Emilie Touraine, is best known for her artwork during the “Symbolic Americana” era in the mid-1960s. This period constituted her exploration of Native American ancient legends and their natural progression in the future. Her primary subject matter entails western scenes, such as horses, burros, birds, and ranch scenes.
Touraine was born on September 1, 1939 in New York, New York and predominantly raised in different regions of California. Her artistic career began in 1960 when her family moved to Scottsdale, Arizona where she would reside the next twenty years. During her time in Northern Arizona, she lived for periods of time with the traditional Hopi people. Her time spent amongst the Native American way of life and culture is reflected in many of her pieces and her reverence for their customs and traditions. Later in 1980, she moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Due to health reasons, Touraine traded her oil paints for acrylics.
Touraine won best in show and the directors’ award at the Pacific Northwest Indian Center Show and Auction in 1973. Her artworks went on to be in several exhibitions and private collections. The Montana Historical Society hosted a solo exhibition for Touraine in 1974. She was involved with the U.S. Pavilion at Expo ’73 in Spokane, Washington. Additionally, her work is in the collection of the Christlieb Foundation, Center of the Great Plains, Univeristy of Nebraska, and Great Plains Art Collection. Many of her pieces have also been reproduced into greeting cards by the Leanin’ Tree Publishing Company based out of Boulder, Colorado.
Emilie Touraine spent her late years in Corrales, New Mexico, passing away in 2019.
To view Emilie’s work, click here.