Timeline

1895

Born in Hungary, near the Romanian border

1906

Immigrated with his family to New York, NY

1920 - 1925

Instructor, Parson's School of Design, New York, NY

1923

Began teaching at the Master Institute of the Roerich Museum, New York, NY

1931

Recipient, Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship to study in Mexico with Diego Rivera

1932

Founded the first commercial art gallery, the Heptagon Gallery, in Taos, NM

1933

Became supervisor for Treasury Relief Act Project, awarded Taos courthouse mural commission, Taos, NM

1936

Department of Justice Building mural commission, Washington, DC

1937

United States Post Office mural commission, Ranger, TX

1938

Founded the Transcendental Painting Group with Raymond Johnson and several other painters, Santa Fe, NM

1941

Opened the Bisttram School of Fine Art, Phoenix, AZ

1952

Co-founded the Taos Art Association, Taos, NM

1959

Grand Prize for painting at the New Mexico State Fair, NM

1975

April 7th declared “Emil Bisttram Day,” a New Mexico state holiday

1976

Died in Taos, NM