The Chouinard Art Institute was a professional art school founded in 1921 by Nelbert Murphy Chouinard (1879–1969) in the Westlake neighborhood of

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

. In 1961, Walt and

Roy Disney Roy Disney may refer to: * Roy O. Disney (1893–1971), partner and elder brother of Walt Disney * Roy E. Disney Roy Edward Disney KCSG (January 10, 1930 – December 16, 2009) was an American businessman. He was the longtime senior executive ...

guided the merger of the Chouinard Art Institute and the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music to establish the

California Institute of the Arts The California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) is a private art university in Santa Clarita, California. It was incorporated in 1961 as the first degree-granting institution of higher learning in the US created specifically for students of both ...

. Chouinard continued to operate until the new campus opened in 1970.

History

Founded by artist and educator Nelbert Murphy Chouinard in 1921 with the goal of creating a renowned art school on the West Coast, the school grew during the subsequent decades and in 1935 it was recognized by the California state government as a non-profit educational facility. In 1929,

Walt Disney Walter Elias Disney (; December 5, 1901December 15, 1966) was an American animator, film producer and entrepreneur. A pioneer of the American animation industry, he introduced several developments in the production of cartoons. As a film p ...

began driving his inexperienced animators to the school for Friday night classes, a tradition that would continue for many years. Several years later Disney hired a Chouinard teacher named Donald Graham to teach more formal classes on studio property. Chouinard would later be used by Disney as a breeding ground for artists for ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs''. In the early 1950s Mrs. Chouinard had a stroke and could not run the school; in gratitude for letting his animators study there, Walt Disney supported the school financially and took over administrative duties. He also attempted to expand the school into what he called a "City of the Arts". This eventually led to the merger of Chouinard and Los Angeles Conservatory of Music into the

in 1961. Chouinard officially closed when its successor began operations in 1970.

Legacy

The Chouinard Art Institute building is situated at 743 Grand View Street in the Westlake district of

central Los Angeles __NOTOC__ Central Los Angeles is the historic urban region of the City of Los Angeles, California. Geography The City of Los Angeles The Los Angeles Department of City Planning divides the city into Area Planning Commission (APC) areas, each fu ...

. Today it is used by the Western Day Care School, a child-care center.Mike Boehm (April 15, 2014)
L.A.'s Chouinard Art Institute chronicled in new documentary film
''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the ...

''. Dave Tourjé, who became fascinated by the institute's history after buying and restoring Nelbert Chouinard’s 1907 home in South Pasadena, California, helped to establish the Chouinard Foundation, which produced a 2001 retrospective exhibition and gave art classes, first in its own building and then under contract with the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. Since 2009, when funding for the art classes ran out, Tourje has focused on keeping the Chouinard name alive, including a Chouinard Foundation website with archival material. Produced and directed by Gianina Ferreyra in 2013, the 51-minute documentary film ''Curly'' addresses the school’s history from 1921 to 1972, including interviews with artists Larry Bell,

Laddie John Dill Laddie John Dill (born Long Beach, CA, 1943) is an American artist. Dill calls his work "light sentences". Dill received a BFA degree from Chouinard Art Institute, Los Angeles, in 1968. Education Dill was educated at the Chouinard Art Institute ...

, Llyn Foulkes, Joe Goode, Ed Ruscha, and

Peter Shire Peter Shire (born 1947) is a Los Angeles-based artist. Shire was born in the Echo Park district of Los Angeles, where he currently lives and works. His sculpture, furniture and ceramics have been exhibited in the United States, Italy, France, Ja ...

, among others.

Notable alumni

* Manuel Gregorio Acosta (1921–1989), painter and illustrator * Terry Allen, singer and painter * Gladys Aller (1915–1970), painter * John Altoon (1925–1969), painter * Pete Alvarado (1920–2003), animator and comic book artist * Robert Alvarez, animator * Charles Arnoldi, painter, sculptor, and printmaker * Ralph Bacerra (1938–2008), ceramist * Don Bachardy, portrait artist * Milo Baughman (1923–2003), modern furniture designer * Larry Bell, artist and sculptor * Ted Berman (1919–2001), animator * Ed Benedict (1912–2006), animator, designer *

Marjorie Best Marjorie Best (10 April 1903 – 14 June 1997) was an American Hollywood costume designer known for her period designs. Best was born in Jacksonville, Illinois and studied at the Chouinard Art Institute. She taught school briefly before g ...

(1903–1997), costume designer *

Mary Blair Mary Blair (born Mary Browne Robinson; October 21, 1911 – July 26, 1978) was an American artist, animator, and designer. She was prominent in producing art and animation for The Walt Disney Company, drawing concept art for such films as ''A ...

(1911–1978), painter, animator * Preston Blair (1908–1995), animator *

Robert Blue Robert Dunlap Blue (1946 – January 22, 1998Art-Mart.com /ref>) was a painter noted for his images of pin-up girls in the 1980s and later his cowgirls of the New West series. He was the son of comedic actor Ben Blue. Blue's work precedes that o ...

(1946–1998), pin-up artist * Harry Bowden (1907–1965), painter * Michael Bowen (1937–2009), painting, performance art * Cory Buckner, architect * Timothy J. Clark, painter *

Mary Corse Mary Corse (born 1945) is an American artist who lives and works in Topanga, California. Fascinated with perceptual phenomena and the idea that light itself can serve as both subject and material in art, Corse's practice can be seen as existing at ...

, painter associated with the Light and Space movement *

Richard Cromwell Richard Cromwell (4 October 162612 July 1712) was an English statesman who was the second and last Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland and son of the first Lord Protector, Oliver Cromwell. On his father's deat ...

(1910–1960), actor *

Alice Estes Davis Alice Estes Davis (March 26, 1929 – November 3, 2022) was an American costume designer. She is most famous for her work with Walt Disney, who employed her to develop costumes for films, television, and theme parks. She was married to Marc D ...

, costume designer *

Ernest de Soto Ernest Frank de Soto (October 26, 1923 – December 29, 2014) was an American master printmaker and lithographer, who specialized in American and Mexican prints during his career. He established and directed his own printing workshop, the de Soto W ...

(1923–2014), master lithographer *

John DeCuir John DeCuir (June 4, 1918 – October 29, 1991) was a Hollywood art director and production designer known for his elaborate set designs that were illustrated with his own watercolor paintings.http://www.adg.org/?content=cm§ion=14 www.adg.org ...

(1918–1991), art director * Guy Dill, sculptor * Donfeld (1934–2007), costume designer *

Boyd Elder Harold Boyd Elder (January 12, 1944 – October 6, 2018), was an American artist. Born in El Paso, Elder was raised by Hal Elder and Billye Lee Bell Elder with brothers Kenneth Mack Elder and Howard Stanton Elder. Boyd Elder studied at Burges Hi ...

(1944–2018) Experimental & album cover artist * Jules Engel (1909–2003), animator and painter * Lilly Fenichel (1927–2016), painter *

Sandra Fisher Sandra Maureen Fisher (6 May 1947 – 19 September 1994), was an American figure painter based in London and who was born in New York City. Biography Fisher was born in New York City and her family moved to Miami in 1948 where her father Gene F ...

(1947–1994), painter * Llyn Foulkes, painter * Gyo Fujikawa (1908–1998), children's book author and illustrator * Hisao "Hy" Fujita (1937-), graphic designer, illustrator,photographer. *

S. Neil Fujita Sadamitsu "S. Neil" Fujita ("Foo-JEE-ta") (May 16, 1921 – October 23, 2010) was an American graphic designer known for his innovative book cover and record album designs. Early life Born in Waimea, Hawaii, to Japanese immigrants, Fujita a ...

(1921–2010), graphic designer. * A.C. Gamer (1899-1964), effects animator *

Harper Goff Harper Goff (March 16, 1911 – March 3, 1993), born Ralph Harper Goff, was an American artist, musician, and actor. For many years, he was associated with The Walt Disney Company, in the process of which he contributed to various major film ...

(1911–1993), artist and art director * Jack Goldstein (1945–2003), painter * Joe Goode, painter * Rick Griffin (1944–1991), artist and cartoonist * Roberta Griffith, painter and ceramist * Frederick Hammersley (1919–2009), painter *

Laverne Harding Emily Laverne Harding (October 10, 1905 – September 25, 1984) was an American animator and cartoonist. Early life Harding was born on October 10th, 1905 to Christians John B. Harding and Pearle W. Harding in Shreveport, Louisiana. Her family ...

(1905–1984), animator * Edith Head (1897–1981), costume designer * Larry Huber, animator * Robert Irwin, installation artist *

Elois Jenssen Elois Jenssen (November 5, 1922 – February 14, 2004) was an American film and television costume designer. She earned Academy Awards nominations for design work in the Cecil B. DeMille production ''Samson and Delilah'' (1949) and for her work ...

(1922–2004), costume designer * Ollie Johnston (1912–2008), animator, one of Disney's Nine Old Men *

Chuck Jones Charles Martin Jones (September 21, 1912 – February 22, 2002) was an American animator, director, and painter, best known for his work with Warner Bros. Cartoons on the '' Looney Tunes'' and '' Merrie Melodies'' series of shorts. He wrote, pro ...

(1912–2002), animator of ''

Looney Tunes ''Looney Tunes'' is an American animated comedy short film series produced by Warner Bros. starting from 1930 to 1969, concurrently with its partner series '' Merrie Melodies'', during the golden age of American animation. ...

'' and ''

Merrie Melodies ''Merrie Melodies'' is an American animated series of comedy short films produced by Warner Bros. starting in 1931, during the golden age of American animation, and ending in 1969. Then some new cartoons were produced from the late 1970s to the ...

'' *

Corita Kent Corita Kent (November 20, 1918 – September 18, 1986), born Frances Elizabeth Kent and also known as Sister Mary Corita Kent, was an American artist, designer and educator, and former religious sister. Key themes in her work included Christian ...

(1918–1986), artist * Bob Kurtz, animator *

Abe Levitow Abraham Levitow (July 2, 1922 – May 8, 1975) was an American animator who worked at Warner Bros. Cartoons, UPA and MGM Animation/Visual Arts. He is best known for his work under Chuck Jones' direction. Career Levitow was born in Los Angeles ...

(1922–1975), animator * John J. Lloyd (1922–2014), art director and production designer *

Bud Luckey William Everett Luckey (July 28, 1934 – February 24, 2018) was an American animator, artist, cartoonist, composer, illustrator, musician, singer and voice actor. He worked at the animation studio Pixar, where he worked as a character designer ...

(1934–2018), animator *

Bob Mackie Robert Gordon "Bob" Mackie (born March 24, 1939) is an American fashion designer and costumier, best known for his dressing of entertainment icons such as Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Diahann Carroll, Carol Channing, Cher, Doris Day, Marlene D ...

, fashion and costume designer *

Mara McAfee Mara McAfee (November 27, 1929 – January 13, 1984) was an American Pop artist and illustrator best known for her satirical depictions of historical figures, contemporary subjects, and high art traditions. During the 1950s McAfee was also an a ...

(1929–1984), painter and illustrator *

John McGrew John Burton McGrew (March 19, 1910 – January 11, 1999) was an American animator, painter and musician. Although best known for working at Warner Bros. Cartoons, where he was the studio's first designated layout artist, working under Chuck Jones, ...

(1910-1999), animator * Bill Melendez (1916–2008), animator *

Reid Miles Reid Miles (July 4, 1927 – February 2, 1993) was an American graphic designer and photographer best known for his work for Blue Note Records in the 1950s and 1960s. Biography Reid Miles was born in Chicago, Illinois, on July 4, 1927 but, f ...

(1927–1993), graphic designer and photographer * Ron Miyashiro, painter, jewelry maker, and assemblage artist *

Jimmy T. Murakami was a Japanese-American-Irish animator and film director with a long career working in numerous countries. Among his best-known works are the animated adaptations of the Raymond Briggs books '' When the Wind Blows'' and ''The Snowman''. He was ...

(1933–2014), animator * Patrick Nagel (1945–1984), artist *

Maurice Noble Maurice James Noble (May 1, 1911 – May 18, 2001) was an American animation production designer, background artist and layout designer whose contributions to the industry spanned more than 60 years. He was a long-time associate and right-hand man ...

(1911–2001), background artist *

Milicent Patrick Milicent Patrick (born Mildred Elizabeth Fulvia di Rossi, after marriage Milicent Trent; 11 November 1915 – 24 February 1998) was an American actress, makeup artist, special effects designer and animator. Born in El Paso, Texas, Patrick spent mu ...

(1915–1998), artist, actress, and animator * Virgil Partch (1916–1984), cartoonist * Walter Peregoy (1925–2015), artist * Danny Pierce (1920–2014), painter, printmaker and sculptor * Sally Pierone (1921–2018), artist *

Noah Purifoy Noah S. Purifoy (August 17, 1917 – March 5, 2004) was an African-American visual artist and sculptor, co-founder of the Watts Towers Art Center, and creator of the Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum. He lived and worked most of his life in ...

(1917–2004), sculptor * Milton Quon (1913–2019), animator * Elsa Rady (1943–2011), ceramist * Wolfgang Reitherman (1909–1985), animator, one of Disney's Nine Old Men * Allen Ruppersberg, artist * Edward Ruscha, painter * Herbert Ryman (1910–1989), artist and Disney imagineer *

Retta Scott Retta Scott (February 23, 1916August 26, 1990) was an American artist. She was the first woman to receive screen credit as an animator at the Walt Disney Animation Studios. Early life and education Scott was born in Omak, Washington on February ...

(1916–1990), Disney's first female animator *

Rod Scribner Roderick H. Scribner (October 10, 1910 – December 21, 1976) was an American animator best known for his work on the ''Looney Tunes'' and '' Merrie Melodies'' series of cartoons from Warner Bros. Cartoons. He worked during the Golden age of ...

(1910–1976), animator *

Millard Sheets Millard Owen Sheets (June 24, 1907 – March 31, 1989) was an American artist, teacher, and architectural designer. He was one of the earliest of the California Scene Painting artists and helped define the art movement. Many of his large-scale bu ...

(1907–1989), painter *

, sculptor, furniture designer, and ceramist *

Ken Shutt Ken Shutt (1928-April 2, 2010) was an American sculptor and watercolorist who was born in Long Beach, California. He grew up in Whittier, California, and graduated from Pasadena City College, the Art Center College of Design and the Chouinard ...

(1928–2010), American sculptor * William E. Smith (artist) (1913-1997), printmaker, instructor, sign designer * Dan Spiegle (1920–2017), comic book artist * Buck Taylor (1938-), painter and actor * Michele Martin Taylor, painter * Frank Thomas (1912–2004), animator, one of Disney's Nine Old Men * Morton Traylor (1918–1996), fine artist, designer, and serigrapher * John Van Hamersveld, graphic artist and illustrator * Roy Williams (1907–1976), Disney animator and gagman * Dan Wynn (1920–1995), photographer * Jack Zander (1908–2007), animator

Nelbert Chouinard Award Winners

This award is given by a Chouinard peer committee to alumni or individuals associated with Chouinard Art Institute who have embodied the spirit of Nelbert Chouinard as artists and by contributions to their community. Awardees must have elevated the profile of their particular art form, broken through ceilings or set industry trends to be considered. In addition, the committee reviews each nominees past leadership roles, exhibition(s), award(s), publication(s) and if they have given back to their community philanthropically, as a teacher or as a volunteer. *

'50, costume designer * Don Bachardy '60, 2016, portrait artist * Leo Monahan '58, 2018, paper sculptor * Larry Bell '59, 2019, artist and sculptor

References

External links

CalArts Chouinard page

Chouinard Foundation

{{authority control Art schools in California California Institute of the Arts Universities and colleges in Los Angeles Defunct private universities and colleges in California Westlake, Los Angeles Arts organizations established in 1921 Educational institutions established in 1921 Educational institutions disestablished in 1961 1921 establishments in California 1961 disestablishments in California Art in Greater Los Angeles