Walter Kuse

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Walter Kuse

(1896, Medford, WI -  ?)

Walter Kuse successfully balanced farm living with painting during his life. On his thirty-five acre farm fit with an orchard, garden, pasture for a small dairy herd, and a house he designed and built himself with glacial stones gathered from the land, Kuse found much happiness and inspiration for his artwork.

Kuse’s grandfather and father both carved, albeit functional items for the home and toys. When he was a young boy, his father supported the pursuit of artistic activities in his free time. While in the second grade, he was encouraged by his teacher to enter a drawing in the county fair. He won first prize. From then on, teachers and local ministers sponsored his artwork.

In 1929, Kuse was given an apprenticeship in the Henry Keck stained glass window shop in Syracuse. Up until the Depression, Kuse also studied charcoal drawing at Syracuse University. He then returned to his wife and farm in Wisconsin due to financial obligations.

Kuse took an interest in wood carving and also painted in oils Wisconsin history and landscape. He is, however, most known for his large and dramatic painted murals which hung in a dozen churches in central and northern Wisconsin. Each employed a rich color palette and deep emotion.

Kuse exhibited with the Rural Artists in Madison.

Source: John Rector Barton, “Church Muralist”, Rural Artists of Wisconsin (Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1948), 83-88.

Museum of Wisconsin Art, https://wisconsinart.org/archives/artist/walter-kuse/profile-1982.aspx

Photo credit: Photo credit: John Rector Barton, Rural Artists of Wisconsin (Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1948), 83.