Rolph Scarlett

1889-1984

Canadian (Guelph, Ontario; Los Angeles, California; New York, New York)

Rolph Scarlett was a Canadian artist known for both his abstract paintings and jewelry designs. Born on June 13, 1889 in Guelph, Canada, he worked in his uncle’s jewelry store as a teenager before moving to New York in 1908. After briefly studying at the Art Students League, Scarlett relocated to Los Angeles where he became a successful set designer for plays and films. After settling in New York in 1937, Scarlett became friends with the new curator of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Hilla Rebay, who introduced him to a number of avant-garde circles in the city. Throughout the remainder of his career, the artist continued to produce both jewelry and paintings.