A respected painter and printmaker, June Wayne was born in Chicago. She is largely self-taught. She learned lithography at Lynton R. Kistler's workshop in Los Angeles between 1948 and 1950. Primarily symbolic in theme, Wayne's prints are noted for their technical variety and fine craftsmanship. She has focused on a range of subjects, from the conditions of modern life to scientific breakthroughs such as the discovery of DNA.
Wayne is best known as the founder of the Tamarind Lithography Workshop in Los Angeles. Established in 1960, the workshop contributed to an explosion of interest in printmaking among American collectors and artists during the 1960s. Tamarind introduced lithography to established artists working in other media, and offered apprenticeships to young students anxious to learn from master lithographers. Many graduates of the workshop set up their own shops or nourished the art of lithography through teaching.
June Wayne's work is included in the collections of many museums, among them The Museum of Modern Art and The Art Institute of Chicago.
[This is an excerpt from the interactive companion program to the videodisc American Art from the National Gallery of Art. Produced by the Department of Education Resources, this teaching resource is one of the Gallery's free-loan educational programs.]