Otto Stark

Artist: Otto Stark
Birth: January 29th, 1859
Birth City:  Indianapolis, In.
Birth County: Marion
Death:  1926
Death City: Indianapolis, In.
Burial: Crown Hill Cemetary, Indianapolis, In.
Married: Marie Nitschelm 1886
Children: three

Artist Summary

Formal Training: School of Design University Cinncinatti Oiho, Art Student League New York, Academie Julian Paris
Subject Matter: Landscapes, Portraits, Flowers, Illustrations, Figure,
Media: Oil, Watercolor, Graphite,  Pen, and Ink,
Art Associations: Hoosier Salon, Society of Western Artists, Brooklyn Art Association
Art Awards: Foulke prize 1907, Hoosier Salon 1925, 1926
Art Exhibitions:

Biography of Otto Stark

The Early Years 1859 to 1888

Otto Stark 
Courtesy of the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields. 

Otto Stark was Born in Indianapolis, Indiana and came from a family of woodworkers. He set out to follow in his fathers and Grandfathers footsteps by studying carving and cabinet making at a local factory. But due to a leg injury, he switched professions and went to Cincinnati in 1875 to apprentice as a lithographer. It was during this time Stark studied at the School of Design at the University of Cincinnati which prepared him to work as a designer and illustrator in New York City. Moving to New York in 1877, Stark continued his studies at the Art Student League while working professionally. While in New York for six years he started exhibiting his work publicly. In 1885 Otto moved to Paris and was accepted into the Academie Julian where he studied under Gustave Clarence Rodolphe Boulanger and Jules-Joseph Lefebvre.  While in Paris Otto Stark meet his wife Marie Nitschelm in 1886 and they had their first child in 1887.  Starks work began to receive more attention once accepted into the Paris Salon of 1887.  After finishing his education in 1888, Otto and his wife moved back to New York where he continued to work as a commercial artist to support his family.

Otto Starks Life in Indianapolis from 1891 to 1926

While in New York Otto and Marie had two more children. Sadly Marie's health began to decline, and she died in November 1891. With three children Otto moved back to Indianapolis so his Father and Sister could help out with the kids. While his Father and sister looked after the kids, Stark moved to Cincinnati to work as a designer for a Lithography company, but after two years he moved back to Indianapolis and opened a studio. Otto Stark taught watercolor and oil while exhibiting his work as a member of the Hoosier Group with fellow artist T. C. Steele, William Forsythe, Richard Gruelle and John Ottis Adams. He became a member of the faculty at the John Heron Institute teaching inspiring young artists.

List of Entries at the Society of Western Artists

Submitted by Otto Stark at the annual Society of Western Artists Exhibition (1896 - 1914)

1. The First Annual Exhibition of “The Society of Western Artists” from 1896 to 1897 submitted four paintings titled - Sparrows, Autumn reflection (Watercolor), The story, Character head (Watercolor).
2. The Second Annual Exhibition of  “The Society of Western Artists” 1897 - 1898 submitted five paintings titled –  Idyl, Portrait of my Father, The Turbulent Brook (Watercolor), The Round Table, Day Dream.
3. The Third Annual Exhibition of "The Society of Western Artists” submitted four paintings titled A misty morning, A little Hoosier girl, "Breakfast, Red, Green.
4. The Fourth Annual Exhibition of  “The Society of Western Artists” submitted two paintings titled The Brook, Solo.
5. The Fifth Annual Exhibition of  “The Society of Western Artists”  submitted one painting titled Nocturn, Electric light.
6. The Sixth Annual Exhibition of “The Society of Western Artists”  submitted six paintings titled The light roseate, The young fisherman - watercolor, October (watercolor), An August Afternoon - watercolor, Finale - (watercolor), Evening quiet (watercolor).
7. The Seventh Annual Exhibition of  "The Society of Western Artists”  submitted two paintings titled The River Bend watercolor, The seiner (watercolor).
8. The Ninth Annual Exhibition of “The Society of Western Artists” submitted three paintings titled The bather, Landscape, After the rain.
9. The Tenth Annual Exhibition of “The Society of Western Artists” submitted three paintings titled Two girls, The pool at dusk, The skater
10. The Eleventh Annual Exhibition of “The Society of Western Artists” submitted four paintings titled
11. Last rays, Hoosier country, Dusk, The red barn (color drawing).
12. The Twelfth Annual Exhibition of “The Society of Western Artists” submitted four paintings titled Earth and Sky, The golden glow, Twilight in the forest, Spring idyl.
13. The Thirteenth Annual Exhibition of “The Society of Western Artists” submitted five paintings titled Trumpet Flowers, The pergola, Sky Wings, Storm clouds, Evening quiet.
14. The Fourteenth Annual Exhibition of “The Society of Western Artists” submitted five paintings titled
15. A summer morning, A summer afternoon, The distant city, The old bridge Sunspots, and shadow.
16. The fifteenth annual Exhibition of “The Society of Western Artists” submitted four paintings titled The bell-tower, Movin water, Twilight on the river (Color drawing), Electric light effect (Color drawing).
17. The Sixteenth Annual Exhibition of “The Society of Western Artists” submitted three paintings titled The crest of the Hills - Charcoal Painting, The hill country - Charcoal painting, Broken reflections.
18. The Seventeenth Annual Exhibition of “The Society of Western Artists” submitted two paintings titled Building operations, The gravel screen
19. The Eighteenth Annual Exhibition of “The Society of Western Artists” submitted three paintings titled Broken reflections, Twilight,  Afterglow

Other Relevant Posts

Members of the Hoosier Group: T.C. Steele, William Forsyth, John Ottis, Adams, Richard B. Gruelle

Sources

1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Stark
2. Otto Stark Photo; Courtesy of the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields
3. Art Institute of Chicago (1896 - 1914), Exhibition brochures