Florence Grace Putterman

Florence Putterman is an internationally known artist with a great imagination who constantly reinvented her work throughout her career. Very active in the Sarasota community, she is highly regarded in the international art community as a noted printmaker, painter, and sculptor. Florence was also very engaged in building awareness of the visual arts through her teaching at universities, elementary schools and community organizations and establishment of the Florence and Saul Putterman Fund for the Visual Arts at Susquehanna University promoting education and professional development opportunities for artists.

As a leading woman artist with groundbreaking explorations of abstract art, her career spanned more than 50 years. She used inspirational imagery and created a language of fantasy, emotion and wonder. Florence explored many themes influenced by her travels around the world, as well as from her residences in Pennsylvania and Florida.

Florence was a pioneer as a woman beginning her art career at midlife, balancing her role and responsibilities as a mother and wife. She was hardworking, driven and determined to become a very successful and nationally acclaimed artist. To that end, she has received numerous accolades, including the Distinguished Alumni Award from Pennsylvania State University and a National Endowment Grant in 1979. Her paintings and prints are displayed in many museum and corporate collections around the country including: Metropolitan Museum of Art and Brooklyn Museum, New York; Chicago Art Institute, Chicago; and Jacksonville Museum, Polk Museum, and Gulf Coast Museum in Florida. Her work is also included in the U.S. State Department Art in Embassies Program that has placed her work in U.S. Embassies around the world. Florence has exhibited extensively throughout the U.S. with literally hundreds of solo and group exhibitions.

She has been a teacher, juror, mentor and an inspiration to all those who have been fortunate to experience her zest for life and her love of art!

Florence’s work is not limited to any one particular media, but rather she has produced: paintings in acrylic and oil; works on paper, including etchings, lithographs, woodcuts, silkscreens, woodcuts and monotypes; sculpture; and photography. Her work can be viewed at www.florenceputterman.com.

Florence is survived by sons, Lawrence (Roberta) Putterman of Nantucket, MA and Joel Putterman (Dolores Byrd) of Atlanta, GA; grandchildren, Jonathan and Julie Putterman and great grandchildren, Taylor and Braydon Putterman. She was preceded by her Loving husband Saul Putterman, and brother Arthur Hirsch.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Florence and Saul Putterman Fund for the Visual Arts at Susquehanna University, 514 University Avenue, Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania 17870.