Chew on This: High School Humor: Grant Wood’s Early Illustrations and More
Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026 12:30 PM
High Schol Humor: Grant Wood’s Early Illustrations and More
Grant Wood was known to have a humorous side, as referenced in several of his artworks. However, that funny bone developed early and was featured in print during his high school days. Join Dr. Ranelle Knight-Lueth and Jackie Banigan, both of whom work with the Grant Wood Catalogue Raisonné (GWCR) project, to explore the teenage humor crafted by Wood, Marvin Cone, and their classmates who illustrated and wrote for the school’s literary magazine and yearbook. These publications reveal the students’ intellectual refinement alongside their unflagging wit, while also connecting to pop-culture and art-world trends from the early 1900s. Knight-Lueth, who received her master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Iowa, serves as the GWCR project manager. Banigan, the project’s research assistant, is currently working on her PhD at the University of Iowa.
This program takes place at The History Center (800 2nd Ave SE)