Janet M. Holder is a truly iconic figure, whose remarkable 100-year life story—as a nurse, realtor, and abstract art pioneer—is due for a renaissance in the digital age. A woman who blazed a trail for her own independence and fostered an extreme creative streak, her life was a unique blend of artistry and practicality. She was a trained artist, yet maintained a career as a registered nurse, and later successfully ran a real estate operation well before the era of Zillow
Early Life and Artistic Roots
Born in Philadelphia and raised in Deal, NJ, outside Asbury Park, Holder has a rich heritage: her mother descended from New Jersey’s first marriage bond, and her father, from Pocahontas and John Rolfe, grew up in Williamston, SC. Growing up during the Great Depression, she was inspired by her father's artistic endeavors, and she began painting at the age of three.
In high school, she was President of the Art Society and received her first recognition with an "honorable mention" in a national art competition. After high school she worked for the phone company in the day when operators connected your long-distance calls, she then joined the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps.
Early Life and Artistic Roots
Born in Philadelphia and raised in Deal, NJ, outside Asbury Park, Holder has a rich heritage: her mother descended from New Jersey’s first marriage bond, and her father, from Pocahontas and John Rolfe, grew up in Williamston, SC. Growing up during the Great Depression, she was inspired by her father's artistic endeavors, and she began painting at the age of three.
In high school, she was President of the Art Society and received her first recognition with an "honorable mention" in a national art competition. After high school she worked for the phone company in the day when operators connected your long-distance calls, she then joined the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps.
The Corps offered young women a government subsidy that covered tuition, books, uniforms, and a small living stipend in exchange for serving in essential civilian, military, or other government services during World War II. The program also provided scholarships, room and board, and a monthly stipend of $15–$20 during training. Nursing schools were required to speed up their coursework so cadets could earn degrees in 30 months. She did her training at Fitkin Hospital in Neptune, NJ.
Holder also tells a story about her interaction with the noted Washington Color School artist, Kenneth Noland, who was teaching at the Institute of Contemporary Art at Catholic University. At that time, Noland was exploring abstract expressionist concepts and methods, including the use of new, easily pourable plastic paints. Noland's work gained prominence through his relationship with New York Times art critic, Clement Greenberg. According to Holder, Noland was one of the finest line drawers she had ever known.
Exhibitions, Philosophy and Style
Holder’s art work expands across several media, including oils on canvas and paper, ink washes and line drawings, and for years she worked on abstract pointillism prints (created via silkscreen/serigraphy).
The Realtor and Her Home
In 1961, using her realtor expertise, Holder used the long-term strategy to purchase her beloved Alexandria English Stone Cotswold cottage. She loved the "rubble stone" exterior and pitched roof, winning out over several other contracts. The home, set in a grove of trees, provided the perfect backdrop for her gardening and artistic pursuits. About three years ago, when the cottage went on the market as she moved into retirement, estate sale attendees had the chance to view and purchase her remaining artworks within the context of her unique home.
Janet Holder’s 100 years are filled with endless stories, three outstanding and intertwined careers, and a continuous commitment to creative energy, blessing all who have known her with her direct wisdom.
©2026. Waller-Yoblonsky Fine Art is a research collaborative, working to track artists that got lost and overlooked due to time, changing styles, race, gender and/or sexual orientation. Our frequent blogs highlight artists and art movements that need renewed attention with improved information for the researcher and art collectors. The photos and blog was created by Mr. Waller and all written materials were obtained by the Fair Use Section 107, of The Copyright Act. #janetholder #janetholderartist #LyndonBJohnson #WashingtonColorSchool #CadetNursingCorps #walleryoblonskyfineartblog #walleryoblonskyblog
Nursing and Washington D.C. Career
Holder’s nursing training opened doors to prestigious Washington institutions. She earned her Masters of Science in Nursing degree from Catholic University of America, where she worked in pediatrics, and later served on the medical research faculty at Georgetown. Her advanced degree work related to her time as a psychiatric nurse at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital.
Her security clearance allowed her to work at Walter Reed during the Korean War, and most notably, she served as Senator Lyndon Johnson's private nurse in 1955 when he suffered a near-fatal heart attack. She still keeps a framed memento—the final payment letter of $19.60—from Johnson’s assistant.
The Artist: Education and Influences
While attending Catholic University, Janet Holder took advantage of the full educational system, even managing to slide into art classes when she was not an art major, eventually earning a Master's of Fine Art degree in 1962. She fondly recalls two instructors: her oil painting instructor, Mr. Rooney, and her silversmith instructor, Mr. Jackby. Thomas "Tom" Rooney, who taught formalist abstraction with an academic approach, clearly influenced Holder's abstract style.
Holder’s nursing training opened doors to prestigious Washington institutions. She earned her Masters of Science in Nursing degree from Catholic University of America, where she worked in pediatrics, and later served on the medical research faculty at Georgetown. Her advanced degree work related to her time as a psychiatric nurse at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital.
Her security clearance allowed her to work at Walter Reed during the Korean War, and most notably, she served as Senator Lyndon Johnson's private nurse in 1955 when he suffered a near-fatal heart attack. She still keeps a framed memento—the final payment letter of $19.60—from Johnson’s assistant.
The Artist: Education and Influences
While attending Catholic University, Janet Holder took advantage of the full educational system, even managing to slide into art classes when she was not an art major, eventually earning a Master's of Fine Art degree in 1962. She fondly recalls two instructors: her oil painting instructor, Mr. Rooney, and her silversmith instructor, Mr. Jackby. Thomas "Tom" Rooney, who taught formalist abstraction with an academic approach, clearly influenced Holder's abstract style.
Holder also tells a story about her interaction with the noted Washington Color School artist, Kenneth Noland, who was teaching at the Institute of Contemporary Art at Catholic University. At that time, Noland was exploring abstract expressionist concepts and methods, including the use of new, easily pourable plastic paints. Noland's work gained prominence through his relationship with New York Times art critic, Clement Greenberg. According to Holder, Noland was one of the finest line drawers she had ever known.
Exhibitions, Philosophy and Style
Holder’s art work expands across several media, including oils on canvas and paper, ink washes and line drawings, and for years she worked on abstract pointillism prints (created via silkscreen/serigraphy).
During her art career, Holder exhibited at Brentano’s - a cross between a bookstore and art gallery that served as a cultural department store. She exhibited at their Washington downtown store on F Street. She also exhibited with frequency at “Us Too” gallery in Fairfax, the Us Too was the gallery owner and her dog. She speaks fondly of her work with both galleries and she also created fused glass brooches/pendants, often using a "full fusion" technique, which were sold in the National Women’s Museum of Art gift shop.
Holder holds strong opinions on her art:
Titles: She believes artist statements and titles for abstract paintings are unnecessary, concluding that the viewer's personal interpretation is paramount, and it is the viewer who determines if the art is "good."
Color: She states, "So much for color - you can put any two colors together - and you get something different each time." As in her painting, like Rouge, Jaune et Noir (c. 1953). Below:
This striking early work by Holder, a key apostle of the Washington Color School, uses a powerful combination of two color-field saturated primary colors, red and yellow, to convey emotional force. The composition is interrupted by black irregular, vertical and pointed shapes. There are two stark areas of unpainted paper plunging vertically toward the bottom edge. The entire composition creates an optical flicker that was evident in the color school style.
In her high rise apartment there are several examples of her work that she has accomplished over the years. One work is oil on paper that she accomplished in the “plein air” style. She used an artist's spatula/palette knife to apply the oil paints directly to the brown paper and she painted the composition outdoors on-site in one sitting; it is the roaring rapids of the Monocacy River that flows into the Great Falls and is part of the Potomac River. The composition is a compilation of abstraction and realism. You know it is a roaring river with water flowing along the river bank, yet there is a freedom of how she uses the palette knife to make it appear like vivacious brush strokes adding to the abstract composition. In her dressing room hangs an elegant ink life drawings of her Japanese model, Meki.
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Rouge, Jaune et Noir Watercolor and Gouache on Paper Signed LRC, Circa 1953 |
In her high rise apartment there are several examples of her work that she has accomplished over the years. One work is oil on paper that she accomplished in the “plein air” style. She used an artist's spatula/palette knife to apply the oil paints directly to the brown paper and she painted the composition outdoors on-site in one sitting; it is the roaring rapids of the Monocacy River that flows into the Great Falls and is part of the Potomac River. The composition is a compilation of abstraction and realism. You know it is a roaring river with water flowing along the river bank, yet there is a freedom of how she uses the palette knife to make it appear like vivacious brush strokes adding to the abstract composition. In her dressing room hangs an elegant ink life drawings of her Japanese model, Meki.
Holder sold a major work to collector Alice Roosevelt Longworth (1884-1980). Later on in her career she took up watercolors while hanging out at the Northern Virginia Community College.
The Realtor and Her Home
In 1961, using her realtor expertise, Holder used the long-term strategy to purchase her beloved Alexandria English Stone Cotswold cottage. She loved the "rubble stone" exterior and pitched roof, winning out over several other contracts. The home, set in a grove of trees, provided the perfect backdrop for her gardening and artistic pursuits. About three years ago, when the cottage went on the market as she moved into retirement, estate sale attendees had the chance to view and purchase her remaining artworks within the context of her unique home.
Janet Holder’s 100 years are filled with endless stories, three outstanding and intertwined careers, and a continuous commitment to creative energy, blessing all who have known her with her direct wisdom.
Documentation:
On the spot interviews with Holder, May, 2024: Goodwin House, Alexandria, VA
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