Stella Mosher

Stella Mosher was an American artist active during the late 1930s and early 1940s, documenting American decorative arts and material culture. Her known professional period spanned the years 1935 to 1942. Mosher contributed substantially to the Index of American Design (IAD), a seminal initiative within the Federal Art Project established to create a visual record of historical domestic crafts and folk objects.

Fifteen documented designs attributed to Mosher are represented in museum collections, reflecting the highly detailed, documentary style required by the Index. Her work typically focused on specific, everyday artifacts, ensuring minute details of construction and texture were preserved. Notable studies include descriptive renderings of personal items and textiles, such as Man's Straw Hat, Woman's Shoes, Beaded Purse, and the study of children’s objects, Quilt for Doll's Bed.

Mosher’s detailed documentation of historic objects established her place within this national artistic effort. Today, the core of her documented output is preserved in institutional collections, most notably the National Gallery of Art. Because her original works were produced under a federal mandate, many of these images reside in the public domain, providing researchers with access to high-quality prints for scholarly use. Historical records like the Stella Mosher prints remain invaluable resources for studying American design history.