Born in Grand Rapids, MI on March 7, 1887. Chamberlain began his art training in his early teens in Grand Rapids under Mathias Alten, and beginning in 1910 spent two years in the Hague observing and studying the works of the early Dutch painters. About 1920 he moved to Los Angeles and began studying with Alson Clark and exhibiting locally. In California success came almost immediately through the patronage of Mrs. Henry Huntington. After traveling in Mexico and spending one year in France, he lived briefly in Taos, NM in the late 1920s, but then returned to southern California where he lived for his remaining years. He exhibited in southern California until 1934 and during the remainder of the 1930s was employed by the WPA. Under their auspices he painted murals in Riverside High School, the First Nat'l Bank in Pasadena, and the Huntington Park Post Office. Little is known of his activities after 1940. Chamberlain died in Orange County, CA on July 17, 1961. Exh: Painters & Sculptors of LA, 1923-36; Calif. Art Club, 1925-28; Bernay's (LA), 1926; Laguna Beach AA, 1920s; Public Works of Art Project, 1934; Progressive Painters of So. Calif., 1934; Academy of Western Painters (LA), 1938. In: CHS; Orange Co. (CA) Museum; LACMA.
Edan Hughes,
"Artists in California, 1786-1940"So. Calif. Artists, 1890-1940;
Southern California Artists (Nancy Moure);
American Art Annual 1919-33; California Arts and Architecture list, 1932;
Who's Who in American Art 1940.
Nearly 20,000 biographies can be found in Artists in California 1786-1940 by Edan Hughes and is available for sale ($150). For a full book description and order information please click here.
