Lester Schwartz attended the Chicago Art Institute, the Imperial Art School in Tokyo, the Colarossi Academy in Paris and the American Academy in Rome. After training as a student of art, Mr. Schwartz served as a teacher at several institutions.  He taught art at the Chicago Art Institute, the Layton Art School in Milwaukee and was an artist in residence at Ripon College from 1944 until 1977. Left: Schwartz at work.

A prolific artist, several of his works can be seen around campus today.  These include a series of portraits of Ripon College faculty dressed in Renaissance garb (located in West 2); The Staking of the College which depicts a scene from the founding of Ripon College (located in the Museum and on the cover of Ripon College: A History); and others.

His shows include:

• Chicago Art Institute
• Milwaukee Art Institute
• Galleries at many different colleges and universities

His exhibits include:

• Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Whitney Museum in New York
• Carnegie in Pittsburgh
• Walker Art Center in Minneapolis
• Salon d’ Automne in Paris
• Many private collections

Above: Schwartz instructs students in his painting class.

By Megan Sikowski