Robert Hodgell

BORN: 1922, Makato, KS

DIED: 2000, Bradenton, FL

Robert Overman Hodgell was born in Makato, Kansas in 1922.

Greatly influenced by Kansas artist and Regionalist, John Steuart Curry, he attended the University of Wisconsin - Madison where Curry was hired to develop the nation's first Artist in Residence program, and promote the rural arts activities in Wisconsin.

He later received his B.S. and M.S. degrees during the early 1940s from UW. While there, he also studied printmaking under Alfred Sessler - and became quite an accomplished print maker. In 1946, Hodgell became a mural assistant to Curry, including assisting him on his last mural, “Youth Helps Build a Better World”. Upon Curry's death, Hodgell actually finished executing a series of murals for Wisconsin's State Fair.

From 1957 to 1959, he taught at the University of Wisconsin – Madison Extension Division.

From 1961 to 1978, he taught at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida. He also taught art at the Ringling School of Art and New College and the University of South Florida, Sarasota. He also opened his own Art gallery in Florida.

Hodgell’s works can be seen in many permanent collections including the Library of Congress, Miller Art Museum, Eckert College, and the Ringling Museum of Art.