Dean Hartung studied at Kent State University, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Cleveland Institute of Art, and the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. After college, he was an assistant to Jack Beal on several large paintings and projects, including the mosaic subway mural commission in New York City. He also received a fellowship to attend the La Napoule Art Foundation in France.Mr. Hartung has taught at several institutions, including the New York Academy of Art, the National Academy of Design, Pennsylvania State University, Swarthmore College, and the Community College of Philadelphia. He received special recognition from the Ohio House of Representatives.