About the Artist
Hugh M. Mandelert was born Oct. 23, 1927 and died Oct. 2, 2001. The Mandelert family ran the world famous Chippewa Woolen Mill until 1960. Hugh’s talent was discovered early on and he was the first in his family’s history to become an artist. He studied at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, also painting under artist, Jerry Farnsworth at his schools in Cape Cod and Sarasota, Fla. He then spent a year at the Art Students’ League in New York City.
Hugh finished his formal training with a six month tour of Italy and France in 1949. His time in New York began with portrait painting, but then he entered the field of textile design, which he continued for 20 years.
Returning to his hometown Chippewa Falls in the 1970s, Hugh began teaching at the District One Vocational School. He focused his own painting on nostalgic neighborhood scenes and local town landmarks as well as rural scenes throughout Western Wisconsin. He was careful to not overlook any part of his environment when it came to picking scenes to paint.