Eugen Weisz

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameEugen•Weisz
Used nameEugen•Weisz
Born3 January 1886 in Surany, Nitra (SVK)
Died3 January 1954 in Tucson, Arizona (USA)
NOC United States

Biography

Hungarian-born American impressionist painter and teacher Eugen Weisz is among the forgotten artists, not because his art lacked distinction, but because when he died, much of his finest work disappeared from view. His widow kept all of his work in his studio and refused to sell them. Only 25 years later some of his paintings were released from the estate. He regularly exhibited in prestigious shows alongside many esteemed painters. Eilleen Gardner Galer wrote a biography of him in 1995.

His parents died at an early age, so as an orphan he made his way to Italy and became an apprentice of an Italian painter in Roma. He subsequently worked as a sailor on fishing boats and freighters on the Mediterranean Sea and even as an interpreter for Buffalo Bill’s touring show in Europe. With the show he travelled to the United States and continued to work all kinds of occasional jobs. He served in the US Army in World War I and in The Philippines before he concentrated on his art education at the Corcoran School of Art. After winning the school’s Gold Medal in 1921, he attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the Albright School of Fine Arts in Buffalo.

In 1924 he became a member of the staff of the Corcoran School and held this position until he died on his 64th birthday. He also taught at The George Washington University and Trinity College. Still today, the Corcoran School grants the Eugen Weisz Memorial Scholarship every year.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1928 Summer Olympics Art Competitions USA Eugen Weisz
Painting, Paintings, Open (Olympic) AC