John Ross Palmer is an American artist based in Houston, Texas.[5][6][7] He is the author of numerous books and the founder of the Escapism art movement.[8][9] In 2010, the Museum of Cultural Arts Houston named Palmer "Artist of the Year."[10] In the same year, he was a finalist for the Hunting Art Prize.[10]
John Ross Palmer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | January 10, 1974 |
| Occupation(s) | Artist, author |
| Known for | Founder of Escapism art movement[1] |
| Spouse | Ryan Lindsay[2][3][4] |
| Website | John Palmer Art |
Early life edit
Palmer was born in 1974 to Ada and Gene Palmer. He is the fourth of five children, a fifth-generation Texan and a third-generation Houstonian.[8][11] He worked in a variety of occupations, from landscaper to bartender, until his father's death in 1998 when he began focusing on art.[11][12]
Education edit
In 1992, Palmer graduated from Alief Hastings High School. Afterward, he attended Houston Community College.[11]
In 2001, he studied at the Santa Reparata International School of Art in Florence, Italy.[10] In 2003, he studied with Robert Venosa in Cadaques, Spain.[10] In 2004, Palmer worked in art in Austria with Philip Rubinov-Jacobson and in 2005, he studied printmaking in Greece.[13]
Career edit
Palmer began his art career in 1998[14] and his work has since appeared in a variety of publications, galleries, and special collections.[10] His work is featured in the Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, the Jung Center, the John Ross Palmer Fine Art Gallery, and his murals are displayed in Tony Vallone's restaurants in Houston.[15] In 2012 and 2013, John Ross Palmer Fine Art Gallery participated in the LA Art Show.[16]
In 2010, Palmer began the Escapist Mentorship Program, a no-fee program created as a way for artists to meet, and to learn about Escapism and the business of art from Palmer himself, the group's leader.[2][17] The program aimed at empowering artists was "designed to defeat the idea that artists must struggle by giving them business knowledge. [It] focuses on self-promotion, business tools and setting high expectations for artists."[18] Since 2014, the program gives artists the use of a private art studio and gallery space at the Chrysalis. As of 2018, the program is overseen by a nonprofit called Art Launch and pairs accepted emerging artists with an established artist who teaches them the business aspects of art during the year-long program.[19]
Palmer is also the author of six books, including Escapism (2004), a book about the Escapism art movement which he founded.[20]
In 2014, the Leadership Houston Class organization featured artwork by local artists at Houston METRO bus stops. Palmer was one of the four artists selected to have their artwork displayed for the project.[21]
In January 2015, Palmer's Houston art gallery received corporate sponsorship through Griffin Realty and Associates. His art is in various private collections, including the Dalai Lama, Frances Fitzgeraldand and former U.S. presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush.[22] In April 2016, Palmer unveiled his art series Ocean Isle Memories at the Museum of Coastal Carolina.[9]
Philanthropy edit
In 2011, Palmer and former husband Ryan Lindsay created the charity of the year program at their art gallery.[23] In 2013, Palmer hosted "fine arts day for children and teens" in association with the My Legacy Foundation.[18] Also in 2013, John Palmer Art chose the Houston-based charity Writers in the Schools as its charity of the year.[24] He started the "Refuse to Struggle" campaign to fund the gallery and studios for the Escapist Mentorship Program.[2][4] The gallery will promote the Houston Habitat for Humanity in 2016.[23] In 2017, Palmer teamed up with former president George H. W. Bush and his Points of Light Foundation to raise funds for volunteer efforts following Hurricane Harvey.[25]
Awards and recognition edit
In 2010, the Museum of Cultural Arts Houston named Palmer "Artist of the Year."[10] In the same year, he was a finalist for the Hunting Art Prize.[10] In 2012 and 2013, abOut Magazine awarded Palmer the F.A.C.E. Award for the LGBT community's most influential artist.[10][26] In November 2014, he was recognized with the Greater Houston Service Award for volunteering to help artists though his Escapist Mentorship Program.[27]
Further reading edit
References edit
- ^ Manouse, Ernie (November 2, 2016). "The Painted Life Of John Palmer". Houston Public Media. University of Houston. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
- ^ a b c "More Art, Less Misery". Out Smart Magazine. December 1, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
- ^ "The Vallone Award by @JohnPalmerArt". Tony's. February 17, 2012. Archived from the original on March 27, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
- ^ a b "John Ross Palmer to Build Escapist Artist Gallery & Studios". AbOut Magazine. September 5, 2013. Archived from the original on March 27, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
- ^ Deborah Mann Lake (December 6, 2001). "New Bench to Offer Solace to Visitors at Urban Oasis". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
- ^ "For Art's Sake". 002 Magazine. March 2001. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
- ^ Steven Foster (September 2009). "Our Own Artist". OutSmart Magazine. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
- ^ a b "Artist Feature at Ocean Isle Beach's Museum of Coastal Carolina". StarNews Online. March 29, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
- ^ a b "John Ross Palmer to Unveil Ocean Isle Memories at Museum of Coastal Carolina". International Show & Tell. April 27, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Artist John Ross Palmer: The Hardest Working Man in the Art Business®". John Ross Palmer Art. Archived from the original on November 1, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
- ^ a b c Valerie Sweeten (April 26, 2011). "Artist's studio is heaven to him". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
- ^ "Palmer art auction to benefit Waldorf Initiative". The Pagosa Springs Sun. January 13, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
- ^ "HHA Restoration - Historical Committee" (PDF). The Heights. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 6, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
- ^ "Meet John Ross Palmer of the John Palmer Art Gallery & Studio in The Historic Heightsurl=http://voyagehouston.com/interview/meet-john-ross-palmer-of-the-john-palmer-art-gallery-studio-in-the-historic-heights/". Voyage Houston. April 24, 2017.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ Shelby Hodge (July 20, 2014). "Gathering spot for Houston's rich and famous gets a summer facelift". Culture Map Houston. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
- ^ "2014 Participating Galleries". LA Art Show 2014. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
- ^ Bandoim, Lana. "Escapist art: The push away from the modern world". CNN iReport. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
- ^ a b Bandoim, Lana. "Empowering Youth: Training Programs Focus on Growth". Yahoo! Voices. Archived from the original on March 27, 2014. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
- ^ Cohen, Mitch (February 8, 2018). "Art Launch Introduces The 2018 Escapist Artists". The Leader. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- ^ "Escape Into Art". MutualArt. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
- ^ "Waiting for Buses is Now an Art Form". RideMetro. June 4, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
- ^ Allen Jones (January 27, 2015). "Business notebook: Pub touts selection of canned craft beer". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
- ^ a b "Gallery to Raise Funds for Habitat". Houston Chronicle. February 18, 2016. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
- ^ "John Palmer Art names Writers in the Schools as its 2013 Charity of the Year". Writers in the Schools. Archived from the original on June 7, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
- ^ "Houston Artist John Palmer Gets George H.W. Bush "On Board with Houston"". Houston Press. September 13, 2017.
- ^ "Houston dresses up, gets loud at F.A.C.E. Awards". Houston Chronicle. December 10, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
- ^ "30th annual Greater Houston Service Awards: 2014 Winners". Volunteer Houston. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
External links edit
