Joseph Morgan Henninger

Who was Joseph Morgan Henninger?

Joseph Morgan Henninger was an American artist and illustrator. He was born in Elwood, Indiana and died In Pacific Palisades, California.

Joseph Henninger was an accomplished painter and sculptor. He also became a commercial artist, an illustrator, and a teacher of "Croquie". He was a founding member and the first president of the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles. The Society has established an annual award in his name to honor a top illustrator.

He was a graduate of l'Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. He had won a four year scholarship for a painting submitted to the Thomas Award competition. Upon graduating, he returned to Indiana and set up a portrait studio in Indianapolis. Later, he moved to Chicago, and then to the Arizona State University where he painted two murals. Finally, he settled in Los Angeles, California and his career as an illustrator, commercial artist, and teacher began. He taught classes at the Art Center College of Design for 36 years and many of his students became outstanding artists.

Henninger also worked in the film industry, providing illustrations and set designs for Vincent Korda, Selznick Studios, Walt Disney, United Artists, MGM, and Columbia. During World War II, he headed the Illustration Department of Lockheed Aircraft where he created perspective drawings of aircraft.