Coleman, John CAA Biography

Coleman, John CAA Biography

John Coleman's favorite type of art is the kind that tells a story that is deeper than what you see on the surface. His love of history overflows into his art. John Coleman's greatest influences come from the classical masters. In the tradition of Bernini and Canova, John Coleman believes that understanding mythology and its basis for civilization was the anchor for spirituality being a true advocate of this philosophy. he uses mythology as the blueprint for his work. Traditions steeped in folklore and mythic tales are the impetus for his sculpture. “I believe art is about putting a physical face on a spiritual idea. My love for American mythology and Native traditions give me a strong sense of kinship to others who, like me, are dedicated to preserving history.”

Born in Southern California in 1949 John Coleman began his early studies at the Art Center for Design in Los Angeles. Since then he has continued his education by studying with many of the top sculptors, and today shares his passion for sculpting by teaching. John Coleman now teaches at the Scottsdale Artists School and the Loveland Academy.

John Coleman has been a member of the prestigious Cowboy Artists of American since 2001 and the National Sculpture Society since 1999. Coleman resides in Prescott. Arizona with his wife Sue.

Artist Statement:

"I am fascinated how music can convey a mood without lyrics and have often thought sculpture lends itself to that idea. I have always loved history and mythology and feel they are the lyrics to my sculpture; the musical interpretation that engages the emotions. Just as music has a beginning, a middle and an end, so does sculpture.

I like to tell stories in my work using metaphors that help explain who we are and from where we came. Creating an object means little to me unless I can portray an underlying emotion or analogy. Each piece tells a story in the three dimensional, a visual mythology written by my hands and spiritual imagination, somehow linking us to the past and bringing us to a greater understanding of our ancestors."

If you have a John Coleman bronze that you would like to sell, please contact us.

  • 2010: Sculpture Award, Masters of American West, Autry Museum, The Game of Arrows
  • 2009: Kieckhefer Award, 44th Annual Cowboy Artists of America Sale and Exhibition, The Game of Arrows
  • 2009: Gold Sculpture Award, 44th Annual Cowboy Artists of American Sale and Exhibition, The Game of Arrows
  • 2009: Gold Award Drawing and Other Media, 44th Annual Cowboy Artists of American Sale and Exhibition, Lives with Honor
  • 2009: Prix de West, James Earle Fraser Sculpture Award
  • 2009: Prix de West, Non Jean Hulsey Rumsey Buyers' Choice Award
  • 2005: Cowboy Artists of America, Silver Medal Sculpture
  • 2004: Cowboy Artists of America, Gold Medal Sculpture, Kieckhefer Award (Best of Show)  and CA Award (Artists Choice).
  • 2002: Silver Medal -Cowboy Artist’s of America Annual Exhibit, Phoenix Art Museum larger than life "Kokopeli"
  • 2001: Agop Agopoff Memorial Award -National Sculpture Society, New York, for "Dancing for the Children"
  • 1999: Pbippen Foundation Award -Phippen Museum for the life-size of "The Rainmaker"
  • 1999: Bruce Hoheb Memorial Award -National Sculpture Society, New York, for "Millennium Dawn"
  • 1998: Best of Show -Sedona Sculpture Walk for "The Rainmaker"
  • 1998: Best Figurative Sculptor - Sedona Sculpture Walk
  • 1998: People's Choice -George Phippen Memorial Western Art Show
  • 1997: People's Choice -George Phippen Memorial Western Art Show
  • 1996: First Place, Traditional Bronze- George Phippen Memorial Western Art Show for “Walks Like a Living Prayer"
  • 1996: People's Choice- George Phippen Memorial Western Art Show
  • 1995: First Place, Traditional Bronze -George Phippen Memorial Western Art Show for "Man's Prelude to Honor"
  • 1995: People’s Choice -George Phippen Memorial Western Art Show and Sedona Sculpture Walk
  • 1995: Juror's Choice -Sedona Sculpture Walk
  • 2003"Visions of Cbange” bronze sculpture -Tucson Museum of Art, Goodman Pavilion of Western Art,- permanent collection
  • 2000: Arizona History Through Art; The Last 100 Years –Phippen Museum -museum exhibit
  • April - July 2012 - Annual Rendezvous Reunion: Exhibition and Art Sale, Thomas Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, OK
  • 2011: 38th Annual Prix de West, National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, OK
  • 2011: 4th Annual American Masters Fine Art Exhibition and Sale, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
  • 2010: Quest for the West, Eiteljorg Museum, Indianapolis, IN
  • 2010: Prix de West, National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, OK
  • 2009 - 4th Annual "Small Works, Great Wonders" Winter Art Sale, National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum
  • 2009: 4th Annual Quest for the West Art Show and Sale, Eiteljorg Museum, IN
  • 2009: Annual Western Art Show and Sale, Phippen Museum
  • 2007: Prix de West, National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, OK
  • 2007: Arizona: A Millennium of Arizona Art, Mark Sublette Medicine Man Gallery, Tucson, AZ
  • January 2003: Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition, Autry Museum of Western Heritage, Los Angeles. CA
  • January 2003: The Night of Artists, San Antonio TX
  • February 2003: Best of the West, Wickenburg Museum, Wickenburg, AZ
  • May 2003: Cowboy Artists of America Museum, Roundup Show, Kerrville. TX
  • July 2003: Cheyenne Old West Museum, Cheyenne Frontier Days Western Art Show
  • October 2003: Phoenix Art Museum, Cowboy Artists of America Show, Phoenix, AZ
  • January 2002: Phippen Museum, The Beauty and the Beast in the West Prescott. AZ
  • January 2002: The Night of Artists, San Antonio, TX
  • February 2002: National Sculpture Society, Angels, Cupids & Other Winged Creatures, New York
  • Apri12002: Cowboy Artists of America Museum, Roundup Show, Kerrville, TX
  • October 2002: Phoenix Art Museum, Cowboy Artists of America, Phoenix, AZ
  • August 2001: Sculpture in the Park, Loveland, Colorado
  • September 2001: National Sculpture Society, Annual Exhibit, Brookgreen Gardens, South Carolina "and New York
  • January 2000: Phippen Museum, Arizona History Through Art -The Last 100 years
  • August 2000: Sculpture in the Park, Loveland, Colorado
  • September 2000: National Sculpture Society, Annual Exhibit, Brookgreen Gardens, South Carolina and New York
  • August 1999: Sculpture in the Park, Loveland, Colorado
  • September 1999: National Sculpture Society,. Annual Exhibit, New York
  • August 1998: Sculpture in the Park, Loveland, Colorado
  • 2021: Western Art Collector, January
  • 2020: Art of the West, November/December
  • 2020: Western Art Collector, March
  • 2019: Art of the West, January/February
  • 2018: Western Art Collector, December 2018
  • 2018: Western Art Collector, November 2018
  • 2018: Western Art and Architecture, June/July
  • 2018: Art of the West, May/June 2018
  • 2018: Western Art and Architecture, April/May 2018
  • 2018: Western Art Collector, April issue
  • 2018: Western Art Collector, January issue
  • 2017: Western Art Collector, December issue
  • 2003: Monumental Achievement, Grand-Scale Sculpting: The Challenges, the Rewards -Art of the West Magazine -July-August Issue -feature article.
  • 2002: The, Creative Process -Southwest Art Magazine -March issue -feature article
  • 2002: Scottsdale Life -Feature Article, October issue
  • 2001: A Long Time Coming- Art of the West Magazine, March/April issue -feature article
  • 2000: Beyond Realism -Southwest Art Magazine, March issue -feature article
  • 1999: Spotlight on John Coleman -Art Talk, January issue -feature article
  • 1998: One or 10 Great (under-recognized) Sculptors -Art Talk, January issue -article
  • 1998: A Portfolio of Sculptors - Southwest Art Magazine, July issue, feature article
  • 1997: Cover Artist -Art Review Magazine, August issue -cover photo and feature article