Mary Pinchot Meyer: Abstract Painter and JFK's Final Mistress
Mary Pinchot Meyer, an American abstract artist born in New York in 1920, was tragically murdered in Georgetown in 1964. Known for being John F. Kennedy's last mistress, her personal life often eclipsed her artistic achievements. She began her education at Vassar College and later attended the Art Students League, initially pursuing journalism before dedicating herself to painting. After relocating to Washington, D.C. with her husband, CIA official Cord Meyer, she sought authenticity in her work, famously declaring, "In my paintings, color is the form." Her 1963 showcase at Jefferson Place Gallery received critical acclaim. Meyer was fatally shot while jogging in 1964; Ray Crump faced trial but was acquitted, leaving her case unresolved and cutting short her promising career in a male-dominated field.
Key facts
- Mary Pinchot Meyer was an American abstract painter (1920-1964).
- She was the last mistress of President John F. Kennedy.
- She was murdered in 1964 in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., a year after JFK's assassination.
- She studied at Vassar College and the Art Students League of New York.
- She was married to CIA official Cord Meyer.
- A signature of her work was the use of circular canvases (tondi).
- She exhibited at the Jefferson Place Gallery in Washington in 1963.
- Ray Crump was tried and acquitted for her murder; the case remains unsolved.
Entities
Artists
- Mary Pinchot Meyer
- Marianna Santonicola
Institutions
- Vassar College
- Art Students League of New York
- Jefferson Place Gallery
- Smithsonian American Art Museum
- John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
- Artribune
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Georgetown
- Washington, D.C.
- Boston
- Italy