Background
Ben Blessum was born in Marstein, Romsdalen, Norway. He was the son of shoemaker Johan Blessum and Marit Trøen from Vågå, Gudbrandsdal. He also lived in Eau Claire, Wisconsin where his father worked in the lumber mills.
Ben Blessum was born in Marstein, Romsdalen, Norway. He was the son of shoemaker Johan Blessum and Marit Trøen from Vågå, Gudbrandsdal. He also lived in Eau Claire, Wisconsin where his father worked in the lumber mills.
In 1896, he moved to Chicago, Illinois where he attended the Art Institute of Chicago and worked as a commercial artist and for the Chicago Tribune as an illustrator.
He was primarily known for his Norwegian landscapes. His family emigrated from Trondheim in 1888 to Menominee, Wisconsin when he was 11 years old. In 1913, he was commissioned to design and execute a painting to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Norwegian Constitution.
He painted The Departure of the Restauration now located at the Norwegian Emigrant Museum in Hamar.
In 1916, he lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico painting for the Santa Fe Railroad. During World War I, Blessum served as a representative to the American Committee on Public Information in Norway and acted in the same capacity for the United States War Department.
Blessum exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago. Exhibitions of his works were held at the Chicago Norske Klub Annual Art Exhibit and the Norse-American Centennial Art Exhibition at the Minnesota State Fair.
From 1923 to his retirement in 1936, he was the representative for the Norwegian State Railways in New New York
He served as secretary of the Norwegian National League for over 50 years.
Blessum was a member of the Chicago Norske Klub and Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art both in Chicago.