Axel "Gene" Schar (1888-1984) was  a prominent artist and art educator in the Duluth, MN, and Worthington, MN, communities throughout his life. Originally from Norway, Schar emigrated to Minnesota in the early 1900s. While working at the Duluth Herald newspaper, he also pursued his passion for painting and teaching art within the Duluth community. In the 1940s, Schar relocated to Worthington, where he worked at The Worthington Daily Globe. and continued to offer art classes to local residents. Known for his impressionistic landscapes, Schar founded the Duluth Art Association and was instrumental in fostering a deeper appreciation for the visual arts in the communities where he lived.