▁ ▁D ame ▁Laura ▁Knight ▁becomes ▁the ▁first ▁woman ▁elected ▁to ▁the ▁Royal ▁Academy ▁ ▁B irth s ▁ ▁January ▁ 1 1 ▁– ▁Eva ▁H esse , ▁German - born ▁American ▁sculpt or ▁( d . ▁ 1 9 7 0 ) ▁ ▁January ▁ 2 3 ▁– ▁Will ough by ▁Sh arp , ▁American ▁author , ▁cur ator ▁and ▁critic ▁( d . ▁ 2 0 0 8 ) ▁ ▁February ▁ 1 6 ▁– ▁Gill ian ▁W ise , ▁English ▁abstract ▁artist ▁( d . ▁ 2 0 2 0 ) ▁ ▁February ▁ 2 9 ▁– ▁Frank ▁Bow ling , ▁Guy ana - born ▁British ▁abstract ▁artist ▁ ▁March ▁ 2 3 ▁– ▁J ann is ▁K oun ell is , ▁Greek - born ▁artist ▁( d . ▁ 2 0 1 7 ) ▁ ▁April ▁ 1 ▁– ▁D hi raj ▁Ch oud h ury , ▁Indian ▁painter ▁( d . ▁ 2 0 1 8 ) ▁ ▁May ▁ 1 0 ▁ ▁Tim othy ▁Bird s all , ▁English ▁cart oon ist ▁and ▁illustr ator ▁( d . ▁ 1 9 6 3 ) ▁Isaac ▁Wit kin , ▁South ▁African ▁sculpt or ▁( d . ▁ 2 0 0 6 ) ▁ ▁May ▁ 1 2 ▁– ▁Frank ▁St ella , ▁Italian ▁American ▁painter ▁ ▁May ▁ 1 5 ▁– ▁Ralph ▁Ste ad man , ▁English ▁car ic atur ist ▁ ▁June ▁ 1 5 ▁– ▁Edward ▁A ved is ian , ▁American ▁abstract ▁painter ▁( d