High School Humor: Grant Wood's Early Illustrations and More

High School Humor: Grant Wood's Early Illustrations and More promotional image

Grant Wood was known to have a humorous side, as referenced in several of his artworks. However, that funny bone developed early and was featured in print during his high school days. Join Dr. Ranelle Knight-Lueth and Jackie Banigan, both of whom work with the Grant Wood Catalogue Raisonné (GWCR) project, to explore the teenage humor crafted by Wood, Marvin Cone, and their classmates who illustrated and wrote for the school’s literary magazine and yearbook. These publications reveal the students’ intellectual refinement alongside their unflagging wit, while also connecting to pop-culture and art-world trends from the early 1900s. Knight-Lueth, who received her master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Iowa, serves as the GWCR project manager. Banigan, the project’s research assistant, is currently working on her PhD at the University of Iowa.

Tuesday, February 17, 2026 12:30pm to 1:30pm
The History Center
800 2nd Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
View on Event Calendar
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa–sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Jenny Thielman in advance at 319-362-1501 ext. 112 or jenny@historycenter.org.