Shute, Ben
(1905-1986)
“Capella de San Diego, Churubusco, Coyoacan, Mexico City”

Artist Biography

Ben Shute (1905-1986)

Born/lived: Altoona, WI and lived in Atlanta, GA

Known: Shute was a vital member of the Southern art scene. In 1928 Shute co-founded the School of the High Museum of Art, known later as the Atlanta College of Art, and is now the Savannah School of Art and Design. Shute is known as a realist in the expressionist school, as a painter, instructor, museum director and lecturer.

Studied: Art Institute of Chicago and the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts; H.A. Oberteuffer; G. Oberteuffer; A. Philbrick; C. Werntz.

Member: Southern States Art League; Georgia Art Assoc.; Atlanta Art Guild; National Society of Painters in Casein; Salmagundi Club.

Exhibited: Pasadena Art Institute; Assoc. American Artists; Corcoran Gallery; Art Institute of Chicago; Southern States Art League; Telfair Academy; Georgia Art Assoc.; Atlanta Watercolor Club (prize) ; Mead Paper Co. (award) and numerous others. He co-founded the Southeastern Annual Exhibition so his students could exhibit their work. The Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia, Athens, GA honored his career with an exhibition at the Atlanta College of Art July 11-August 11, 2002.

Taught: at the School of the High Museum of Art for 58 years and was a director of the High Museum of Art; lectures on contemporary American painting; instructor, Atlanta Art Institute.

Work: museums, public and private collections such as the High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Georgia; Columbus Museum of Arts and Crafts; Georgia Institute of Technology; Emory Univ.; and Museum of Art, Columbia, SC.

Publications: Ben Shute: The Teacher as Artist,

Positions: Chairman, Southeastern Annual Exhibition, 16 years.