Lorraine Chambers McCarty

McCarty was born in 1920 in Detroit, MI and resided in Royal Oak, MI for the majority of her life. She attended Wayne State University in Detroit and Stephens College Columbia, MO where she studied art. She married Howard McCarty in 1942. McCarty painted primarily in oils and acrylics and was known for her abstract skies. She was both a teacher and frequently a jurist for art shows. She has a painting in the Smithsonian and won many art awards and patented a number of art related inventions. McCarty designed and built her own home in Royal Oak which was featured in Better Homes and Gardens. She also was instrumental in the design of the International Women’s Air & Space Museum in Cleveland. Obtaining her pilot’s license in 1962 McCarty went on to fly in the All Woman Transcontinental Air Race commonly known as the Powder Puff Derby. She also won the International Air Race for Women and was a member of the Ninety-nines an international organization of women pilots. (Sources: AJ Desmond & Sons Obituary page Ninety-nines website Powder Puff derby website International Women’s Air & Space Museum website)

Lorraine studied with Glen Michaels (Cranbrook) Robert Wilbert (WSU) and Thomas Hart Benton to name a few. She taught at the Flint Institute of Art (1970-1985) and many other art venues in Southeast Michigan. A pilot since 1962, she flew in the Powder Puff Derby, and won the International Air Race for Women. She was the official artist of the United States Air Force (1981-1999). She was advisor & designer for the International Women’s Air and Space Museum in Ohio. Her works are in the DIA and Smithsonian Institute museums. Her many commissions include murals for General Dynamics, Alpena Light & Power Co., Lear Siegler Seating Co., the Capitol City Airport, MI, Upjohn Pharmaceutical Headquarters, Dow Chemical, and the Hi-Lex Corp. of Michigan and Japan. She also produced a television series The Artist in You, and was inventor and designer of Artist’s Eye: a Visual Aid for Artists.