Jim Gilmore was born and raised on a cattle ranch in southern Colorado, where he continues to live. While growing up, he developed an early love for the surrounding mountains, Western and cowboy culture, and the wildlife that inhabit them. Combining this fascination with a life-long interest in art, Jim went from cattle rancher to full-time sculptor in 1985.
From Rancher to Sculptor
Jim believes an in-depth knowledge of anatomy and animal habits are very important qualities for an animal sculptor. He continues to spend many days in the mountains researching and photographing wildlife and around the ranch with his horses and mules, which adds to his knowledge of the subjects he sculpts. For these reasons, his bronzes find ready acceptance by ranchers, cowboys, naturalists, sportsmen, and art collectors alike.
A Self-Taught Sculptor
Jim has had no formal art training, but believes that his experience has given him a knowledge that would be difficult to learn in a school. He is involved with the molding, casting, and applying of the patina and final finishes to each of his bronzes. This extra effort - being on-site at the foundry to oversee the finishing touches - has earned him collectors throughout the world. Jim's compositions and attention to the smallest details have been rewarded by acceptance into hundreds of art shows and exhibitions throughout the United States.
Award-Winning Sculptures
His efforts have been rewarded by repeat Best of Show awards at Safari Club International, the National Wildlife Art Show, and the NatureWorks Art Show. He has been commissioned to sculpt monumental sculptures by many individuals, universities, cities, and organizations, including Baylor University, Adams State College, NatureWorks, the city of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, and the city of Black Hawk, Colorado.
Selected Awards
2011 Phippen Museum Invitational Western Art Show, Best of Show, Sculpture, Precott, AZ
2011 Phippen Museum Invitational Western Art Show, Phippen Family Award, Prescott, AZ
2011 NatureWorks Art Show, Best of Show, Sculpture, Tulsa, OK
2006 NatureWorks Art Show, Encore Artist, Sculpture, Tulsa, OK
2005 NatureWorks Art Show, Featured Artist, Sculpture, Tulsa, OK
2000 NatureWorks Art Show, Best of Show, Sculpture, Tulsa, OK
1999 National Wildlife Art Show, Best of Show, Small Animal, Sculpture
1998 National Wildlife Art Show, Best of Show, Large Animal, Sculpture
1998 National Wildlife Art Show, Best Artwork on Display, Sculpture
1994 Safari Club International, Best of Show, Sculpture
1993 Safari Club International, Judges Choice, Bronzes
Museum Shows
2012 Trappings of Texas Western Art Exhibit, Museum of the Big Bend, Sul Ross State University, Alpine, TX
2011 A.R. Mitchell Memorial Museum of Western Art, Trinidad, CO
2011 The Phippen Museum, Western Art Show, Prescott, AZ
2011 C.M. Russell Museum, The Russell Art Show and Sale, Great Falls, MT
2011 Trappings of Texas Western Art Exhibit, Museum of the Big Bend, Sul Ross State University, , Alpine, TX
Selected Exhibitions and Shows
2012 NatureWorks Wildlife Show, Tulsa, OK
2012 Colorado Western Art Show, National Western Stock Show, Denver, CO
2011 Art for the Sangres, Westcliffe, CO
2011 Society of Animal Artists Invitational Exhibition & National Tour
2011 Loveland Sculpture Invitational, Loveland, CO
2011 NatureWorks Wildlife Show, Tulsa, OK
2010 Saks Galleries, Sculpture of the Rockies Book Release Show, Denver, CO
2009 Loveland Sculpture Invitational, Loveland, CO
2009 Colorado Governor’s Invitational Show and Sale, Loveland, CO
2009 NatureWorks Wildlife Show, Tulsa, OK
2008 Loveland Sculpture Invitational, Loveland, CO
2008 Wildlife Experience, Art and the Animal, Denver, CO
2008 Colorado Governor’s Invitational Show and Sale, Loveland, CO
2008 Society of Animal Artists Invitational Exhibition & National Tour
2008 NatureWorks Wildlife Show, Tulsa, OK
2007 Colorado Governor’s Invitational Show and Sale, Loveland, CO
2007 Loveland Sculpture Invitational, Loveland, CO
2007 NatureWorks Wildlife Show, Tulsa, OK
2006 Loveland Sculpture Invitational, Loveland, CO
2006 NatureWorks Wildlife Show, Tulsa, OK
2005 Loveland Sculpture Invitational, Loveland, CO
2005 NatureWorks Wildlife Show, Tulsa, OK
2004 Loveland Sculpture Invitational, Loveland, CO
2004 Mountain Oyster Club, Contemporary Western Art Show, Tucson, AZ
2004 NatureWorks Wildlife Show, Tulsa, OK
2003 Loveland Sculpture Invitational, Loveland, CO
2003 NatureWorks Wildlife Show, Tulsa, OK
2002 Loveland Sculpture Invitational, Loveland, CO
2002 NatureWorks Wildlife Show, Tulsa, OK
2002 Art of the Animal Kingdom, Bennington, VT
2001 Loveland Sculpture Invitational, Loveland, CO
2001 NatureWorks Wildlife Show, Tulsa, OK
2001 Art of the Animal Kingdom, Bennington, VT
2000 Loveland Sculpture Invitational, Loveland, CO
2000 NatureWorks Wildlife Show, Tulsa, OK
2000 Art of the Animal Kingdom, Bennington, VT
1999 The Virginia Museum of Natural History, Martinsville, VA
1999 Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History, Jamestown, NY
1999 Loveland Sculpture Invitational, Loveland, CO
1999 NatureWorks Wildlife Show, Tulsa, OK
1999 Art of the Animal Kingdom, Bennington, VT
1999 Wild Wings Original Show, Lake City, MN
1999 National Wildlife Art Show, Kansas City, KS
1998 Loveland Sculpture Invitational, Loveland, CO
1998 Art of the Animal Kingdom, Bennington, VT
1998 NatureWorks Wildlife Show, Tulsa, OK
1998 Wild Wings Original Show, Lake City, MN
1998 National Wildlife Art Show, Kansas City, KS
1997 Loveland Sculpture Invitational, Loveland, CO
1997 Art of the Animal Kingdom, Bennington, VT
1997 NatureWorks Wildlife Show, Tulsa, OK
1997 Wild Wings Original Show, Lake City, MN
1997 National Wildlife Art Show, Kansas City, KS
1996 Loveland Sculpture Invitational, Loveland, CO
1996 NatureWorks Wildlife Show, Tulsa, OK
1996 Art of the Animal Kingdom, Bennington, VT
1996 Wild Wings Original Show, Lake City, MN
1996 National Wildlife Art Show, Kansas City, KS
1996 Safari Club International, Las Vegas, NV
1996 Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, Reno, NV
1995 Loveland Sculpture Invitational, Loveland, CO
1995 NatureWorks Wildlife Show, Tulsa, OK
1995 Art of the Animal Kingdom, Bennington, VT
1995 Safari Club International, Las Vegas, NV
1995 Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Seattle, WA
1995 Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, Reno, NV
1994 Sculpture in the Park, Loveland, CO
1994 Safari Club International, Las Vegas, NV
1994 Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Seattle, WA
1994 Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, Reno, NV
1993 Sculpture in the Park, Loveland, CO
1993 Safari Club International, Las Vegas, NV
1993 Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Seattle, WA
1993 Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, Reno, NV
1992 Safari Club International, Las Vegas, NV
1992 Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Seattle, WA
1992 Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, Reno, NV
1991 Safari Club International, Las Vegas, NV
1991 Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Seattle, WA
1991 Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, Reno, NV
1990 Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, Reno, NV
Gallery Shows
2008 Passionate Eye Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2006 Paint Horse Gallery (Two-person show), Breckenridge, CO
2005 Paint Horse Gallery (Two-person show), Breckenridge, CO
2004 Paint Horse Gallery (Two-person show), Breckenridge, CO
2003 Paint Horse Gallery (Two-person show), Breckenridge, CO
2002 Paint Horse Gallery (Two-person show), Breckenridge, CO
2001 Paint Horse Gallery (Two-person show), Breckenridge, CO
2000 Paint Horse Gallery (Two-person show), Breckenridge, CO
1999 Paint Horse Gallery (Two-person show), Breckenridge, CO
1998 Paint Horse Gallery (Two-person show), Breckenridge, CO
1997 Passionate Eye Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
1996 Paint Horse Gallery (Two-person show), Breckenridge, CO
1995 Paint Horse Gallery (Two-person show), Breckenridge, CO
1996 Blackhawk Gallery, Saratoga, WY
1995 Wyoming Galleries, Jackson, WY
1995 A Place in the Sun Gallery, Charlotte, NC
Commissions
Adams State College, Alamosa CO – 1-1/2 x life-size grizzly bear
City of Blackhawk, CO – 1-1/2 x life-size elk
City of Sapulpa, OK - 2 x life-size bison
Cabela’s Inc., 2 x life-size bison and 1.5 x life-size moose
Baylor Alumni Association - life-size grizzly bear and two cubs, Waco, TX
NatureWorks – 2-1/2 x life-size black bear sow and three cubs, Tulsa, OK
NatureWorks - 2 x life-size cougar, Tulsa, OK
NatureWorks- 1/4-life-size Shiras moose, Tulsa, OK
Private Commission – 1-1/2 x life-size Chinese water buffalo and calf
Private Commissions - life-size black bear cubs
Private Commission - life-size cougar
Articles
Wildlife Art, “Rancher Hooked on Sculpture,” July-Aug, 2007
San Luis Valley Magazine, "Art from the Heart of Nature," July 2001.
Wildlife Art, "Through the Artists' Eyes," July-Aug, 1998
The Baylor Line, "Monumental Bears," Fall, 1998
Sporting Classics, "The Ultimate Medium," March-April, 1992
Book
Jim is featured in Southwest Art magazine's first hard-back book, Sculpture of the Rockies, featuring 97 sculptors who share their favorite pieces. This guide is a must-have for collectors in search of artists, for artists in search of ideas, and for visitors who want a beautiful memento of their time spent in this breathtaking landscape. www.amazon.com.
Memberships
Foundation for North American Wild Sheep
La Puente Homeless Shelter, Board of Directors, 1988-present, Alamosa, CO
Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust, Board of Directors, 2008-present, San Luis Valley, CO
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Society of Animal Artists
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