Henry KOEHLER
1927, USA

Koehler was born in Louisville, KY, in 1927. He studied at Yale University in New Haven, CT. He became interested in foxhunting while at Yale and learned to ride in 1950 in order to participate. He became a graphic artist in New York City after graduation, beginning his specialization in sporting subjects in 1952 with a commission from Sports Illustrated magazine to paint a regatta in San Diego, CA; he also illustrated for the periodicals The New Yorker and Town & Country. Much of his work depicted foxhunting, polo, racing, steeplechasing and numerous other field sport subjects.

Koehler was a member of the Society of Illustrators in New York City, serving as its first vice president, and of the Yale Association of Fine Arts in New Haven. Koehler was a founding member, along with Jean Bowman (qv), June Harrah (qv), Wally Nall (qv), Marilyn Newmark (qv), Eve Prime (qv), Richard S. Reeves (qv), Sam Savitt (qv), and Else Tuckerman (qv), of the American Academy of Equine Art established in Middleburg, VA, in 1980 and now located at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. He exhibited at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco and at prominent galleries and racetracks in New York City, California, New Jersey, Virginia, Kentucky, England, Ireland, France, and Italy. Institutions holding his work include The National Sporting Library in Middleburg, VA; the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, NY; the Museum of Hounds & Hunting at Morven Park in Leesburg, VA; and the International Museum of the Horse at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

Koehler was living in Southampton, NY, as of 2006.

Source: h