The Life and Legacy of Laughlin Phillips
Laughlin Phillips, also known by the name Loc Phillips, was an American museum director and painter born in Washington, D.C., United States. The son of art collector Duncan Phillips and painter Marjorie Acker Phillips, he grew up in a home that served as the site for the Phillips Memorial Gallery. His early years were spent in a Georgian Revival house in Dupont Circle before the family moved to a mansion known as Dunmarlin on Foxhall Road NW. During his youth, he attended St. Albans School and later studied at Yale University and the University of Chicago.
Beyond his role in the art world, Phillips had a diverse professional history. He served as an Army intelligence officer in the Pacific theater during World War II, an experience for which he earned a Bronze Star Medal. He later worked as an analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), with assignments in locations such as Saigon and Tehran. Additionally, he co-founded the magazine Washingtonian.
Leadership at The Phillips Collection
Phillips dedicated much of his life to the stewardship of The Phillips Collection. Following the death of his father in 1966, he assumed the role of board chairman, eventually succeeding his mother as director in 1972. Under his leadership, the museum underwent significant transformations, including:
He retired as museum director in 1992 and continued to serve as chairman of the board until 2002. He passed away in 2010.
Questions & Answers
Is there a complete list of Laughlin Phillips's artworks?
Every work by Laughlin Phillips on this website can be browsed from the artist's All Artworks page.
How is Laughlin Phillips's career divided into periods?
A chronological account of Laughlin Phillips's work is available on the artist's Chronicle page, where the artworks pass in order of creation, chapter by chapter.
Where are Laughlin Phillips's artworks grouped by keywords?
To find works by Laughlin Phillips on a specific theme, use the artist's By Keywords page, which groups the artworks by keyword.
Can I browse Laughlin Phillips's works by color palette?
Laughlin Phillips's works can be browsed by color palette on the artist's By Palettes page.
