Milton A. Geis
1926-2005

Milton Geis Bio

Milton A Geis was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on January 31, 1926 and spent his early years there. He served with the U.S. Army in Italy during the final days of World War II and saw combat duty with the Artillery. He was later honored with his interest in art by being selected to attend the University of Florence and to participate in Columbia University’s United States Armed Forces Institute courses to study Art and Italian Art History. 

Geis spent six months of independent study in New York City and returned to his hometown to attend and graduate from The Layton School of Art, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Later, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Webster University in St. Louis, and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Syracuse University in New York in 1986. 

Geis painted over 250 paintings, many of which have been exhibited and won significant national juried competitions. He participated in over 100 major national and regional competitive exhibitions. He received more than 50 national and regional awards. Included are those sponsored by the American Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society, Watercolor USA, the Butler Institute of American Art, Audubon Artists of America, Knickerbocker Artists and the National Arts Club. Regional exhibits include the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Salmagundi Club in New York, the St. Louis Art Museum and the St. Louis Artists’ Guild. His fine arts have been exhibited in six one-man shows in St. Louis. 

Geis was a member of many artist organizations throughout his career. Geis was a signature member of the National Watercolor Society, the Watercolor USA Honor Society, and the Audubon Artists of America. He was a former member of the St. Louis Artists’ Guild and the Peninsula Arts Association of Wisconsin. Geis is listed in Who’s Who in American Art, 1978 and Who’s Who in America, 2006.

His television career spanned nearly 36 years. In 1950 he began his career in television scenic design at WTMJ-TV,
Milwaukee. In 1952 he was hired as Art Director and part of the original staff that put WBAY-TV on the air in Green Bay, Wisconsin. From 1959 until his retirement in 1985, Geis worked as Director of Design for KMOX-TV (now KMOV-TV), St. Louis. Geis was the recipient of four National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Regional Emmy Awards, and a Silver Award for Scenic Design from the International Broadcast Designer’s Association. After retiring from television, he also taught Design at Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri. 

His acclaimed artwork is found in many private and public collections including the Meadows Museum Centenary College, the Milwaukee Art Center/Art Institute Collection, the Texas Tech University Museum, the University of Wisconsin Zadok Gimbel Collection, Crestwood Government Center, Adminco Inc. and the Hallmark Collection. One of Geis’ largest projects was an almost ten-foot tall carved brick sculpture on the façade of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Crestwood, MO, where he was an active member. 

Prior to his passing in 2005, Geis was working to finish writing his memoir, complete with sketches he had done throughout his military and broadcasting career. His family is working on getting his book published.

From December 2006 through March 2007, the St. Louis Artists’ Guild held a retrospective exhibit of Geis’ work. The show included 59 works of art from 1943 to 2003; sixty years of painting in various media and styles. The opening and the exhibit were well-attended and received. 

Milt is survived by his wife of 50 years, Donna Geis Zang of Ballwin, MO, son Joe Geis of Chandler, AZ, daughter Kalen Geis Leimberg of Crestwood, MO, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Click Here to View the Article About the Milton Geis Retrospective Show

For More Information About Milton Geis Art Please Contact:

Mrs. Donna Geis Zang at:
geisprints@gmail.com

636-825-6495

OR

Kalen Geis Leimberg at:
KalenGL777@gmail.com

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