Cleo Lovett

Cleo Lovett was an artist whose documented career spanned a concentrated period from 1935 to 1938. Lovett’s work is associated with the Index of American Design, a national survey dedicated to preserving records of traditional and popular American decorative arts, where seven of their designs were indexed. This activity places Lovett firmly within the context of American visual arts during the late Depression era.

The known body of work represented in museum holdings suggests a focus on small, decorative, and functional ceramics or sculptural pieces. Documented examples include the stylized Stag Statuette, the utilitarian Spaniel (Paper Weight), the Swan, the Toby Mug, and the Pottery Dog Ornament.

Lovett’s legacy is established through institutional preservation. Works attributed to the artist are held in major collections, including the National Gallery of Art. Documentation related to these designs, particularly those documented through the Index of American Design, often resides in the public domain. This accessibility allows for researchers and enthusiasts to study the detailed records and sometimes obtain Cleo Lovett prints of the indexed works.