Grant Wood was born February 13, 1891, in Anamosa, Iowa. After high school Wood went to The Handicraft Guild in 1910 he later attended the Art Institute of Chicago. Grant joined the military towards the end of World War I where he would create camouflage scenes. 

The style of art that he did was Regionalism. This style is one that I find to be very unique as he focuses on painting the rural midwest, which is where I am from. The painting that Wood is most well known for is American Gothic. This 1930 painting has a male and female in the foreground showing little to no expression while holding a pitchfork. In the background, there is a little white farmhouse with gothic-style windows. 

Toward the end of his life, Grant Wood taught painting at the University of Iowa’s School of Art. In October 1941 Wood was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer at the young age of 50. Four months after his diagnosis, Grant died of cancer the day before his 51st birthday.

Today, his art is displayed in museums across the globe. His paintings can be found at the New Britain Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and in his home state of Iowa where he spent most of his life. 

American Gothic 1930, located at The Art Insitute of Chicago

The Midnight Ride to Paul Revere, 1931 located at The Metropolitan Museum of Art