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Bill Cosby; Ralph Smith, MD; a “fatal attraction” scenario. However,
Parrish Hall; Gladys Rodgers; and the after Ellen, Laslo and Joe mingled a bit,
Philadelphia Museum of Art (through Laslo invited Joe to go out with them.

Director Anne d’Harnoncourt) have Being a few years younger than Ellen,
collected her work. Te museum’s Joe appeared harmless to her: “She had
permanent collection includes 13 no clue. I was this young art student who
pieces of Ellen’s artwork. wanted to tag along. She was beautiful,”
he said.
“Ellen was fascinated with art and
being an artist. She never thought Little did Ellen know of the heartfelt
Moon Face by Ellen Powell Tiberino.
that she would or could get married plans he had for their future together.
because all she wanted to do was Who could blame him? Her beauty

to be an artist,” said Joe. Ellen graduated from the was art itself. Her image and her artwork is everywhere
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (the nation’s oldest in their (home) museum to remind you; it comes
art school and the same academy where Henry Ossawa through the family she loved. As a result, Joe and
Tanner studied, in the late 19th century). In 1959, she Ellen’s collaboration can be seen and felt in their home-

became the frst Black woman to win the prestigious museum, inside and outside. “Having the work shown
Cresson Traveling Scholarship, which allowed her to where it was done is very important,” Joe said.
travel and study in Europe.
With a pulpit at the center of the outdoor space,

After graduation in 1961, Ellen decided to move the museum is a compilation of four houses and nine
to New York City to work and become an integral yards. Your senses are stimulated at every angle. Truly
part of the city’s art scene. It was at her going-away an artistic retreat, or as her son Raphael described it:
party that she frst met Joe, who at the time was “A total artistic meeting hall.”
living in Philadelphia, attending the Philadelphia
Often, Ellen taught art classes to children at the school
College of Art, from which he would later graduate.
her son Raphael attended. On Saturdays at her home,
Shortly after Ellen moved to New York, Joe traveled
she taught classes for aspiring artists, many of whom are
there to see her, not allowing distance to impede
well-known artists now.
his mission.
Considering all the art the family has produced and Sister Jennieva by Ellen Powell Tiberino.
Finally at her door, Joe Tiberino confdently knocked
continues to produce, Raphael said, “When creating,
upon it, and Laslo––Ellen’s current beau and a six-foot
there is complete involvement. Te favorite one is the
wall of muscle––greeted him. Although Ellen was at
piece you are working on. You can lose connection with
work when Joe called on her, Laslo invited him into
it when you’re not working on it.” Further, Raphael
their home. Joe and Laslo “hung out” at the apartment
believes that the legacy his mother left for him is “how”
that afternoon, and when Ellen returned home, Laslo
she did things: “It’s part of who I am,” he said.
proclaimed, “Your good friend, Joe, is here!” Raphael

remembers his father telling him that the look on Ellen’s Te Tiberino family is truly an artistic community:
face was one of shock and horror: She feared this was

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