Nellie Scott: A New Kind of Peace

Early in my path as a creative, I was introduced to the work of the artist and nun, Frances Elizabeth Kent. When Kent entered the Immaculate Heart of Mary religious order in 1936, she took the name Sister Mary Corita. The name is Spanish for, “little heart”, which is ironic given her outsized love and hope for humanity. Corita went on to become an influential American artist, educator, and advocate for social justice. Through her vibrant and thought-provoking artwork and collective happenings, Sister Corita explored themes of spirituality, love, and social activism. Her unique artistic style, characterized by bold colors, innovative use of typography, and incorporation of popular culture, garnered widespread recognition and made her a prominent figure in the art world, eventually landing her on the cover of Newsweek and designing the iconic LOVE stamp for the postal service.

Her work is held in major museums throughout the world and her 10 Rules for the Immaculate Heart Art Department hangs on many artists’ studio walls. Sister Corita's art and teachings continue to inspire and provoke conversations about the human experience and the power of creativity to bring about positive change. I feel lucky to have been exposed so early in my career to such heart-centered ideas like: “Consider everything an experiment” and “Be happy whenever you can manage it, it’s lighter than you think.” And to, “Do it all with love.”

Nellie is the Executive Director of the Corita Art Center in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1997 the Corita Art Center preserves and promotes Corita Kent’s art, teaching, and passion for social justice. Today, the Center supports exhibition loans and public programs, oversees image and merchandising rights, sells Corita’s original prints, and serves as a resource and archive on her life and work.

To learn more about Nellie and Corita Kent, visit:

Corita Art Center
https://www.corita.org/

Corita Art Center Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/coritaartcenter/

Corita's Anti-Nuclear War speech:
https://mps.lib.harvard.edu/sds/audio/451265426