Stefan Hirsch was born in Nuremberg, Germany and studied art at the University of Zurich Switzerland, as well as with Hamilton Easter Field in Ogunquit, ME. Subsequently Hirsch became founder of Salons of America. Hirsch was an American modernist painter, who often painted in the precisionist style. He worked on a WPA/Federal Arts Project in Aiken, South Carolina though his mural provoked much controversy. He served as an instructor in the Art Department at Bennington College (VT), a teacher at the Art Students League in NYC, and Art Department Chairman at Bard College (NY).