Bought from estate of Catherine Winslow Priest. Signed lower right

Dated 1991

Measures approximately 16” x 20”

Older so some dust/very minor wear around outside painting is stable and in good condition.

Catherine Winslow Euster Priest, affectionately known as “Kitsy,” was born on December 30, 1932, in Washington, D.C. Her lineage is steeped in history; she was the daughter of Francis Winslow and Laura Bryn, whose father served as an Ambassador to the United States from Norway. On her paternal side, Kitsy’s family can trace their roots back to the Mayflower, connecting her to early American history.

Kitsy’s artistic journey began in 1950 when she enrolled at Connecticut College in New London to study art. In 1952, she married Roger Euster, a realtor, and together they raised four children. In 1958, they embarked on a new chapter in New York City, where Roger made a significant mark by acquiring theaters, including the iconic Village Theatre, later known as the legendary Fillmore East. Roger Euster pioneered the presentation of groundbreaking rock & roll bands like The Doors, The Who, and Richie Havens, as well as hosting events featuring luminaries such as poet Allen Ginsberg and LSD advocate Timothy Leary.

However, their marriage faced challenges, and by 1972, Kitsy found herself on her own in a Greenwich Village apartment, embracing the counterculture of the late 1960s and early 1970s. During this period, she joined the Art Students League and studied under traditionalist painter Frank Mason. Her drawings and pastels from this era display genuine talent, capturing the essence of that transformative time.

In 1973, Kitsy confronted a formidable foe: breast cancer. Her resilience in the face of this battle became one of her proudest achievements; she refused to let it define her.

By 1976, Kitsy had established herself in a Riverside Drive apartment on the artistic and intellectual Upper West Side of New York City. Here, she continued her art studies at the Art Students League and also pursued Japanese Aikido lessons. Her diverse interests extended to becoming a peripheral member of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach’s circle, known as the “singing rabbi” of West 79th Street.

Kitsy’s life took another turn when, in 1976, she met film and TV actor Martin Priest (born Emmanuel Nureck). Their love story was unconventional but heartwarming – at a New York West Side reception, Martin charmed her by lighting a Lucky Strike with one hand while holding hers with the other. When they decided to become intimate, Kitsy’s candid humor shone as she boldly pointed out her mastectomy and said, “this one’s real, and this one’s fake.” Martin responded with a playful flourish, pulling out his own false teeth and saying, “I’ve got you beat.”

Kitsy and Martin married in 1978. Martin was renowned for his lead role in the 1989 film “The Plot Against Harry,” as well as guest appearances on iconic television shows like Gunsmoke (1955) and Law & Order (1990).

Sadly, Kitsy’s journey came to an end on September 3, 2022, at the age of 89, just three months shy of her 90th birthday. Her life was a testament to resilience, love, and a passion for art that she shared with the world.