Public Relations
Mission Statement
In our rapidly changing society, recognizing natural and cultural beauty has become increasingly difficult. The mandate for the Foundation embraces this challenge. We will offer Educators, Museums and Institutions around the world — the opportunity to share the beauty of Lawton's oeuvre, created over a fifty year span of his career.
Thru exhibitions, the internet and donations, the Foundation will provide a medium for scholars and the public interested in the Amish culture and their legacy here in the United States of America, in what is today an increasingly complex world. The Foundation will continue Lawton's vision of beauty as seen in nature and the simplicity of the Amish culture.
FKL Partners and Affiliates
Throughout the years the Foundation has gained world renowned recognition among other artists, scholars and art dealers. Some of those groups have come to know the Foundation as a Partner and/or Affiliate in our common interest of celebrating fine art and sharing both the visual beauty and scholarship with the public through our efforts at the foundation. Here is a current list of Partners and Affiliates, please contact us if you are working on an Amish Heritage project, where our mutual interests may be shared.
Erroneous Legal Investigation of FKL THROWN OUT
An unfortunate controversy arose after the passing of both the artist (Florian) and his long time wife (Lois), original Trustees of the Foundation. Filing requirements with the Attorney Generals Office in Ohio were overlooked, resulting in the investigation. Once all of the updates were made, the matter was dismissed. The Florian K Lawton Foundation has always been in good standing with local, state and federal laws aside from this small oversight. The FKL Foundation remains rooted in its original purpose of sharing the beautiful artwork of Florian with the world while also giving rare and amazing insight into Amish culture and their amazing population throughout America.
2022
Honored by Hiram College — May 2022
Kenneth Lawton was honored by Hiram College at the 23rd Inauguration of their new president Dr. David P. Haney on May 13th
2021
Donation to Ursuline College — December 2021
Florian K. Lawton Foundation generously donated to Ursuline College for support of their annual fundraiser hosted at the Cleveland Museum of Art
2020
Malachi House Donation — November 2020
The Malachi House thanks the Florian K. Lawton Foundation for its donation valued at $6,000 in November of 2020. The Malachi House is a unique charity in Northeast Ohio which provides care to the terminally ill who have no financial resources or anyone to care for them during final stages of life.
$100,000 Donation to Hiram College — 2020
The Florian K. Lawton Foundation has been known to donate to Hiram College in the past and continued the tradition this year with an independently valued art collection appraised at over $100,000.
FKL displayed at the Visionaries Exhibition — 2020
The Chagrin Valley Times discusses the "Visionaries" exhibition noting the presence of Florian K. Lawton's masterpieces on display.
2019
Hiram College Hiram Ohio - One Hundred Eighty Six Original Paintings Drawings & Art Books - DonationChagrin Valley Art Center Chagrin Falls Ohio 44124 - Two Original Whiskey Paintings - Donation
Nationally Acclaimed Artist Donates to Hiram College for Giving Tuesday — 2019
Lawton, a native of Cleveland, studied at Cleveland College, John Huntington Polytechnic and the Cleveland Institute of Art where he was mentored by Frank Wilcox and other Cleveland School artists of his era. In the spirit of Giving Tuesday and to the honor of Florian K. Lawton, artwork that was recently appraised in value excess of $100,00 was donated to Hiram college.
Appreciation from Valley Art Center for FKL Donation — September 2019
The Valley Art Center is very thankful of the generous donation of Florian K. Lawton's whiskey paintings, "Occupied" and "Mallard Country," valued at $600 each.
2018
Ursuline College Pepper Pike Ohio 44124 - One Original Watercolor - DonationCanal Society of New York State Port Byron NY 13140 - One Original Watercolor - Donation
Legal Investigation of FKL Thrown Out — 2018
An unfortunate controversy arose after the passing of both the artist (Florian) and his long time wife (Lois), original Trustees of the Foundation. Filing requirements with the Attorney Generals Office in Ohio were overlooked, resulting in the investigation. Once all updates were made, the matter was dismissed...
Donation to The Canal Society of New York State — November 2018
The Canal Society of New York State thanks the Florian K. Lawton Foundation for the donations of "Along the Towpath" and "In for Repairs". The paintings beautifully illustrate the types of horse-drawn vessels utilized on America's canals in the 19th century and are being displayed on a revolving basis at the Society's Old Erie Canal Heritage.
Donation to Ursuline College — October 2018
Ursuline College thanks the Florian K. Lawton Foundation for the in-kind donation of Winter Splendor. This framed and matted original water color by Florian K. Lawton is a beautiful addition to the art on their campus.
2017
Cuyahoga Public Library Cleveland, Ohio 44134 - Two Original Watercolors - DonationRotary International Rotary of Hudson Hudson Ohio - One Original Watercolor - Donation
The Rotary Club of Hudson Donation — 2017
FKL donated artwork to The Rotary Club of Hudson and Hudson Rotary Foundation's 30th Annual Gala.
2016
Canal Society of New York State Port Byron NY 13108 - Two Original Watercolors - DonationRotary International Rotary of Hudson Hudson Ohio - One Original Watercolor - Donation
Artist Fellowship, New York NY - One Original Watercolor - Donation
Canal Society Donation — 2016
The Canal Society of New York State thanks the Florian K Lawton Foundation for their donation.
Artists' Fellowship 1552nd Anniversary Celebration — 2016
The board of the Artists' Fellowship thanks the Florian K Lawton Foundation for their generoius donation.
2015
Artists' Fellowship Annual Silent Auction — October 2015
The Artists' Fellowship, INC. Annual Silent Auction will be held at the 156th Awards Dinner on Wednesday October 21st.
2014
Supporting Disabled Children — November 2014
Supports Disabled Children; Foundation sponsorship "critical to their fund-raising success".
The Florian K. Lawton Foundation is recognized and thanked for their donations toward Fieldstone Farm.
The FKL Foundation Helps Other Artists — November 2014
The Florian K. Lawton Foundation is recognized and thanked for their donations toward the 155 Anniversary Celebration at the Artists' Fellowship Inc. Manhattan Penthouse.
Foundation Donates to Salve Regina University, Newport, RI — August 2014
The Foundation donated to Salve Regina University's Art Department.
2013
Foundation Donates To Chagrin Valley Hunt Club — September 2013
Chagrin Valley Hunt Club received original paintings to the Hunt Club's permanent art collection and one for their annual Hunt Ball in the Fall. Founded over a 100 years ago during the regions industrial era, The Hunt Club's history began on the banks of the Chagrin River in a rustic tavern that served as a meeting house for a handful of fox hunting enthusiasts wanting some escape from the city bustle.
Foundation Recognized In Conjunction With Ohio Canal Corridor At Aurora Historical Society — November 2013
The Aurora Historical Society in association with the Ohio Canal Corridor and Florian K. Lawton Foundation presented a collection of original artifacts from the 19th century in use by families and canal boats of the time, the Lawton Foundation loaned a collection of original paintings and drawings the artist created that illustrate life on the canals for early Americans in this region. A proof print was donated by the Foundation to benefit the Aurora Historical Society as a silent auction item.
FKL Recognized in 2013 by The Artists' Fellowship — July 2013
The Westwoods Nature Center in Geauga County, OH exhibited the late Florian K. Lawton's "His Amish Legacy Wtih Nature."
The Mastery of Artist - Florian K. Lawton: His Amish Legacy with Nature — June 7th - July 24th, 2013
This is a copy of the postcard mailed in May 2013 for the exhibition and sale of Paintings and Drawings by celebrated NorthEast Ohio artist Florian K. Lawton. Proceeds from sales at this event benefited Hiram College, the Malachi House and the Geauga Park District to name a few.
Attendees enjoyed fine examples of Florian K. Lawton's art from public and private collections throughout the United States. Also provided was Hors d'oeuvres and refreshments from Sara's in Gates Mills.
2012
Foundation Donates To Ursuline College — 2012
With the artist's wife having been an alumni of Ursuline College and a long history of friendships with their art department, The Foundation donated a substantial cache of the artist's stock of hand-made watercolor paper, art books and ephemera.
Exhibition - Hiram College Hiram, Ohio — July 2012
Hiram College is the proud benificiary of a beautiful collection of drawings and watercolors by local artist, Florian Lawton (1921-2011). In 2008, P. Charles Miller, Sr. and P. Charles Miller, Jr., Johnson Rubber Co. and Duramax Marine LLC, generously gifted the collection of works to Hiram College.
Historical Society Receives a Painting Donation from FKL — July 2012
The local historical society's collection will be one painting richer following the donation of a watercolor by the late Florian Lawton, renowned artist and longtime Aurora resident.
A landscape of former mayor/Councilman George Hettinger's 19th century house on the northwest corner of Bissell Road and East Pioneer Trail will be donated by the Florian K. Lawton Foundation.
FKL Recognized in 2012 by The Artists' Fellowship — July 2012
For several decades, Florian K. Lawton's paintings of Amish culture here in the United States have been collected internationally.
2011
Foundation Donates To Malachi House Annual Benefit — 2011
The Malachi House was created out of a Christian sense of ministry, serves persons who are terminally ill without cost or regard to gender, race, religion or national origin. Their annual benefit supports their mission. The foundation donated an original painting to their live auction, a narrative painting from the artist's work of the history of the Ohio Canals in the 19th century.
Foundation Donates to Ohio Wesleyan’s Snowball Benefit — Winter 2011
The foundation donates to Ohio Wesleyan's Snowball Benefit.
Foundation Donation to the American Museum of Fly Fishing — May 29, 2011
FOUNDATION DONATION — The American Museum of Fly Fishing of Manchester Vermont accepted a donation from the Foundation that was one of the artists' celebrated sporting paintings — Steelhead, Chagrin River Gates Mills, Ohio.
Announcing the FKL and American Watercolor Society Scholarship — May 26, 2011
SCHOLARSHIP AWARD — The American Watercolor Society and Florian K. Lawton Foundation have announced receipt of a generous scholarship created by the R. T. Hicks Family of North Carolina and matched by the Foundation.
2010
Foundation Donates To Pebble Hill Plantation's Permanent Collection Of Fine Art — 2010
The history of Pebble Hill Plantation resonates it's strong ties to a number of important industrial families from Cleveland, Ohio at the turn of the 20th century. The Foundation has donated a narrative original watercolor created by the artist while visiting a neighboring plantation owned by another family with early origins in Cleveland.
Media Release — November 1st, 2010
Celebrated Ohio artist Florian K. Lawton is in the spotlight again. The Butler Institute of American Art has recognized Lawton's body of work in an upcoming exhibition Fifty Years of Art. This exhibition is collaboration between the Florian K. Lawton Foundation and Henry Adams, Professor of Art History at Case Western Reserve University and former Curator of American Art at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
AWS Florian K. Lawton Invitational — Winter, 2010
Lawton’s 50 year Retrospective at the Butler Museum of American Art is celebrated.
Aurora, OH artist, Florian K. Lawton's body of work has been recognized by the Butler Institute of American Art with an upcoming exhibition, "Fifty Years of Art." The exhibition includes some 60 of Lawton's best known images, his scenes of the Pennsylvania Dutch and Amish, sporting scenes and some foreign views. His controlled washes of color and close observation of direct light reflect wthe influence of the best of the American Watercolor Tradition such as Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargeant and Andrew Wyeth.
Foundation Donates to Lancaster Historical Society — December 16, 2010
The Lancaster Historical Society issued a letter of thanks to Executive Director, Ken Lawton of the Foundation, for the donation of the original watercolor - Old Time Parking. You can read a copy of their letter of thank you here, and you can see a copy of the article they released in their December volume of "The Mirror" news publication below. You can read more about the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society by visiting their website at lmhs.org.
2009
FKL Publication — November 1st, 2009
Anything can become great subject matter for an artist. But it's those subjects that we closely identify with that often result in the most memorable, intriguing paintings of all. In this showcase, you'll discover just how wide the range of inspiration can be. From an orchard in full bloom, a backyard bird, a close-up of fruit on a tree dedicated to a loved one, to an exotic location like China or a portrait of a Sahran nomad — every subject has potential if it's close to your heart.
Half Century of Art — January 4th - February 14th 2009
Florian K. Lawton, Half Century of Art, at The Butler Institute of American Art. Yet another great display of Florian K. Lawton's precise ability to captivate the Amish lifestyle.
