
Young Girl Sewing
Louise Orwig
Orwig was a highly influential artist in the Des Moines area between 1919 and 1942.
After graduating from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, she was hired as the Art Librarian for the Des Moines Public Library. In that position, she greatly expanded the library’s artwork and art literature collection.
An integral member of various Iowa art organizations, she continued to exhibit her work locally, including being featured numerous times at the Des Moines Women’s Club.
In 1942 she resigned from her positions and drove to California, living the rest of her life in an artists’ community in Ojai.