Elizabeth Layton, Buttons, 1982, graphite, colored pencil, and crayon on paper, 22 x 30 inches  

This exhibition chronicles the 15 years of Elizabeth Layton's remarkable, inspiring career. It opens with her first drawing, done at the age of 68 in her first and only art class, and closes with the drawing she was working on shortly before her death in 1993. By that time, Layton had created nearly 1,000 drawings and attracted a national following. Her one-person exhibitions have been shown in art centers and museums in more than 200 communities across the country and featured in such respected institutions as the Smithsonian's National Museum of American Art in Washington, D.C., and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

By learning to draw at the age of 68, Layton came to terms with a three-year depression. Once the managing editor of the newspaper in her hometown of Wellsville, Kansas, Layton's interest in timely and frequently controversial social issues was reflected in drawings that also served as intensely personal self-portraits. Although many of these works deal with issues such as women's rights, aging, AIDS, censorship, and the right to die, Layton's message is presented with wit and charm, delighting as well as challenging viewers of all ages.

Elizabeth Layton: Face to Face includes previously exhibited favorites, as well as a significant number of drawings being shown for the first time. The exhibition is being curated by Don Lambert, who was the first to introduce Layton's work to the public and has guided exposure of her work ever since. The exhibition will be accompanied by a new book, brochures, and narrative labels with quotes from Layton related to each drawing. Mr. Lambert will be available to lecture and participate in other educational programming for the exhibition.