Mary Blair was an illustrator and designer whose bold use of color and modernist style left an enduring mark on Disney’s films and theme parks.

Born in McAlester, Oklahoma, in 1911, she studied at the Chouinard Art Institute before beginning her career in animation during the Great Depression.In 1940, she joined Walt Disney Studios, where her vibrant, imaginative visuals quickly set her apart in the, at the time, male-dominated industry.

Her big break came in 1941 when she traveled to South America with Walt Disney on a government-sponsored goodwill tour. Inspired by the region’s rich colors and culture, she became the art supervisor for “Saludos Amigos” (1942) and “The Three Caballeros” (1944). Her striking use of color went on to shape beloved Disney classics like “Cinderella” (1950), “Alice in Wonderland” (1951), and “Peter Pan” (1953).

Blair’s influence extended beyond animation. After leaving Disney in the mid-1950s to work as a children’s book illustrator and commercial artist, she was personally invited back by Walt Disney to help design the musical boat ride “It’s a Small World” for the 1964–65 New York World’s Fair. Her signature whimsical style also shaped the colorful murals in Disneyland’s Tomorrowland and the towering mosaic inside Walt Disney World’s Contemporary Resort.

Mary Blair passed away in 1978, but her legacy lives on as a testament to the power of color, creativity, and childlike wonder. (ss)