The Hoosier Group

Q:         My husband’s grandfather’s uncle, named Otto Stark, was of German descent. He lived much of his life in the Indianapolis area and was belonged to the “Hoosier Group.” We have a few pieces of his work and wondered if they would be of any value.

A:         The Hoosier Group was made up of five Indiana artists whose paintings, murals and portraits of Indiana people and places were featured in many exhibitions and public buildings in the “Hoosier State.” The name “Hoosier Group” was first used to refer to them in 1894. Otto Stark (1859-1926) was born in Indianapolis and is known for his impressionist landscapes dating from the late 1800s and early 1900s. He started out as a woodcarver’s apprentice and later worked as a lithographer. Stark studied art in France. He opened a studio in Indianapolis in 1894 and later taught art. His oil paintings are offered for $2,000 to $4,0000, and his watercolors for $400 to $1,000.