Orval Caldwell

Who was Orval Caldwell?

Orval Halleck Caldwell was a Chicago-area painter and one-time president of the Art Institute of Chicago. Born in Shelbyville, Illinois, Caldwell was a prolific painter of landscapes in both oil and watercolor.

Caldwell studied at the Art Institute of Chicago, Werntz' Academy of Fine Arts, and with painters Ellsworth Young and Ted Kautsky.

He exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago, Penn Art Association and Boston Museum of Art. He was a member of the Chicago Society of Artists and one-time president of the Chicago No-Jury Society.

Most of Caldwell's paintings were purchased by individuals and institututions in Illinois. His works have been acquired by the Springfield Gallery, Burpee Gallery and the Rockford Art Museum.

Caldwell's works have been reviewed by Melvin and Jewel Upton, Eleanor Jewett, and C. J. Bulliet.

Caldwell is listed in Who Was Who in American Art, Davenport's Art Reference & Price Guide, and Falk's Annual Exhibition Record of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Caldwell lived in Wheaton, IL in the 60's and 70's and was consistently painting, primarily for friends or as gifts until he died February 18, 1972 at the age of 77 in Winfield, Illinois.