American Artist
Long-time pafa teacher
ben kamihira
Early Life
On March 16th, 1925, Ben Kamihira was born in Yakima, WA to migrant parents Jujiro and Hatsuno Kamihira. At the time of writing his application, he defined both of his parents as being farmers. For his early education, he attended Letsche Elementary School and Carrick High School both in Pittsburgh, PA.
Shortly after Pearl Harbor, Ben and his family were sent to an internment camp. From there, they would be sent to an Oregon sugar beet farm to work as manual laborers, picking beets in the fields. Ben himself would be drafted into the Army in 1944, where he would be stationed for two years in Italy, fighting with the Japanese American 442nd Regimental Combat Team. It was during this time in Italy that his artist education began as he was able to “for the first time in his life, [...] go to a museum and receive drawing instruction,” according to his wife Elizabeth Hetherington Spencer Kamihira. (Sims, Gayle Ronan. “Ben Kamihira, 78, painter, art teacher.” Philadelphia Inquirer [Philadelphia], 29 February 2004.)
PAFA Education
Following his service, with his G. I. Bill of Rights provisions, Ben was able to continue his education in the arts first at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in 1948. His PAFA application stated his intentions to “build a sturdy foundation and background” in painting and that he wished to pursue art “in the commercial line” or for “[his] own enjoyment”. In his letters of recommendation from elementary school principal J. Allen Figurel and high school teacher Charles Hettinger, he was said to have been of “thoughtful and upright attitude” and “sterling moral character” respectively. Ben was accepted into PAFA July 7th, 1948 and started September 9th of the same year; he would also continue his education for twelve weeks over the summer of 1950 at the PAFA summer school, Chester Springs.
During his time at PAFA, Ben would excel in his courses, developing his talents enough to win both the 1951 Cresson Traveling Scholarship and the 1952 Schiedt Memorial Prize. With his Cresson, he traversed Europe, visiting London, Amsterdam, Paris, Switzerland, Milano, Florence, Venice, and Rome. On his Schiedt Memorial Prize, Ben would continue to travel Mexico with his wife the following year, visiting places such as Monterey, Mexico City, and Guadalajara. In his communications he described it as “quite an amazing place”.
His trip was cut short due to financial difficulties, as travel costs around Mexico proved to be more than anticipated. Ben’s use of the Schiedt Memorial Prize money would be reviewed by PAFA faculty after his early return, as some did not believe the prize was utilized to its fullest. Business concerning his use of prize money would continue into the next year, past his graduation in 1952.
Later Career and Life
After his schooling at PAFA, Ben would apply for a Guggenheim Foundation Scholarship. In a letter of recommendation from then PAFA Director Joseph T. Fraser, he would be commended for his paintings of “great sensitivity” and “fine compositional sense”, but lightly reprimanded for his mis-use of funds which caused both his Cresson and Schiedt travels to be shortened. Joseph would also go on to write another letter of recommendation for Ben’s second Guggenheim Foundation Scholarship in 1956. On November 5th, 1957 Ben would return to his alma mater as a professor; he would retire after twenty three years of teaching, in 1980. On February 25th, 2004 Ben passed away at 78.
Works in PAFA's collection
Click image to see additional information about the works of art (new window).
Visit PAFA Visit PAFA's Digital Archives Connect with us
© 2023 Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts