Ellie and husband Mort collecting first prize ribbon at The Orchid Society of Sarasota Art Show.
Ellie Alpert was a passionate and prolific artist. In addition to having a core love of creating art, she was also a successful businesswoman. She ran her own art framing business in Boston and Cape Cod, and throughout her life taught art to students of all ages. Her art was inspired by her observations of people and the vibrant colors that helped bring her visions to life. Like her artwork, she was larger than life with a strong, dynamic personality and a zest for living. She was deeply committed to her art and made personal sacrifices in order to have the time to create it. Her art defined her life and gave her purpose.
Ellie was born in Boston, Massachusetts on August 28, 1929. Her early interest in art led her to refine her skills at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Massachusetts College of Art, and the Boston School of Practical Arts. Her studies at these schools and in private lessons included exposure to some very renowned Boston artists and teachers, such as Jason Berger (1924-2010), Henry Schwartz (1927-2009), and Phil Hicken (1910-1985). Their teachings had a profound influence on her artistic growth.
With talent, training, and later in life the time to create, she produced an impressive body of work which included using a medium mix of acrylics, watercolors and her own original style of fiber arts. All these techniques are represented in her website.
Ellie’s fiber arts creations were in her words, “painting with thread.” The process began with her drawing on linen cloth, but instead of oil or acrylic paints the colors and textures were achieved with threads and other fiber materials meticulously sewn into the fabric. The amazing part of the process was that while the design and bigger areas were part of her drawing, the fine details and shapes in the backgrounds seemed to flow from her needle without the guidance of a sketch. Using this approach, she created some spectacular fiber art pieces, rich in texture and color.
Her work hangs in over 35 private collections. The list includes some recognizable names, doctors, other professionals and admirers from all walks of life. Her work has also been shown in several local exhibits in the Boston and Cape Cod area, and around Sarasota, FL.
As you look at this amazing collection you will no doubt enjoy her choice of subject matter, her multi-medium talents, and her spectacular use of color. The breadth of her work gives us a window into the vision of an artist who poured her soul into her creations.
Ellie Alpert died on August 13, 2024, just days shy of her 95th birthday. Her last years were spent living in Estero, Florida – a long-life lived pursuing what she loved.