Some artists are so alike it can be hard to recognize their work or their work can be mistaken for that of other artists. Such is not the case with Thomas Hart Benton, an artist whose work is so unique it’s almost impossible to confuse him with other artists. I had the opportunity to visit the Thomas Hart Benton home and studio in the Valentine neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri recently. There is not a lot of Benton’s art at this location, but the tour guide we had was a wealth of information about the life and career of this remarkable artist.

Desert Dawn

After visiting a practice session of the Kansas City Chiefs football team, Benton came up with this sculpture. In preparation for painting, Benton would often make sculptures of his subjects so that he could get their features just the way he wanted them.

Almost every year Benton and his friends would head for the Ozarks to get away from it all. This work, entitled Desert Dawn, depicts a friend of Benton napping beside a river.

Most of Benton’s subjects were human but he also created a number of still life’s.

Benton produced this image of his friend, famed folk singer Burl Ives, when Ives stopped by for a visit in 1950.

Benton’s painting of his son, T.P., and his dog Jake.

All the members of Benton’s family played musical instruments and they had many friends who were musicians. This work is called Evening Concert.

A picture of Benton’s studio which sits right behind his house. According to our guide, Benton was a tireless worker who worked right up till the day he died.