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Edward B. Henning

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Edward Burk Henning (23 October 1922 – 18 April 1993) was an American art historian who served as a chief curator at the Cleveland Museum of Art.[1]

Early life and education

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Born in Cleveland, Ohio, to Marguerite and William Henning, Edward completed his education at West Technical High School.[2][3] He initially trained as a stained glass apprentice before serving in the U.S. Army during World War II.[2][4] Post-war, he pursued higher education in art, earning a B.S. from Western Reserve University in 1949, a certificate from the Cleveland Institute of Art the same year, and an M.S. from Western Reserve University in 1952.[2][4] He also studied at the Académie Julian in Paris from 1949 to 1950.[2][4]

Career

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Henning began his career as an art teacher in Cleveland Public Schools from 1950 to 1952.[2] He joined the Cleveland Museum of Art in 1952, initially as an instructor in the education department, progressing to assistant curator of education by 1955, and associate curator by 1956.[2][4] He served as a guest lecturer and adjunct professor at Western Reserve University from 1958 to 1984.[2]

In 1959, Henning was appointed assistant to museum director Sherman Lee.[2] He became the museum's first curator of contemporary art in 1962 and was promoted to curator of modern art in 1972, later becoming chief curator in 1979.[2][4] During his tenure, Henning acquired works by artists such as Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, and Isamu Noguchi, and organized major exhibitions.[2][4]

Henning also advised private collectors, judged art shows, and served on the Art Advisory Panel to the Internal Revenue Service.[2] He led the museum's film program until 1986 and continued his involvement with the museum as a research curator cataloging its modern art collection until his retirement in 1985.[2][4]

References

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  1. ^ "Fifty Years of Modern Art, 1916-1966 by Edward B. Henning Get access Arrow". academic.oup.com. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "HENNING, EDWARD BURK | Encyclopedia of Cleveland History | Case Western Reserve University". case.edu. 2018-05-11. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  3. ^ "Edward B. Henning". clevelandartsprize.org. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Smith, Roberta (1993-04-20). "E. B. Henning Dies; Modern Art Curator And Writer Was 70". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-05-30.