Etta Zuritsky Winigrad

Etta Zuritsky Winigrad is a Philadelphia artist, mother of three sons, and Penn graduate (FA’58 Ed’59) for whom ceramics have been her primary, though not her exclusive medium. Her thought-provoking sculptures, which combine figurative and fantastical elements, reflect her focus on the situation of humanity in the world.

In 2016, Etta donated archival papers and photographs documenting her illustrious career as an artist to the Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts at the Penn Libraries.  The collection shows her process as an artist and her connection with various galleries and with the art community, as well as the business side of being an active artist. Etta’s correspondence includes communications with: art publications for the purchase of advertisements showing her work (the advertisements themselves, in publications such as ARTnews, are also included in this collection), authors and publishers regarding placement of her artwork in publications, collectors purchasing her work, slide registry organizations, and galleries at which she was interested in showing her work. Additionally, the correspondence includes communications regarding Etta as a teacher and student, and her connection to the art community.  

When asked about a highlight of her artistic career, Winigrad says that it was being invited to have the archive of her work, including photographs and information about each of her sculptures, at the Penn Libraries, where other people can access it.

Etta’s late husband, Allen J. Winigrad, previously donated a collection of over 500 photographs of performing artists taken between 1973 and 1989.  

More information on Etta’s life and career is available on Unique at Penn.

To view a photographic archive of Etta’s work, please click here.