This biography from the Archives of AskART:
| Born in Two Rivers Wisconsin, Lester Bentley loved to paint still life, abstraction, torn down buildings, storms and animals. He was introduced to painting as a young boy by his father, George Bentley. At age 13, Lester Bentley won 1st place at State Fair Competition and through high school, painted signs and murals.
After high school, he attended the Chicago Art Institute and then was hired there as a painting instructor. He took painting trips to Mexico, Haiti, and Cuba and also painted recruitment posters for the USCG.
He worked for Portraits, Inc., which specialized in political figures. Of him it was said that he lived "for the brush and his family". With his camera, he enjoyed storm chasing with his family of three boys and lovely wife Connie.
His son George, has a gallery and museum of his father's work in Ellison Bay, Wisconsin.
Submitted by George Bentley, son of the artist
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This biography from the Archives of AskART:
| Lester
Bentley decided he wanted to be an artist at the age of seven. He had
his first exhibit at the age of thirteen. While best known for his
portraits and murals, Bentley was also an accomplished lithographer and
an art teacher. He was commissioned to paint a portrait of President
Eisenhower in academic gown for Columbia University.
His main
residence was in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, but he also had a winter studio
in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Bentley studied under Vidanretta in Mexico.
He taught art in 1933-1934 at Two Rivers Vocational School during the
summer.
Source: http://www.wbartmuseum.com/artists/bentley.htm | |
This biography from the Archives of AskART:
| Note from David Ralston:
I purchased a Lester Bentley painting of a young girl in red jacket. Lester Bentley was an American artist who painted President Dwight D Eisenhower's portrait, which is displayed in Columbia University. He also worked for the US Government painting murals in government buildings during the 1930's.
Many museums in Wisconsin have his works in them since he was originally from that state and is well known there. Bentley's paintings do not sell often because there are not many ever placed on the market.
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