Lester O. Schwartz

Lester O. Schwartz (29 June 1912 - 16 May 2006) was an American painter, sculptor and printmaker who was born in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Schwartz studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago under the direction of Boris Anisfeld, a Russian-American painter and theater designer. In 1937, the Art Institute of Chicago awarded Schwartz the Edward L. Ryerson Traveling Fellowship of $2500.00, which funded a two year long expedition to the South Pacific, Europe, and Asia. During his travels he met Pablo Picasso at Le Dôme Café in Paris. This meeting would heavily influence Schwartz and his future art.

Early life and education Lester O. Schwartz was born on 29 June 1912 in the city of Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Schwartz attended Lincoln High School in Manitowoc, where he became the Art Editor for his school newspaper, "The Manitou". He worked as a cartoonist for various local newspapers throughout his high school career.

During his first year back in Chicago, Schwartz won first prize in the "40th Annual Exhibition by Artists of Chicago & Vicinity" for one of his paintings. This brought him mild recognition, and his art was soon featured in Chicago magazines and newspapers. The American Federation of Arts included Schwartz in their 1937 edition of "Who's Who in American Art".

Shortly after leaving the Army in 1944, Schwartz began his first professional job as an instructor at the Layton School of Art. This was a temporary position, teaching outdoor sketching and painting for nine weeks. For the rest of his life, Schwartz taught classes, and continued to exhibit his work around the United States.

Accomplishments and influence During his career, Schwartz worked with a variety of mediums including: oil, acrylic, gouache, etching, watercolor, lithograph, mobiles, and sculpture.

Lester Schwartz died on 16 May 2006 in Ripon, Wisconsin.