Hildreth Meiere is one of the most prominent mural artists of her generation and was credited with contributing to the rise of modernism using multiple and new materials.  In addition to her work on this building, she completed murals at Temple Emmanuel, Radio City, Rockefeller Center, Nebraska State Capital reaching 100+ commissions in all. 

She always wanted to be an artist.  She was born in San Francisco and studied at the California Institute for the Arts.  Her mother took her to Italy in 1911; she was inspired by the frescoed walls.  She moved to New York and studied at the Arts Student League.  She was an unmistakable New York blue blood, invariably photographed in her ever-present pearls.   She was active in many cultural organizations.  She was the 1st VP of the Architectural League for six terms, received its gold medal in Mural Painting, Director of the Municipal Art Society, 1st Woman on the NY City Art Commission and received the 1956 Fine Arts Medal of the National AIA. 

Very witty and engaging she enjoyed attending many events ranging from lectures to boxing matches.  Invited to a black-tie dinner of the New York City Arts Commission as its first female member, “she wore a black tie,” Ms. Dunn said, “with the lowest-cut long black evening dress.” 

Transfiguration was her first collaboration with Bertram Goodhue.  They would go on to work on other projects together.