Hugo Ballin

Who was Hugo Ballin?

Hugo Ballin NA was born in New York City and studied at the Art Students League of New York. When the Wisconsin State Capital was built in the early 20th Century, Ballin created 26 murals for its interior. In 1917 he began working for Goldwyn Pictures in New Jersey as an art director and production designer and in 1921 he moved to Los Angeles at the request of Samuel Goldwyn. He was soon also directing, writing, and producing silent films for his own production company. He was married to the actress Mabel Croft Ballin.

When Hollywood began making talking pictures, Ballin left the film industry to return to his first career as a classically trained artist. He became one of the foremost muralists in the Los Angeles area, producing murals which still stand at landmark locations such as Griffith Observatory, Wilshire Boulevard Temple, LA County General Hospital, and Burbank City Hall.

Ballin was made a National Academician in 1940. He is buried in Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery, Santa Monica.