Swisher, Allan Lee (1888-1960)

Born in Gypsum, KS, Swishers appears to have been somewhat of a provocateur from a young age; he started his own newspaper at age eleven and by the next year had been made an honorary member of the State Editorial Association. He studied with Harry M. Walcott at the Art Institute of Chicago, and later with Jean-Paul Laurens at the Académie Julian, Paris. In Chicago, he was among a group who formed the Independent Art Society, seeking representation for local painters (Chicago Tribune 26 Feb. 1916: 11). His works were exhibited at places like the Art Institute of Chicago, the Carnegie Institute, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the National Academy of Design. For a time Swisher taught art at the University of Kentucky, meanwhile supplementing his income through portrait painting. Judging from peppery letters to the editor over the years, Swisher never lost his interest in the life of a newspaperman. 14 more images at FAP.

Works in the New Deal Collection at GVCA by Allan Lee Swisher:

Featured
July Flowers
July Flowers

A clear glass vase holds a bouquet of mostly red flowers, with one yellow flower in the center. These flowers are thought to be zinnias. The goblet-like vase is sitting on a table draped over with a red patterned tablecloth. The background is a patterned, blue and light-brown wallpaper, leaving the bouquet of flowers to stand out with their bright colors.

May Flowers
May Flowers

A table is the support for a Grecian-style vase containing flowers including carnations, daisies, irises, lilies, and baby's breath. These colorful flowers stick out against a dull brown background. Some of the flowers are noticeably droopy and the shading shows there is light hitting the vase from the left.

swisherGVCA