Gallagher, Michael Joseph

Michael J. Gallagher (American Artist) born Scranton, PA 1898-died Philadelphia, PA 1965. Gallagher was born into a mining family in Scranton, PA where he lived until he joined the U.S. Army in World War I. In 1919, Gallagher was diagnosed with tuberculosis and returned home to be treated. A doctor noticed Gallagher’s immense artistic talent and suggested that he apply for scholarships to attend the Philadelphia Museum and School of Industrial Art. Gallagher followed this advice and began his formal art training. After graduating, Gallagher made his living as a magazine illustrator. During the Great Depression, President Roosevelt and congress passed multiple work relief programs, Roosevelt commenced a $5 billion program called Works Progress Administration (WPA), which sought to employee Americans in various fields including artists under the Federal Arts Project(FAP) In 1935, Gallagher was hired as technical director of the Philadelphia Printmaking branch of the WPA art project. Along with other WPA artists Dox Thrash and Hugh Mesibov, helped to pioneer a new technique of print making, the carborundum printmaking or carbograph. Gallagher is known for his paintings, lithographs...