Thomas Hart Benton

(American, 1889–1975)

Born in Neosho, Missouri, Thomas Hart Benton grew up surrounded by politics and public life, traveling with his father and observing the theater of negotiation. Even as a child, he displayed a gift for drawing, creating murals in charcoal on walls long before he studied formally at the Art Institute of Chicago and later in Paris at the Academie Julian under Jean-Paul Laurens abd briefly at the Academie Collarossi. Benton returned to America to become a leader of the Regionalist movement, celebrated for his dynamic murals and vibrant easel paintings that captured the energy, labor, and landscapes of the United States.

Benton’s work is noted for its bold compositions, rhythmic forms, and colorful humanity. Though sometimes controversial, his murals and paintings reflect both theatrical drama and deep empathy for American life. Standing just over five feet tall, Benton was a vivid personality, outspoken, energetic, and unforgettable, whose influence extended beyond his own work as the teacher of Jackson Pollock, shaping a generation of American art.