A native of
Philadelphia, Wharton Esherick (1887-1970) studied painting at the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Arts and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. In 1920 he began carving decorative frames for his paintings. This carving led first to the making of woodcuts, and then sculpture, the medium in which he was best able to express his artistic concepts. Set high on a wooded hillside, the Studio is one of Wharton Exherick's monumental achievements. When Wharton Esherick died in May of 1970 his heirs and friends desired to keep the Studio and the collection intact and to make them available to the public. The building, its contents and grounds have been preserved much as they were when the artist lived and worked there. The work is displayed without cases and can be touched. On exhibition are more than 200 pieces of the artist's work. Also on display are his models for commissioned interiors and submissions for sculpture competitions.
