East Gallery
Bill Jaxon
February 21 thru April 22, 2005
Voted
one of America’s Top 25 Most Popular Artists in 1995, native
Oklahoman artist Bill Jaxon is one of the country’s most celebrated
painters. Whether it be a patriotic image of American pride or a tranquil
portrayal of Western nostalgia, his vivid depictions of the American
West have seized the attention of audiences the world over. Born on
a wheat farm in rural Gracemont, Oklahoma, Jaxon showcased his early
talent for painting by winning his first national art competition at
the young age of eight. From this point on, Jaxon pursued painting
with little doubt as to what his career would be. As a student at the
University of Oklahoma, Jaxon was a campus leader who graduated with
honors receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts in painting
and professional art. He was included in Who’s Who in American
Colleges, and today stands as a member of the Alumni Hall of Fame at
the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.
After graduation, Jaxon formed his own company, illustrating for advertisements
and magazines. Along with working as an illustrator, he also designed
billboards, signs, and greeting cards, even dabbling in fashion design
at one point in his career. Soon he became an illustrator for The Oklahoman,
a position he would hold for the next five years. While working at
the newspaper, Jaxon’s paintings and sculpture were exhibited
in numerous art shows and galleries. Before long, desire for his work
escalated to the point that Jaxon could develop a career solely based
upon his art. By 1974 he was working as a full-time artist.
Today Jaxon concentrates on painting the American West, stating “cowboys
and Indians are what I know about and have the most feelings for.” Indeed,
his body of work comprises various depictions of frontier life, including
paintings of patriotic sentiment. For his work titled Let’s Roll,
Jaxon describes the influence of September 11th on his painting by
saying, “not since the greatest generation have Americans been
asked to defend our homeland.”
Currently
Bill Jaxon stands as the recipient of over 200 awards and prizes over
the past 30 years. However, he still feels as though he is just getting
started in making a lasting impression on the Western art field saying, “after
you reach a certain level of skill, you no longer paint to prove you
can, rather to convey a philosophy of life.” Through his work
Jaxon has created tangible environments for the viewer to inhabit by
transmitting the vibrant energy and passion of his artistic imagination
to the canvas. Referring to a painting of nostalgia Jaxon discloses, “sometimes
my mind takes me to a place I have never been, but long to spend time
in. This is where my heart lives.”
– Amanda Heitzmann, Oklahoma Arts Council Intern
Sponsored by the Oklahoma Arts Council. For more information contact Scott Cowan or Karen Sharp at 405.521.2931 or scott@arts.ok.gov