Thomas W. Benton Abstract Serigraph "Golden Waves," 1979

Item Details

Thomas Whelan Benton (California/Colorado, 1930 – 2007)
Golden Waves, 1979
Serigraph on paper
Signed to lower right
Editioned 103 / 250 to lower left

Born in Oakland, California in 1930, Thomas Whelan Benton did not pursue formal artistic training until after he served in the Navy during the Korean War. After his discharge in 1953, he obtained a degree in architecture from the University of Southern California and spent a short time as a practicing architect. In the 1960s he and his wife and two children moved to Aspen, where he built their home and his studio. In 1964, he gave up architecture to focus on his fine art practice, designing many political posters and becoming very active in the political scene. He befriended a lot of politicians during this time, and he gained national acclaim for designing the posters for world renowned writer Hunter S. Thompson’s campaign for Pitkin County Sheriff. He later created campaign posters for George McGovern and Gary Hart.