In Memoriam: Pilar Pobil

The College of Humanities community is deeply saddened by the loss of Pilar Pobil, a Spanish-born artist who became a treasured Utah artistic and cultural icon, who passed away on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at the age of 98. She leaves a legacy of artistic innovation, cultural understanding, and unwavering commitment to human rights. Her longstanding ties with the college include permanent art collections decorating the walls of both the Languages & Communication Building and the Carolyn Tanner Irish Humanities Building, as well as an endowed scholarship in her name.

Life & Art

Pobil was born in 1926 in Mallorca, Spain and emigrated to the U.S. with her husband, the late Walter Smith, in 1956. Despite being born in a time when women were not encouraged to pursue their ambitions, she had artistic inclinations from a very young age but did not begin her career as an artist until she was in her forties. She preferred mediums of oil, acrylics, watercolors, and clay sculptures, saying “Within these different mediums, there is a common denominator that defines by style: I am primarily interested in expression. I use form, color, light and shadow, to define as strongly as I can what I want the viewer to see and feel.”

In addition to her career as an artist, she has been a dedicated proponent of human rights. She has received numerous accolades and awards throughout her life, including a knighthood from King Felipe VI of Spain. Her work is displayed in many permanent collections across the state of Utah, the southwestern United States, and beyond.

Perhaps what Pobil is better known for than the awards and honors, however, is the sense of openness and welcome that were hallmarks of her character. She often opened her home, vividly colored and bursting with life, to schoolchildren, fellow artists, Humanities students, and the broader community, hosting fundraising events, art classes, and the annual event, Art in Pilar’s Garden. Christie Toth, Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Writing and Rhetoric Studies, who worked closely with Pobil on her Humanities scholarships, reflects on her warmth and connections with students. “In addition to providing essential scholarship support, she opened her home to students, sharing her beautiful art and sharing stories from her life, which spanned almost a century across two continents,” Toth says. “So often, those conversations became opportunities to share intergenerational experiences related to gender, language, culture, art, and the ways people cope with the impact of larger political forces. I know those personal connections meant a lot to the students.”

Pilar Pobil Humanities Scholarship

In 2023, the Pilar Pobil Legacy Foundation established an endowment to permanently fund the Pilar Pobil Humanities Scholarship in the College of Humanities. This funding is awarded annually to first-generation students who are transferring from Salt Lake Community College to the University of Utah in the Writing Studies Scholars program who have demonstrated a commitment to human rights and social justice.

Fiorella Davila, who received the scholarship for the 2024-2025 academic year, describes the twofold impact this award had in her life. “Learning that this scholarship comes from an endowment honoring Pilar Pobil – a remarkable artist and advocate for women immigrants – makes this recognition even more special,” Davila says. “As a first-generation college student from an immigrant family, this support goes beyond financial assistance; it symbolizes a connection to a legacy of resilience, empowerment and advocacy for communities like mine.”

Since its establishment, this scholarship has helped several students in the program. But beyond the students, past and future, who will benefit from this legacy, Christie Toth attests to the extraordinary impact Pobil had on everyone she met. “Pilar had such a rich and impactful life, and I am really grateful that I and so many students in Writing Studies Scholars had the opportunity to spend time with her,” says Toth.  “We will miss Pilar very much, and I’m very glad we will have the opportunity to remember her life and work every year when we award these scholarships.”

Please consider supporting students like Fiorella by making a gift to the Pilar Pobil Humanities Scholarship in honor and memory of Pilar’s incredible life, legacy, and unbounded impact.