Charles Anthony Wilimovsky

Charles Anthony Wilimovsky was an influential painter and printmaker from the early part of the 20th century. Wilimovsky took classes at the Art Institute of Chicago and was a student of J.C. Johansen and William M. Chase. In 1912 he was awarded the John Quincy Adams Prize for studies abroad, where he studied in Paris at the Académie Julian and in Florence, Italy.

Wilimovsky moved to Kansas City in 1914 and became head of the Painting Department at what was then known as the Fine Arts Institute of Kansas City (now the Kansas City Art Institute).  He chaired the Painting Department from 1914 until approximately 1923. He taught drawing from cast, still life drawing and painting, and landscape. 

During this time, Wilimovsky’s work, which included etchings, engravings, oil paintings, linoleum cuts and prints, was exhibited in the Midwestern Artists’ Exhibition, earning awards including most meritorious work in any medium (1916) and best oil painting (1920).

Wilimovsky then moved to his birth city of Chicago, where he taught at the Art Institute of Chicago. He became a full-time faculty member in painting in 1929 and taught there until 1948.

He also exhibited during his time in Chicago, winning multiple awards, including the Clyde M. Carr Prize in 1929 and 1937 and the William and Bertha Clusmann Prize in 1924, 1929 and 1937. 

He traveled throughout this period and made frequent visits to Mexico and the American Southwest. He eventually moved to California and taught at the Art Institute of California, Los Angeles. Wilimovsky died in Torrance, California, on October 15, 1974.