John Bennett was designated Texas State Artist 2010 by the 81st Texas Legislature. He began figural sculpting in 1976 and continued to develop his God-given talent as an artist, exhibiting with honors in juried art shows, museums, and galleries.
"I am deeply attracted to the beauty of people and their performance in life. I see romance in line and strength, balance and movement, and that's what I pursue in my work. I strive for essentials, but enhance emotion, and hope the finished piece can project its own soul, beyond just an image frozen in space and time."
“...acclaimed for his sculptures of women, John has created works depicting women from all walks of life, from Old West legend Annie Oakley to 98-year-old Alice Reeves, a former schoolteacher and granddaughter of a slave; one of his pieces was selected by the Women’s Museum for display at the White House in 1999” - Joint resolution by the 81st Texas Legislature, 2009
Major Purchases and Awards: 1994 to 2019 • Annual Purchase by Friends of Fair Park, Spirit of the Centennial Award (bronze sculpture) • Dallas, Texas
2015 • Ruby Stevens portrait figure, The Perry & Ruby Stevens Charitable Foundation • Kerrville, Texas.
2014 • Perry Stevens portrait figure, The Perry & Ruby Stevens Charitable Foundation • Kerrville, Texas.
2013 • Best of Show • Texas Hill Country Invitational Art Show • Boerne, Texas.
2012 • Best of Show • Texas Hill Country Invitational Art Show • Boerne, Texas.
2012 • John Bily portrait bust, Partners in Building, LLC • Houston, Texas
2011 • Best of Show - American Plains Artists, Art of the Plains Juried Exhibit • Las Cruces, New Mexico.
2010 • Best of Show, Sculpture • Museum of Western Art Round Up 2010 • Kerrville, Texas.
2009 • Designated Texas State Artist 2010, by joint resolution of the 81st Texas Legislature • Austin, Texas
2009 • People’s Choice Award • Texas Wild Bunch Professional Artists • Kerrville, Texas.
2008 • Best of Show • Hill Country Invitational Art Show, Cibolo Arts Council • Boerne, Texas.
2008 • Lifesize bronze of Alice Reeves and Great-granddaughter for the Friends of the Leesburg Library • Leesburg, Florida.
2007 • Solo Exhibit, Artist of the Month - The Museum of Western Art • Kerrville, Texas.
2007 • Lifesize bronze of Annie Oakley and Dave, her dog, for the Friends of the Leesburg Library -
2007 • Received Key to the City by the Mayor of Leesburg Florida,
2003 • Lifesize bust of Vera McGinnis • National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame • Ft. Worth, Texas.
2002 • First Place, Sculpture, Duncan Art Guild, • Duncan, Oklahoma.
2001 • Best of Show- Designer, Craftsmen, Teachers and Professionals • State Fair of Texas • Dallas, Texas
1999 • First Place, Sculpture • State Fair of Texas • Dallas, Texas
1998 • Spirit of the Centennial sculpture • Women’s Museum, Dallas Texas for exhibit in the White House as part of the federal ‘Save America’s Treasures’ project, an event to which he received a White House invitation.
Juried Exhibits:
2020-2021 • Museum of Western Art • 37th and 38th Annual Round Up Show • Kerrville, Texas
2017-2018 • Art on the Llano Estacado Exhibition, Museum of Texas Tech University • Lubbock, Texas
2017-2019 • 48th, 49th and 50th Annual Mountain Oyster Club Contemporary Western Art Show • Tucson, Arizona
2006-2015 • Museum of Western Art • ‘Round Up’ Show • Kerrville, Texas
2007 • Stamford Art Foundation
2007 Art Exhibit • Stamford, Texas
2006 • Phippen Museum 32nd Annual Western Art Show • Prescott, Arizona
2006 • Bosque Conservatory, 21st Annual Art Classic • Clifton, Texas
2006 • DeLand Museum of Art "Equus" exhibit • DeLand, Florida
2005 • Fredericksburg Art Gallery • New Masters Show • Fredericksburg, Texas
2004 • Sculpture in the Park • Loveland, Colorado
2004 • Alamo Kiwanis Western Art Show • San Antonio, Texas
2003 • Southwest Classic Invitational • Kerrville, Texas
2003 • Chisholm Trail Museum • Western Heritage Art Invitational • Duncan, Oklahoma
