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Stewart Klonis (1901-1989) was a painter and educator who worked primarily in New York.
Stewart Klonis was born on December 24 in Naugatuck, Connecticut and moved to New York City in 1921. He worked for the Guggenheim Brothers Brokerage House and began studying painting at the Art Students League in 1927. In 1934, he joined its twelve-member board. Since he was the only board member with a background in finance, Klonis became the treasurer and managed to balance the books before the league went under. In 1932, Klonis helped found the Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibition. As a student of the league himself, he was often part of the shows.
In 1937, Klonis was elected president of the league before becoming executive director in 1946. During his time spent at the league he succeeded in widening the range of teaching to include abstract art in order to supplement the school's emphasis on figurative painting. In 1980, Klonis retired from his position as executive director.
Stewart Klonis died at the age of 86 in the Sheepshead Bay section of Brooklyn in 1989.