(b. 1897; d. 1996)
Born and raised in the Gunnison country, Ila McAfee is acknowledged for her paintings of horses, mountain landscapes, and southwestern scenes. She was raised on a ranch and constantly surrounded by horses, which was reflected in her drawings from a young age. Her years spent in the west were a constant influence throughout her artistic career and can be seen through her choice of subjects.
McAfee graduated from Gunnison High School and went on to receive a formal art education in Los Angeles from the Haz Art School. In addition, she moved to New York to take classes at the National Academy of Design and the Art Students League. She eventually made her way back to Gunnison to study under Catherine and Henry Richter during her time at the Colorado State Normal School.
Following her marriage to Elmer Page Turner, the couple moved out to Taos, New Mexico in 1928. The pair of artists were intrigued by the town’s blossoming art scene. They established the White Horse Studio which functioned as their home and studio until 1993. While living in Taos, she became involved in the illustration of children’s books and continued to paint her favorite subject – horses.
Over the course of her career, she was commissioned by the Treasury Section of the Painting and Sculpture Program to complete four murals. One of which was in her hometown of Gunnison in the post office. The Wealth of the West illustrated a cattle drive which represents a staple of the community as well as the fortune and importance that was placed on the practice.
The last few years of her life were spent in Pueblo, Colorado. Ila McAfee is a crucial artist from the Gunnison Valley and her artwork epitomizes the artistic talent that resided in the area in the early 1900s.
Artwork above:
Mountain Lions, 1933-34, 36 1/8″ x 42, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum.
To view Ila’s works, click here.