27 Facts About Margaret Keane

Margaret Keane mainly painted women, children, or animals in oil or mixed media.

Margaret Keane Doris Hawkins was born elder of the two children of David Hawkins and Jessie Hawkins on September 15,1927, in Nashville, Tennessee.

Margaret Keane started drawing as a child and, at age 10, she took classes at the Watkins Institute in Nashville.

When she was 10 years old, Margaret Keane painted her first oil portrait of two little girls, one crying and one laughing, and gave the painting to her grandmother.

Margaret Keane began work painting clothing and baby cribs in the 1950s until she finally began a career painting portraits.

Margaret Keane worked in both acrylic and oil-based paints, with the subject of her artwork limited to women, children, and familiar animals.

Margaret Keane said that he began selling her characteristic "big eyes" paintings immediately but, unknown to her, claimed it was his own work.

Margaret Keane took nine paintings to New Orleans, which he claimed to have sold during Mardi Gras.

In 1970, Margaret Keane announced on a radio broadcast she was the real creator of the paintings that had been attributed to her ex-husband Walter Keane.

Walter declined, citing a sore shoulder, whereas Margaret Keane completed her painting in 53 minutes.

Margaret Keane said she didn't care about the money, and just wanted to establish the fact that she had done the paintings.

The artworks Margaret Keane created while living in the shadow of her husband tended to depict sad-looking children in dark settings.

Margaret Keane's art was bought and presented to the United Nations Children's Fund in 1961 by the Prescolite Manufacturing Corporation.

In 2018, Margaret Keane received a lifetime achievement award at the LA Art Show.

Margaret Keane's paintings are recognizable due to the oversized, doe-like eyes of her subjects.

Margaret Keane said she was always interested in the eyes and used to draw them in her school books.

Margaret Keane began painting her signature "Keane eyes" when she started painting portraits of children.

Margaret Keane focused on the eyes, as they show the inner person more.

Margaret Keane attributed Amedeo Modigliani's work as a major influence on the way she painted women from 1959 on.

Margaret Keane left Walter in 1964, divorcing him a year later, and then relocating from San Francisco to Hawaii.

In Hawaii, Margaret Keane became a devout Jehovah's Witness, which she remained throughout her life.

Margaret Keane credited her faith and reading the Bible for giving the courage to speak the truth about her art.

Margaret Keane credited McGuire with helping her to become less timid and afraid after her divorce from Walter.

Margaret Keane lived in Hawaii for more than 25 years before returning to California in 1991.

Margaret Keane resided in Napa County, California, with her daughter Jane and son-in-law Don Swigert.

In 2017, at the age of 90, Margaret Keane began hospice care while still living in her home.

Margaret Keane died from heart failure at her home in Napa, California, on June 26,2022, at the age of 94.