# Steven Alan Bennett

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**Steven Alan Bennett** is an American attorney, art collector, and philanthropist.

## Career

After stints at several [Fortune 100](/source/Fortune_100) companies, Bennett retired in September 2015 as executive vice president, chief legal officer and corporate secretary of [USAA](/source/USAA).[1] In 1996, President [Bill Clinton](/source/Bill_Clinton) appointed Bennett as a member and, later, as Vice Chairman of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars within the [Smithsonian Institution](/source/Smithsonian_Institution).[2]

## Art collecting

Bennett works on collecting art, writing an art blog, producing a podcast, and participating in various philanthropic projects.[citation needed] He is married to Elaine Melotti Schmidt and they have an extensive [art collection](/source/Art_collection) of works by women figurative [realist](/source/Realism_(arts)) painters.[3] To further support the type of work they collect,[4] they established The [Bennett Prize for Women Figurative Realists](/source/Bennett_Prize_for_Women_Figurative_Realists) ("The Bennett Prize"), in 2016.[5] The contest awards $50,000 biennially to a woman [figurative](/source/Figurative_art) [realist](/source/Realism_(arts)) painter following a juried competition, followed by a traveling exhibition of the works of the ten finalists.[6][7] The Bennett Prize has been awarded three times since inception and has recognized 30 women painters as finalists.[8][9]

The Bennetts’ personal collection has been compiled over many years. [The Bennett Collection](/source/The_Bennett_Collection) is composed of historic works including pieces by [Mary Cassatt](/source/Mary_Cassatt), [Artemisia Gentileschi](/source/Artemisia_Gentileschi),[10] [Elaine de Kooning](/source/Elaine_de_Kooning), [Sarah Miriam Peale](/source/Sarah_Miriam_Peale), [Agnes Martin](/source/Agnes_Martin), and [Suzanne Valadon](/source/Suzanne_Valadon). Among the living artists represented in the collection are major works by [Julie Bell](/source/Julie_Bell), Margaret Bowland, Zoey Frank, [Xenia Hausner](/source/Xenia_Hausner), Andrea Kowch, Katie O’Hagan, [Harmonia Rosales](/source/Harmonia_Rosales), [Alyssa Monks](/source/Alyssa_Monks), SuSu, and Kathrin Longhurst,[11] among others.[12]

In 2022, Bennett and Schmidt made a $12 Million gift to the [Muskegon Museum of Art](/source/Muskegon_Museum_of_Art),[13] the host museum for the Bennett Prize competition, which included a monetary donation along with art from their collection.[14] In February 2025, the Bennett-Schmidt Pavilion, a 26,000-square-foot expansion,[15] opened at the museum doubling its size.[16][17] The opening featured a new gift of 70 paintings on view for the event for a total of over 150 paintings from their collection donated to the museum.[18]

## Philanthropy

Bennett and his wife are supporters of the charity Friends of Kenyan Orphans, which provides food and shelter along with K-12 education.[19] He is also a founding trustee of the Center for Thomas More Studies at the [University of Dallas](/source/University_of_Dallas).[citation needed] Bennett serves as a director on the board of a realist art school in [Philadelphia](/source/Philadelphia), [Studio Incamminati](/source/Studio_Incamminati), where the couple sponsors The Bennett-Schmidt Lectures on the Higher Aim of Art.[20]

## Background

Bennett is a graduate of the [University of Notre Dame](/source/University_of_Notre_Dame) with a degree in art history. He also holds a [Juris Doctor](/source/Juris_Doctor) degree from the [University of Kansas School of Law](/source/University_of_Kansas_School_of_Law).[citation needed]

## References

1. ["San Antonio couple endows $50,000 award for female painters"](https://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/arts-culture/article/San-Antonio-couple-endows-50-000-award-for-12709500.php) *San Antonio Express-News*. Retrieved May 15, 2023.

1. ["President Clinton Names Steven Alan Bannett to the Board of Trustees of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars"](https://clintonwhitehouse6.archives.gov/1996/09/1996-09-16-bennett-named-to-wilson-center-for-scholars-board.html) White House Office of the Press Secretary. Retrieved May 15, 2023.

1. ["Supporter Spotlight: Steven Alan Bennett and Dr. Elaine Melotti Schmidt"](https://www.fryemuseum.blog/blog/supporter-spotlight-steven-alan-bennett-and-dr-elaine-melotti-schmidt) *Frye Museum Blog*. Retrieved September 6, 2022.

1. Gotthardt, Alexxa (April 11, 2018). ["This New $50k Prize Is Just for Emerging Female Figurative Painters"](https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-new-50k-prize-emerging-female-figurative-painters). *Artsy*. Retrieved 2019-03-08.

1. ["Groundbreaking Event Planned for Muskegon Museum Expansion"](https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/michigan/articles/2022-06-10/groundbreaking-event-planned-for-muskegon-museum-expansion) *US News & World Report*. Retrieved October 14, 2022.

1. ["A $50,000 Biennial Prize Recognizing Women Figurative Realist Painters"](https://fineartconnoisseur.com/2018/03/bennett-prize-recognizing-women-figurative-realist-painters/) *Fine Art Connoisseur*. Retrieved June 6, 2022.

1. ["First-of-its-kind prize aims to propel careers of women artists"](https://pittsburghfoundation.org/Announcing_Bennett_Prize) *Pittsburgh Foundation*. Retrieved June 7, 2022.

1. ["First-of-its-kind prize aims to propel careers of women artists"](https://blacktiemagazine.com/society_2018_february/Bennett_Prize.htm) *Black Tie Magazine*. Retrieved May 2, 2023.

1. ["The $50,000 Bennett Prize is Back for Its Third Edition"](https://www.artnews.com/art-news/sponsored-content/bennett-prize-third-edition-1234624993/#!) *ARTnews*. Retrieved May 2, 2023.

1. ["Art Herstory Adds Five New Note Card Designs for Spring 2021"](https://artherstory.net/new-art-herstory-note-cards-spring-2021/) *Art Herstory*. Retrieved September 6, 2022.

1. ["Major new work by Kathrin Longhurst purchased by The Bennett Art Collection"](https://nandahobbs.com/post/major-new-work-by-kathrin-longhurst-purchased-by-the-bennett-art-collection-usa) *NandaHobbs.com*. Retrieved September 6, 2022.

1. ["The Collection"](https://www.thebennettartcollection.com/the-collection/) The Bennett Collection. Retrieved September 7, 2022.

1. ["Muskegon Museum of Art to break ground on $11.2M expansion with spotlight on art by women"](https://mibiz.com/sections/nonprofits/muskegon-museum-of-art-to-break-ground-on-11-2m-expansion-with-spotlight-on-art-by-women) *MiBiz*. Retrieved October 14, 2022.

1. ["Muskegon Museum of Art breaks ground on new expansion, celebrates $12 Million donation"](https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/local/muskegon-museum-of-art-breaks-ground-expansion/69-3c4d7b1b-7c04-438e-9b68-816be4c00f30) *WZZM*. Retrieved September 15, 2022.

1. ["See inside $15.4M expansion putting this Michigan art museum on the map"](https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/2025/02/see-inside-154m-expansion-putting-this-michigan-art-museum-on-the-map.html) *M Live*. Retrieved 2025-03-05.

1. ["Muskegon Museum of Art to unveil $15.4 million expansion this February"](https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/local/muskegon-museum-of-art-unveil-expansion/69-f9ed94d1-0eca-4718-a808-ff558cd82b7c) *WZZM*. Retrieved 2025-03-05.

1. ["Muskegon Museum of Art transforms into ‘destination’ with $15.4M expansion"](https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/2025/02/muskegon-museum-of-art-transforms-into-destination-with-154m-expansion.html) *M Live*. Retrieved 2025-03-05.

1. ["Bennett Collection Of Women Realists Opening At Expanded Muskegon Museum Of Art"](https://www.forbes.com/sites/chaddscott/2025/02/06/bennett-collection-of-women-realists-debuting-at-expanded-muskegon-museum-of-art/) *Forbes*. Retrieved 2025-03-05.

1. ["San Antonio collectors champion women artists with Bennett Prize, Muskegon Museum gift"](https://www.expressnews.com/entertainment/arts-culture/article/San-Antonio-women-artists-17305487.php) *San Antonio Express-News*. Retrieved May 15, 2023.

1. ["The Bennett- Schmidt Lecture Series on the Aim of Art"](https://studioincamminati.edu/school-events-aleah-chapin-in-search-of-the-real/) Studio Incamminati. Retrieved May 15, 2023.

## External links

- [Official website](https://thebennettartcollection.com/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Steven Alan Bennett](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Alan_Bennett) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Alan_Bennett?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.