Chris Trella Koczwara (American, 1945-2020) oil on canvas blue and green heavy abstract landscape. Chris Trella Koczwara, a renowned artist and Tennessee Tech emeritus professor of art, was the first woman commissioned as a combat artist by the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. Koczwara was also commissioned by the U.S. Navy to paint the liftoff of Apollo 7. Signed lower right. Artwork in ornate gold wood frame with linen liner measures 23" x 27". Artwork and frame in very good, vintage condition with light wear and touch ups to frame.
Koczwara was a native of New Jersey. She was a graduate of the Ringling School of Art and Design. She received her Master's in Art from William Paterson University in New Jersey.
Christine lived a life of passion and adventure fueled by her love of art and painting. She taught painting at Tennessee Tech University in the Department of Music and Art from 1972 until her retirement in 2009. She was nationally and internationally recognized for her talents and her work has been on exhibit in some of the most prestigious places including: The Archbishop's Palace, Salzburg, Austria; the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD: The National Arts Club: The National Academy; The Salmagundi Museum in NY; The New Jersey City Museum, University of Tennessee; Nashville International Airport; The Parthenon Museum in TN, Owens Corning World Headquarters; The Air Force Museum and the Washington Navy Yard Historical Museum in Washington, D.C.
Christine was most notably proud of the time she was invited to Vietnam to serve as the only USMC female civilian combat artist. Chris accepted a second invitation in 1992-1993 to serve as a combat artist and covered Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, Africa.
