Book excerpt: Wit, wisdom, and willfulness abound on page after page of this vibrant anthology with illustrations by Ellen Surrey and an introduction by Gloria Fowler. Featuring an unparalleled collection of real-life heroines of the art, design, and fashion industries, MID-CENTURY MODERN WOMEN IN THE VISUAL ARTS is a celebration of some of the most creative and successful females of that era and their societal contributions. Original, colorful, and hand-painted portraits of each of the twenty-five chosen role models portrayed in her characteristic setting are accompanied by a carefully selected quote: each lovely lady�s own words to live by. A short biography rounds out the introduction to each prominent figure of the 1930s to the 1960s, providing a key glimpse into the lives of such impressive women as renowned artist Yayoi Kusama and It�s a Small World designer Mary Blair. Discover Edith Head�s humor, Alma Thomas� gift for color, Vera Neumann�s inventive spirit, and Sister Corita Kent�s life advice. Including a brilliant range of well-known women and those who certainly should be, this compilation makes for a treasured gift of inspiration for tweens to adults, who will come to appreciate the contributions of Ruth Asawa, Edith Heath, Eva Zeisel, Florence Knoll, and many more.