Artist: Loret Mast

Loret Mast, IOWA

View work by Loret Mast

Iowa City Artist

Following is an excerpt from the 2020 Ovation of Iowa Women:

"Loret Mast is a character in the best sense. Born and raised in Montana, she rode her horse Lark to her one room schoolhouse, and when she learned to drive a car, with her pet sheep Mossy. After attending Montana State University, she married Tom Burton and, with three young children (Craig, Julia, and Hanly), made her way to Iowa City, where Tom assumed a faculty position at the UI College of Medicine. In addition to full time parenting, she earned her BFA in painting from the UI. A fierce advocate of women’s, human, and LGBTQ rights, and politically active in local and national politics, Loret has served on the boards of DVIP, RVAP, Iowa Abortion Rights Action League, and NARAL.

Some of Loret’s favorite memories of grassroots politics are attending rallies with her daughter Julia and driving Jesse Jackson Sr. across Iowa during his presidential campaigns. Loret is a prolific painter and ceramicist, with works at UIHC and in private homes. She’s known in the community for her love of animals: this photo was taken when she and her dog Guernsey won a pet/owner look-a-like contest!

She’s generous with friends, helping care for them when they are ill and serenading them on the accordion for birthdays! Her love for her family is exceeded only by how much they treasure her: “Loret has an insatiable curiosity about the world. She has a wickedly sharp sense of humor, an incredible mind, and a courageous heart. I’m honored to be her daughter.” To Loret with much love, from Julia, Hanley, all the grandkids, and your many, many friends."