ABOUT THE COVER
The Texas Almanac 2006–2007 cover image of Mission San Francisco de la Espada
in San Antonio is a pastel painting by John Collier.
About the Artist
John Collier has earned a well-deserved place in the history of illustration.
He recently completed four bronze sculptures that will serve as a 9-11 memorial
at the Church of St. Peter near Ground Zero in New York City. He has been featured
in such inclusive compendia as The
Illustrator in America: 1880-1980, Innovators in American Illustration, Images
of Labor,
and 20+1 Best American Illustrators.
John Collier's pastels and oils have garnered him an impressive fourteen Gold
Medals and ten Silver Medals from the Society of Illustrators, which also chose
his work for the cover of Illustrators 20 and in 1994 awarded him
the prestigious Hamilton King award. Additional awards include those from Communication
Arts, Print, American Institute of Graphic Arts, and from the Art Directors
Clubs of New York, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas and Washington,
D.C. His work has been the focus of many articles and reviews in magazines,
and he has exhibited widely in the US and abroad, most recently at the Smithsonian
Museum, Christie's Auction House, and the New York Historical Society. Additionally,
John's work is housed in numerous public and private collections, including
those of Mark English, Ralph Lauren, Oscar de la Renta, Motown Records, and
the Franklin Mint.
John Collier has taught and lectured extensively at educational facilities
and arts organizations around the country. The documentary "The Art of
John Collier: ‘Truth and the Beautiful Lie’" was broadcast by Worldnet
to Embassies, military installations, and independent cable companies worldwide.
Clients include Columbia Records, Motown Records, Mobil Corp., Time,
Citibank Corp., Rolling Stone, Random House, The Joyce Theater, Esquire,
GQ, and Bloomingdales, to name a few. He has illustrated three children's
books, In My Backyard, which he authored, The
Sleeping Beauty, and
Petrouchka.
John Collier's artistic vision also encompasses sculpture. Institutions nationwide
commission his large figures in bronze, which reflect the artist's Episcopal
faith. He currently lives in Dallas
with his wife, Shirley.
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