Ella King Torrey
American scholar and academic administrator (1957–2003)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ella King Torrey (1957–2003), was an American academic administrator, professional fundraiser, arts advocate, and art historian.[1][2] She was president of San Francisco Art Institute from 1995 to 2002;[3][4] and was known for creating opportunities for visual artists.
Ella King Torrey | |
|---|---|
| President of San Francisco Art Institute | |
| In office 1995 – April 2002 | |
| Preceded by | William O. Barrnett |
| Succeeded by | Larry Thomas |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 21, 1957 Bronxville, New York (state), United States |
| Died | April 30, 2003 (aged 45) San Francisco, California, United States |
| Relations | Ella King Russell Torrey (mother) |
| Education | Yale University, University of Mississippi |
| Occupation | Academic administrator, professional fundraiser, arts advocate, art historian |
Early life and education
Ella King Torrey was born in 1957, in Bronxville in Westchester County, New York (state).[2] She grew up both in Evansville, Indiana, and in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[2] Her mother was Ella King Russell Torrey.[4]
She graduated in art history in 1980, from Yale University.[2] Her thesis was on the cultural effects of Barbie dolls.[1][2][5] Torrey continued her studies at the University of Mississippi (UM), where deepened her learning on contemporary folk art, and Black quilt making traditions.[2] While attending UM, Torrey worked with the Center for the Study of Southern Culture, and curated a traveling exhibition on folk art toys.[6] Her master's thesis was on folk art painter, Theora Hamblett.[2]
Career
After graduating in 1985, Torrey became a program officer at the Pew Charitable Trusts in Philadelphia, an NGO working on the creation of artists' subsidized housing, and fundraising for local music organizations.[2][7] During her time at Pew, she founded and led the Pew Artists Fellowship Program.[2]
In 1995, Torrey was elected president of the San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI), where she worked to amend some of the structural problems related to the organizational finances.[2] During her time at SFAI, she tripled the schools endowment, added a few new trustees, and generally improved the school's reputation.[2][3] Torrey resigned in 2002, as SFAI faced financial problems, and after an auditing firm found irregularities in 2001.[2][3]
She died on April 30, 2003, at the age of 45, in her home in the Potrero Hill neighborhood in San Francisco.[3][4] The cause of death was not disclosed;[2] however, some news reports attributed her death to suicide.[4][8][9] Her memorial service was held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, with a second service was held at the Santa Monica Museum of Art (now Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles).[4]
After her death the Ella King Torrey Arts Fund was created at the Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia.[4] Her collection of quilts from 1980 to 1983, the Ella King Torrey Collection of African American Quilts, are now part of the collection at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.