights the risks faced by unhoused artists in New York City.
Key facts
- Francis Lee Rogers, a 63-year-old artist, was found beaten to death on Sunday, September 27.
- She was unhoused and lived under a gazebo in Central Park.
- Law enforcement sources told the New York Post she had been killed; the NYPD could not confirm her identity to Hyperallergic due to the ongoing investigation.
- Rogers was known for painting birds and locations in Central Park, especially the Ramble.
- Robert "Birding Bob" DeCandido called her "the Grandma Moses of Central Park" and said she did not seek attention.
- She used multiple names during her life, including Elise Bainbridge Hill.
- As Elise Bainbridge Hill, she was the subject of Karen Gehres's 2007 documentary Begging Naked.
- In the documentary, she recounted running away from home as a teen, surviving as a sex worker, overcoming heroin addiction, and pursuing art.
Entities
Artists
- Francis Lee Rogers
- Elise Bainbridge Hill
- Grandma Moses
- Karen Gehres
- Robert "Birding Bob" DeCandido
Institutions
- New York Post
- Hyperallergic
- New York Police Department
Locations
- Central Park
- New York City
- New York
- United States
- Ramble