Dorothy Newkirk Stewart:Santa Fe Artist and Printmaker

My name is Elizabeth Barr Bryant. I am a historian, musician, former actor, massage therapist, and first-time author dedicated to preserving the early 20th-century artistic legacy of my family. A graduate of the Webster Conservatory in St. Louis, Missouri, I spent years as a professional performer, earning my Actor’s Equity card and even playing Marilyn Monroe at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.

My life took a radical turn in 1991 when I left the “bright lights” of the theater to seek sanctuary in the mountains of Western North Carolina. There, I donned a new costume—that of a “woods-woman” and amateur carpenter, mirroring the leap of faith my great-grandaunt, Dorothy Stewart, took in 1921. With the help of friends, I built a 420-square-foot, off-the-grid cabin beside a mountain stream. In that rustic space, I discovered the beauty of simplicity and a life attuned to the sun. This grounding chapter led to a rewarding three-decade career in massage therapy and yoga instruction.

In 2020, when the pandemic paused my bodywork practice, I began my latest reinvention: unearthing the “lost” history of pioneering artist and printer Dorothy Newkirk Stewart. What began as an exploration of family roots evolved into an immersive biographical journey, tracing Dorothy’s path from the East Coast to the rugged landscapes of the American Southwest and Mexico. Through this deep archival dive, I have not only recovered a vital figure in Santa Fe’s cultural development, but I have also discovered my own creative voice.

Today, I live in Winston-Salem with my husband Matthew and our tuxedo cat, Elsa. Inspired by Dorothy’s spirit, I have stepped into the studio myself. I am currently experimenting with printmaking, watching original 1920s linocuts find new expression on a vintage Vandercook press, keeping the spirit of her “Pictograph Press” alive for a new generation.

My upcoming book, Dorothy Stewart: Santa Fe Artist and Printmaker, a comprehensive biography documenting her extraordinary life, art, and relationships, will be published by McFarland & Company, Inc. in March 2027.