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Considered by some to be one of the finest realist painters in America, Philip Butler White’s artistic career began at an early age. While still in high school, his work was featured in Seventeen magazine. Mr. White’s professional art career dates back to 1956 when he started submitting works to national competitions. Since that time his work had been featured in
over 100 important exhibitions. By the mid 1970’s Architectural Digest had named Mr. White one of eight artists who represented the best in American realism. In 1978, American Artist Magazine gave him their cover and a lengthy feature article.
Philip Butler White was born on January 23, 1935 in Chicago. Three years later, the Whites moved to the house in River Forest where Philip would call home for the next 63 years. There he was educated in the public schools and attended Oak Park-River Forest High School, where he was a standout competitor in both cross-country and track. He finished second at the Illinois
State Meet in the 880 run.
Mr. White attended college at the University of Southern California. While at USC his art training and career blossomed. He drew his inspiration from classic works of art, particularly from the Dutch Masters like Johannes Vermeer. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the school’s Fine Arts program in 1957.
Mr. White served two years in the United States Army in 1958 and 1959. Serving as a Specialist, Mr. White was stationed at Fifth Army Headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. As his Army assignment was not a demanding one, Mr. White had ample time to paint and exhibit his work at the numerous Chicago area art fairs. He also entered his work in numerous state and national
art competitions and exhibitions. His work won numerous accolades.
Mr. White was a frequent participant in art shows in the Midwest including the Illinois State Fair where he won first prize in oils in 1960 and 1965, the Union League Club of Chicago where he won first prize in oils in 1963 and 1965 along with the Purchase prize in 1959, the Butler Institute of American Art, and at local shows including the Old Town Art Fair. He also was
featured and won awards in numerous national shows including the National Academy of Design in New York City, a three time winner of the Julius Hallgarten Award, and the Henry Ward Ranger Purchase prize in 1963, among others.
Mr. White’s paintings were often compared to, and sometimes mistaken for photographs. His mediums of choice were oil, acrylic, egg tempera, and water colors. His favorite subjects were the Midwest and its people, its landscape and its climate.
Mr. White was listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Art, Who’s Who in the Midwest and featured in American Artists, An Illustrated Survey of Leading Contemporary Americans by Les Krantz. In 1974 he was recognized in Architectural Digest Magazine. In 1978 he was the subject of a cover feature in American Artist Magazine. In retirement he served as a
juror in several national art competitions and was awarded the Municipal Art League of Chicago’s Award of Excellence in 1995.
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Exhibits and Competitions
1957 Second Annual National Art Round Up, Las Vegas, Nevada. John Deluca Medal Award
1957 Second Annual National Art Round Up, Las Vegas, Nevada. John Deluca Medal Award
1958 Third Annual National Art Round Up, Las Vegas, Nevada. First Prize, traditional watercolor
1959 Union League Club Show, Chicago, Illinois. Honorable mention, Helen H. Chambers Purchase Prize
1959 Illinois State Fair, Springfield, Illinois. Second
place, watercolor.
1960 Brotherhood Week Art Exhibit, Chicago, Illinois. Municipal Art League Award
1961 Fifteenth North Mississippi Valley Artists Exhibit, Springfield, Illinois.
1961 Illinois State Fair, Springfield, Illinois.
1961 Magnificent Mile Exhibition, Springfield, Illinois. Honorable Mention.
1962 27th Annual Mid-Year Show, Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio
1962 Illinois State Fair, Springfield, Illinois.
1962 Third Annual Chicago Sun-Times Exhibition, Chicago, Illinois.
1963 Union League Club Show, Chicago, Illinois. First Prize, oils.
1963 Twenty First Annual Exhibition, Audubon Artists,
New York, New York
1963 138th Annual Exhibition, National Academy of Design, New York, New York. Henry Ward Ranger Fund Purchase
1963 Twenty Eighth Annual Mid-Year Show, Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio
1963 Illinois State Fair, Springfield, Illinois. Second Prize, oil.
1963 Sixteenth North Mississippi Valley Artists Exhibit, Springfield, Illinois
1963 Fourth Annual Chicago Sun-Times Exhibition, Chicago, Illinois.
1963 Old Capitol Art Fair, Springfield, Illinois. Purchase
Award.
1963 Oakbrook Art Fair, Oakbrook, Illinois. Prize Award.
1963 Oak Park Art Fair, Oak Park, Illinois. Purchase
Award.
1964 139th Annual Exhibition National Academy of Design, New York, New York. Julius Hallgarten Award.
1964 Illinois State Fair, Springfield, Illinois.
1964 Twenty Ninth Annual Mid-Year Show, Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio
1965 140th Annual Exhibition National Academy of Design, New York, New York. Thomas B. Clark Award.
1965 Union League Club Show, Chicago, Illinois.
1965 Illinois State Fair, Springfield, Illinois. First Prize, oil.
1965 Eighteenth North Mississippi Valley Artists Exhibit, Illinois State Museum, Springfield, Illinois
1966 Illinois State Fair, Springfield, Illinois.
1966 Old Orchard Art Fair, Skokie, Illinois, Second Prize, oils.
1967 Union League Club Show, Chicago, Illinois. First Prize, oils.
1967 142nd Annual Exhibition National Academy of Design, New York, New York. Julius Hallgarten Award.
1967 Illinois State Fair, Springfield, Illinois.
1967 North Mississippi Valley Artists Exhibit, Illinois State Museum, Springfield, Illinois.
1968 143rd Annual Exhibition National Academy of Design, New York, New York. Thomas B. Clarke Award.
1970 145th Annual Exhibition National Academy of Design, New York, New York. Thomas B. Clarke Award.
1970 American Water Color Society, Annual Exhibition and Traveling Exhibition, New York, New York.
1970 Junior Museum, Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
1970 The Oklahoma Museum of Art, National Invitational Drawing Exhibition, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
1970 Ball State University, Drawing Exhibition, Muncie, Indiana.
1971 American Water Color Society, Annual Exhibition and Traveling Exhibition, New York, new York. Emily Goldsmith Award.
1971 New Horizons in Art, North Shore Art League, Winnetka, Illinois.
1972 Union League Club Art Show, Chicago, Illinois.
1974 149th Annual Exhibition National Academy of Design, New York, New York.
1975 150th Annual Exhibition National Academy of Design, New York, New York.
1977 Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana
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