Born June 16, 1913, McAlester, Oklahoma

Nesbitt attended classes at the University of Oklahoma in 1931, but after two years went to the Kansas City Art Institute for art classes. Teaching here at the time was John DeMartelly, Ross Brought and Thomas Hart Benton. He became not only a student of Benton’s but a close friend. Benton was the godfather of Nesbitt’s son Thomas. They frequently traveled together and sketched together. Nesbitt later taught at the Kansas City Art Institute.

Nesbitt’s first etching, “Watering Place”, 1939, was purchased by Associated American Artists (AAA). In total AAA bought five of his works.

Nesbitt did commissions to provide income, both etchings, such as industrial scenes for Sheffield Steel in Kansas city, and oils for Lockheed Aircraft.

The decline in interest in realistic black and white prints after World War II caused him to take regular employment. He succeeded in the business of selling advertising specialities, first for Brown and Bigelow and then independently. After selling his business in 1987 he returned to print making and to lithography. His first published lithograph after his return to print making was “Ozark Farmer”, in 1988. His later works (after 1987) are scenes recollected from travels in the 1930’s and 1940’s and are a great homage to the middle American realistic styles of the 1930’s and 1940’s.

The reference catalogue on his work is “Jackson Lee Nesbitt, the Graphic Work”, 1993, by Earl Retif and Ann Salzer.