Will Shuster

William Howard Shuster Jr. (1893–1969) was an American painter, sculptor and teacher.

Youth

Shuster was born November 26, 1893, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the second of three children.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War I in France, where he developed tuberculosis after being gassed. He would receive a disability pension thereafter.

New Mexico

In 1920, Shuster moved to New Mexico to improve his health and became friends with the small but growing arts community. Shuster made money doing ironwork and painting to supplement the pension. In 1921, he became a member of Los Cinco Pintores ("the five painters"), and showed throughout Santa Fe and the rest of the country with the group.

Oeuvre

His artwork is in the permanent collections of the Stark Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum, Delaware Art Museum, Newark Museum, and New Mexico Museum of Art.

undated — Senator Bronson Cutting (bronze bust) undated — Avanyu 1 undated — Avanyu 2 undated — Prayer for the Hunt undated — Portrait of Teresa Bakos undated — 40th Wedding Anniversary 1921 — New Mexico Snow Country October 1922 — The Eve of Saint Francis 1924 — Zozobra, a giant puppet now burned every year in effigy, and symbolizing the gloom of the passing year. 1927 — New Mexico Mountain Scene 1928 — Portrait of John Sloan 1929 —The Santo Domingo - Corn Dance — Trees at Canyoncito — Eagle Dancer (study for The Voice of the Sky) 1934 — Winnowing Wheat May 28 - August 8, 1934 — The Voice of the Earth (The Basket Dance) 1934 — Pottery Maker May 28 - August 28, 1934 — The Voice of the Water (The Spring Flute Ceremony) 1934 — Sermon at Cross of the Martyrs 1935 — The Voice of Sipapu (The Kiva) — Sketchbook September 14 - October 12, 1943 — The Voice of the Sky (The Eagle Dance) 1949 — Untitled (Deer Dance) 1952 — El Toro, a symbol for the Santa Fe Rodeo. 1964 — Zozobra Mural

Notes and references