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Eugene Von Bruenchenhein

(1910-1983)

Eugene Von Bruenchenhein created art for over 40 years, and it wasn’t until his death in 1983 that the astounding discovery was made of several thousand works of art in his tiny Milwaukee, Wisconsin home. Von Bruenchenhein created paintings in oil, chicken bone towers and tiny thrones, ceramic crowns and vessels, and an extensive of collection of provocative photographs of his wife Marie. His small home was literally filled to capacity with his art. The John Michael Kohler Arts Center was among the first to appreciate, collect, and exhibit his work. They have one of the best collections of his paintings, chicken bone towers, crowns, and photography.

In recent years, Kohler Foundation has had the opportunity to add to is already stellar collection with works and archival materials donated by Von Bruenchenhein’s dear friend policeman Dan Nycz. Kohler Foundation also led the conservation treatment of a large collection of ceramic pieces as well documenting, cataloging, and preserving a major collection of Von Bruenchenhien’s photography, many of which were still in original film canisters or slide boxes that hadn’t been opened or touched.

In 2019, Kohler Foundation had the opportunity to acquire the remaining works from the estate of Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, including photos, ceramics, paintings, crowns, and a spectacular bone tower.  With this addition, the Von Bruenchenhein holdings at JMKAC are incomparable and reunites much of what EVB created. JMKAC’s new Art Preserve facility will have much of the EVB work on permanent display. The remainder will be archived for research and study purposes.