biography of Nelbert Murphy CHOUINARD (1879-1969)

Birth place: Montevideo, MN

Addresses: Settled in CA in 1909; South Pasadena, CA, 1947; Los Angeles, CA, 1959

Profession: Educator, landscape painter, designer

Studied: PIA Sch.; Arthur Dow; Ernest Batchelder; Ralph Johonnot; Hans Hofmann, Munich

Member: Calif. AC; Allied AA

Comments: Positions: T., Throop Inst., 1909; T., Batchelder Schl of Design; T., Otis Art Inst.; Fndr./Pres., Chouinard Art Institute,1921-69. Between 1921-1972, the Chouinard Art Inst. attracted 50,000 students and 400 teachers, many of whom were well-known, such as Archipenko and MacDonald-Wright. The school was merged with the LA Cons. of Music in 1961 and became the Calif. Inst. of Arts; however, most of the staff was fired after her death in 1969 and the school closed in 1972 despite the patronage of Walt Disney. Awards: Woman of the Year," Los Angeles Times, 1956.

Sources: WW59; WW40; Hughes, Artists in California, 102; Archives of American Art Journal vol.27, No. 2, 1987, p.39"

Legals