The Yellow Jacket
20th Century Watercolor

#C5971

Helen Taylor Sheats

This mid to late 20th century watercolor on paper is by distinguished Chicago artist and architect Helen Taylor Sheats (1910-1999). A University of Wisconsin graduate in art and science (1930), Sheats honed her fine art skills at the Art Institute of Chicago. She later collaborated with renowned architect John Lautner, a Frank Lloyd Wright protégé, designing and constructing two innovative residences in Los Angeles, including a unique apartment building near UCLA (1950) and a striking Beverly Hills home (1963). Both structures are celebrated for their futuristic designs and their significance in Lautner's architectural legacy.

In her later years, Sheats studied painting under Arnold Schifren in Los Angeles, producing works that demonstrate her mature vision and artistic depth. Her painting Topanga River marks the beginning of a prolific period, during which she completed nearly 200 works. Sheats often painted en plein air, frequently collaborating with artists like Eileen O’Brien and organizing art trips abroad. Many of her works were inspired by these immersive experiences in Mexico, Holland, Denmark, and Italy.

Mid-Late 20th Century
Watercolor on Paper
9"x12" unframed 

Estate stamped lower right. Excellent vintage condition.