When the doors opened on May 29, 2025, for the packed opening reception of Shaping American Art: A Celebration of the Art Students League of New York at 150, there was a buzz in the air that felt like history in motion. Among the artists celebrated that night was muralist Hildreth Meière—and in the crowd, standing just feet from her 1942 self-portrait, were family descendants and members of the International Hildreth Meière Association (IHMA).
For the Meière family, this wasn’t just another art opening—it was a homecoming.
Hildreth’s story at the League had roots in the generation before her. Her mother, Marie “Minnie” Hildreth Meière, studied art in Paris in the 1880s under Carolus-Durand and Jean-Jacques Henner before returning to New York to take classes at the newly formed Art Students League. There, she studied with Kenyon Cox and William Merritt Chase and, by 1890, was serving on the League’s Board of Control—just 15 years after its founding. Though Minnie’s own artistic pursuits remained more private, her path at the League set an early precedent for what her daughter would later achieve on a far greater scale.
Hildreth built on that foundation with her own studies at the League from 1912 to 1922, training under Frank Vincent DuMond, Deward Duffner, Vincent Pressing, Kenneth Hayes Miller, and George Bridgman. Unlike her mother, Hildreth carried the lessons of the League into a public career—becoming one of the most accomplished muralists of the 20th century, with works that still define landmarks across the country. That legacy was recognized again this spring as the League celebrated its 150th anniversary. Family and members of the International Hildreth Meière Association gathered at the opening reception, with Hildreth’s 1942 self-portrait as the touchstone. Completed when she was elected to the National Academy of Design, the portrait was more than a likeness—it was her statement of identity as a muralist, now honored in the very institution that shaped her path.
Representing IHMA were Anna Kupik (President and Hildreth’s great-granddaughter), Louise Meière Dunn (President Emerita and Hildreth’s daughter), and Hildreth “Hilly” Dunn (Vice President and Hildreth’s granddaughter). They were joined by Becca Earley (IHMA Board Member), Joseph LoSchiavo (IHMA Board Member), and Jan Lankin (IHMA Advisory Board Member).
The evening brought together an extraordinary group of artists, supporters, and League leadership, including Robin Frank, President of the Art Students League, and Esther Moerdler, Curator of the exhibition. The show places Hildreth’s self-portrait alongside works by fellow League alumni such as Georgia O’Keeffe, Jackson Pollock, and Norman Rockwell, making clear her place in the pantheon of American art.
Hildreth’s connection to the League was not only as a student—she also served for over a decade on its Board of Control, including terms as Vice President in 1927 and 1929. Her leadership reflected her commitment to nurturing the institution that had shaped her and her mother’s artistic journeys.
Seeing her portrait on the wall today is more than an artistic encounter—it is a reminder that the Meière family’s ties to the Art Students League span two generations, bridging 19th-century Parisian ateliers and 20th-century American mural commissions.
📸 All photos courtsey of the International Hildreth Meiere Association, from the opening reception feature IHMA members, family descendants, and the exhibition team gathered in front of Hildreth’s portrait.
Hilly Dunn, Joseph LoSchiavo, Louise Dunn, Becca Earley, Jan Lankin, Anna Kupik
Robin Frank, Esther Moerdler, Louise Dunn, Hilly Dunn, Anna Kupik
Photo Credit: All photos by the International Hildreth Meière Association
About the International Hildreth Meière Association
Founded in 2004, the International Hildreth Meière Association (IHMA) inspires, educates, and preserves the legacy and works of artist Hildreth Meière. As the primary source for information on Hildreth’s life and works, IHMA has created exhibitions, publications, documentary series, tours, and lectures for the general public, educational groups, and the sites of Hildreth's commissions.
Explore more: hildrethmeiere.org
Follow along on Instagram: @hildrethmeiere
Join us on Facebook: International Hildreth Meière Association
Connect on LinkedIn: International Hildreth Meière Association
Press/collaboration inquiries: info@hildrethmeiere.org