Hilda Thorpe

Hilda Shapiro Thorpe (1919–2000) was an American sculptor and painter. Thorpe taught a generation of metro Washington, D.C. artists.

Life Thorpe was born Hilda Gottlieb on December 1, 1919, in Baltimore. She was a prolific artist who did not start working professionally until she was nearly 40 and had raised three children. Despite her association with the Washington Color School, Thorpe also used watercolor techniques that she learned from her travels which makes her work also part of the Abstract Expressionist movement.

Thorpe began teaching at American University in 1971 as part of the sculpture faculty. Thorpe also taught at other schools in the area, including Northern Virginia Community College and Mount Vernon Seminary and Junior College.