Reuben Hale, born in 1927, received his formal education at The Art Institute of Chicago during the 1940s.  His academic career was distinguished with numerous scholarships, awards and grants.  Hale was instructed in classical modes of representation, and later explored the Abstract Expressionist style, taking instruction from Hans Hoffman and Paul Burlin.  Sculptor Reuben Nakin was also one of Hale’s mentors at this time.  His work as an artist has had an exceptionally broad scope – from painter and sculptor, to illustrator, to set design.  Thematically, Hale’s work evidences a clear fascination with the changing role of women in society – women emerging as a stronger presence than ever before in history.