“Now more than ever, we need to expand the message about the vital importance of the world’s natural places and utilize the forceful role that artists can leverage in the efforts to conserve them."

– John Banovich

 

 

 

ABOUT

John Banovich (b.1964) is an American contemporary oil painter known internationally for his large, dramatic portrayals of iconic wildlife. Today, Banovich’s work is admired and collected globally by prominent politicians, entertainers, business leaders, and art collectors. His work can be found in private collections, corporate offices, and museums throughout the world.
 

Through my artwork, I hope to move, reveal and inspire people to seek a deeper understanding of the world around us and bring together groups of individuals to unite on common ground. Our natural world is severely threatened and with this increased pressure, a new paradigm must emerge...artists, conservationists, sportsmen, and environmentalists must come together in areas of overlapping interests."

– John Banovich

 

 

BIOGRAPHY

John Banovich is known internationally for his large, dramatic portrayals of iconic wildlife.  His life-sized elephant painting “Once Upon A Time” drew global attention to ivory poaching and his deep knowledge of wildlife and unwavering commitment to conservation continues to raise awareness about imperiled species.  Under the umbrella of his Banovich Wildscapes Foundation, money generated through artwork sales has been channeled back into support efforts that promote habitat protection, science-based wildlife management, and sustainable tourism. 

Banovich's work is in important museum, corporate and private collections and has appeared in numerous prestigious venues including the Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, National Museum of Wildlife Art, Wildlife Experience Art Museum, Salmagundi Club, Museum of the Southwest, Natural History Museum, Gilcrease Museum, traveling exhibitions sponsored by the Society of Animal Artists, Artists for Conservation and showcases hosted by Safari Club International and Dallas Safari Club. 

Most recently, Banovich is featured in a one-man exhibition titled “KING OF BEASTS: A Study of the African Lion by John Banovich”.  The body of work created for this exhibition serves as an homage to these animals and explores questions about mankind’s deep fear, love, and admiration for these creatures. The exhibition spans nearly twenty-five years of work and assembles Banovich’s body of work focused on African Lions for the very first time. The exhibition opened at the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno, Nevada, and traveled to The Witte Museum in San Antonio, Texas where it will be on display April through September 2020. As the plight of the African Lion has been prominently featured across media platforms recently, the cultural significance of Panthera leo could not be timelier.

In the press, Banovich’s work has been showcased on CBS Entertainment Tonight, The Outdoor Channel, The Great American Country Channel, Orion Entertainment, PBS, Southwest Art Magazine, Western Art Collector Magazine, Cowboys & Indians Magazine, Sporting Classics, Western Art & Architecture, and most recently NBC has written about his dedication to his conservation work and named him an NBC Cause Celebrity.

In 2007 John Banovich founded the Banovich Wildscapes Foundation. It is the culmination of tireless conservation efforts over the past two decades. Through his career as an artist, Banovich has inspired a deeper understanding of the world and its wildlife, encouraging successful conservation efforts and awareness of endangered species and their habitats. Traveling across the world seeking inspiration for his work, John has utilized these opportunities to research wildlife and to learn about associated conservation challenges at the local, regional, and national levels. Through his career, artwork and his publishing company, Banovich Art, Banovich has developed effective ways to help implement and support conservation programs and is utilizing his imagery to promote a message of wildlife preservation and to initiate real change - BWF is making a difference.  Currently, BWF supports eleven projects in seven countries.

In 2019, the Nevada Art Museum will feature Banovich in a one-man exhibition titled “King of Beasts: John Banovich”.  As an internationally recognized artist who has studied lions for decades, and the Founder of the Lion P.R.I.D.E. Initiative, the body of work created for this exhibition serves as an homage to these animals and explores questions about mankind’s deep fear, love, and admiration for these creatures. The exhibition spans nearly twenty-five years of work, and assembles Banovich’s body of work focused on African Lions for the very first time. The exhibition will open at the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno, Nevada and will travel to several additional venues throughout the United States over the following year. As the plight of the African Lion has been prominently featured across media platforms recently, the cultural significance of Panthera leo could not be timelier.

 

Learn about John Banovich's award-winning conservation foundation, Wildscapes.

 

 

FILMS & DOCUMENTARIES

 

"The process of fine art and filmmaking share a common genesis. The nexus is a good story and then great characters to tell the tale. Good research and camera (sketch pad for studies) work. Then the real art comes in the editing room (studio) where less is more and the strength of the rough (composition in painting) comes to life by what you leave out, not by what you put in.

Today there are more films being created than ever before so often proprietary access is needed to make something special and not yet told, and like in fine art, you feel as though you are seeing it for the first time. I like to get behind and work with talented and passionate visionaries in film. Working with the most talented directors and cameramen is crucial as unlike a solo artist in the studio, filmmaking takes a village….and what a talented team we have created “Edge of Existence”  and “The Last Horns of Africa”. John Banovich

 

Edge of Existence: The Film

James and Sam Suter and their partner Oli Caldow from Blackbean Productions are truly gifted storytellers. Their passion and work ethic and willingness to take creative risks combined with a scholarly knowledge of Africa and its people makes them leaders in the world of African filmmaking.

I partnered with them because I felt this was a story that had never been told before. It is the number one issue facing conservationists today and it is plaguing the animal kingdom because as human populations rise, animals are pushed into more defined areas. Africa is the last of the Pleistocene era harboring big things with big teeth and they can be a difficult thing to live side by side with. The human/animal conflict has exploded to an unprecedented point in human history. The decisions we make today will seal the fate of wildlife for future generations.

The Grumeti Reserve: I have never seen such a successful conservation story in all of Africa. When Grumeti was first taken over by the investors, the game was hard to find and the migrations seemed to just pass through as it was not a place that offered to much to them. Animals were being slaughtered for the bushmeat trade and Wildebeest and others were being killed by the thousands. Within a few years of good stewardship, combined with community investment and support, the game started to return. Eland, Buffalo, lions and zebra, and the beloved wildebeest. I always say if you simply provide wildlife a protected place to live, with food and water, they will come and they will thrive.  We don’t need to save wildlife, they need a protected place to live and they will save themselves: They are very good at it.  But the human populations also exploded in the last 15 years and has created a severe competition for resources and in this test of wills, always the animal loses. John Banovich

Black Bean Productions in association with Banovich Studios has set out to document and uncover the untold story of human-wildlife conflict in Africa. This issue is becoming a serious threat to wildlife and conservation areas due to the increasing population and pressures on wilderness areas. It also affects the livelihood of many people, on a daily basis. This is the teaser video for the documentary which aims to tell the story of key characters on the ground, who face daily challenges in terms of living alongside Africa’s wildlife.

Link to Trailer

 

The Last Horns of Africa: The Feature Documentary
A Film by White Spark Pictures, Banovich Studios & Cross Border Productions

The Rhino story is one of the biggest tragedies in modern times. The rhino is an animal cursed with the most expensive substance known to man-its large horns.  In fact, a really large horn is worth nearly one million dollars on the black market. Poachers will go to great lengths to get it and it has attracted societies' worst people, including organized gangs. They will stop at nothing to get their illegal cache including the murder of men, women, and children who might get in the way.  The tragic truth, its for a body part for which the animal does not have to be killed. Horns are 98% keratin, can be removed with no harm to the animal, and can grow back in 7 years. Its like killing the cow to get the milk. It is the only animal being poached for the traditional Chinese medicine market and displays of affluence that doesn’t have to die. Disunity is ramped amongst these stakeholders and while politicians debate the issue of the legalization of the trade, animals are dying all around us at a rate of one every eight hours. It is a complete ecological tragedy.

I am so thrilled to be the executive producer and to be working with the creative team of Morgan Pelt, Garth De Bruno, and Sean Viljoen and Ivan Carter. This south African foursome is a team of passionate, inspired, talented, and dedicated directors and storytellers that want to make a huge positive impact in the rhino crisis. We want this sorry to reach the masses, secure a more protected habitat, and make a huge difference in rhino conservation.  John Banovich

READ MORE

LINK TO TEASER

 

 

EDUCATION

University of Montana, Art & Zoology, Missoula, MT
Art Institute of Seattle, Associates Degree-Visual Communications, Seattle, WA

 

 

EXHIBITIONS / EVENTS

The Witte Museum,  KING OF BEASTS Exhibition, San Antonio, TX, April-September 2020
Nevada Museum of Art, KING OF BEASTS Exhibition, November 2019-February 2020
Seattle Art Fair, Seattle, WA, August 2019
Behring Global Education Foundation, Keynote Speaker, The Power of Art to Increase Awareness for Conservation, Wuhan Natural History Museum, Wuhan China, July 2018
National Museum of Wildlife Art, Western Visions Invitational, Jackson Hole, WY, 2005-2006, 2016-2019
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Prix de West Invitational, Oklahoma City, OK, 1999-2018
Southeastern Wildlife Art Exposition, 1993, 1995, 1996, Feature Artist: 1998, Guest Artist: 1997, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2010, 2016, 2018
Safari Club International, 1995-2019
Dallas Safari Club, Dallas, TX, 1995-2019
Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Birds in Art, Wausau, WI, 1997-2006, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017
Society of Animal Artists, Art and the Animal Exhibition, 1998-2016
Artists for Conservation, Vancouver, B.C., 2009, 2017
Houston Safari Club, Houston, TX, 2015
Safari Club International Miniature Invitational, Las Vegas, NV, 2015
Settler’s West Gallery, American Miniature Show, Tucson, AZ, 2008-2015
Scottsdale Art Auction, Scottsdale, AZ, 2015
Jackson Hole Art Auction, Jackson Hole, WY, 2013-2015
Coeur d’Alene Art Auction, Reno, NV, 2014, 2015
Wildlife Experience Museum and Museum of the Southwest, Nature of the Beast, Solo Exhibition, 2010
Gilcrease Museum, American Art in Miniature Invitational, 2006
The City Gallery at Waterfront Park, One Man Exhibition, Charleston, SC, 2005
Society of Animal Artists, Animals in Art Holiday Exhibition, Miami Metro Zoo, Miami, FL, 2004
Hiram Blauvelt Museum, Solo Exhibition, Oradell, NJ, 2002
J.N. Bartfield Gallery, Nature’s Legacy: Wildlife and Wild Country, New York, NY, 2002
Phillips Auction House, Rhino Rescue, London, England, 2001
Everard Read Gallery, Natural History Paintings and Sculpture, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2000
Trailside Galleries, Wildlife Discovery, Scottsdale AZ, 2000
Lt. Governor’s Art Council Exhibition, The Power of Nature, Capitol Building, Olympia, WA, 1998
Wonders of Nature Tour, Hong Kong, 1997
Spanierman Gallery, Natural Habitat, New York, 1997
Pacific Rim Wildlife Art Show, 1993-1996, Featured Artist 1996,
The Houstonian, One Man Exhibition, Houston, TX, 1996
Art Chateau, One Man Exhibition, Butte, MT, 1990
Wild Wings, Designs in Nature, Seattle WA
Northwest Invitational, Howard Mandeville Gallery
Prestige Gallery, Original Art Showcase, Ontario, Canada
Nature in Art Museum, Gloucester, England

 

 

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

 BEAST: The Collected Works of John Banovich, Banovich Fine Art Publishing, 2009
Two Hearts in Tanzania: Dick and Mary Cabela's Hunting Chronicles II by Mary Cabela and Richard N. Cabela

 

 

SELECTED PRESS

Forbes, Meet the Tarzan Who Can Paint, July 16, 2020

Western Art & Architecture, Creativity for Conservation, October/November 2019
Safari Magazine, Beyond the Edge of the Canvas, Winter 2019
Safari Press, Cover, Fall 2018
Western Art Collector, Prix de West Exhibition Preview, June 2018
NBC News-WCBD Channel 2 News, Charleston, SC, February 2018
Art World News, Banovich Wildscapes Foundation to Present Conservation Excellence Award, December 2017
Robb Report, Inside Singita’s Super Exclusive Serengeti House, November 2017
Artists for Conservation, Banovich Establishes New $100,000 Conservation Award  2017
Western Art Collector, Cover, June 2017
Nimrod Safari Magazine, Hungary, June 2017
Sporting Classics, John Banovich: Heart of a Lion by David Cabela, January/February 2017
Sports Afield, The Art of the Game, November/December 2016
Stanford University, Millennium Alliance for Humanity and Biosphere, John Banovich-Painting Animals & Protecting Wildscapes, October 2016
CBS, KZBK TV, Livingston, MT, July 2016
Western Art Collector Magazine, February 2016
Orion Entertainment, Great American Country Channel, Ultimate Sportsman’s Lodge TV Series, 2015
Distinctly Montana, Magazine, 2015
Sporting Classics, “On Location” by Chris Dorsey, December 2015
Private Air Luxury Homes, John Banovich – Larger than Life Big Canvas Bigger Artist, September/October 2015
Southwest Art, My World, June 2015
Western Art & Architecture, February/March 2015
NBC Cause Celeb, October 2014
Cowboys & Indians, John Banovich, January 2015
Safari Express, Buenos Aires Argentina SCI Chapter, An Inspiring Artist, Spring 2014
The Outdoor Group, Inc., 42nd Annual SCI Convention, February 2014
Safari Magazine, Art of the Hunt: Maximum Impact,  Jan/Feb 2014
Safari Club Convention Daily News, Banovich Now and Future, February 8, 2014
Discovery Life Magazine, The Artist’s Touch, Volume VII, Fall 2013
The Sporting Life Radio Show, Celebrity Guest: John Banovich, November 2013
Western Art & Architecture, In the Studio, Dec/Jan 2013
Open Fences, John Banovich: Big Animals, Big Teeth, Big Program, Spring 2012
Texas Sporting Journal, Beyond Passion, January/February 2011
Sporting Classics, Living What He Paints, January 2011
Banovich Travels to China, Project Panda: The Global Search for Chengdu Pambassador, Fall 2010
Entertainment Tonight, Highlights “BEAST: The Collected Works of John Banovich,” November 2009
Cowboys & Indians, Gallery Tour, Featuring “Passing Along the Lessons She Learned,” June 2009
Western Art & Architecture, Swimming with Giants, Winter/Spring 2009
Pakistan Chronicle, November 2008
Montana Living, John Banovich, Summer 2007
Big Sky Journal, Arts Issue, July/August 2007
African Wildlife Foundation, Africa Geographic, PRIDE Initiative, May 2007
Outdoor Life Network, Dangerous Game Episode, October 2006
WPBS Television, An Artist’s Journey, March 2006
Wildlife Art Magazine, Big As Life, Jan/Feb 2006
The Artist’s Magazine, Big Game, July/August 2006
Game Trails, Featured Artist: John Banovich, Summer 2006
Distinctly Montana, Painter of the Big Wild, Winter 2005-2006
The Outdoor Channel 2, Wildlife Art Gallery, 2005
African Sporting Gazette, 2005
African Wildlife Foundation, Africa Geographic, The Mind’s Eye, Fall 2005
Wildscape Magazine, UK, Banovich: Step by Step, Summer 2005
PBS, Journeys of an Artist, July 2004
Sporting Classics, This ‘N That, May/June 2004
Wildscape Magazine, UK, The Art of John Banovich, March 2004
Art World News, Banovich: Making A Difference Naturally, May/June 2003
Big Sky Journal, John Banovich: A Painter’s Barn, Summer 2003
Bozeman Chronicle, Living and Painting Large, May 2003
Wildlife Art, Redefining Success, Jan/Feb 2003
Montana Pioneer, Banovich’s Wild, Wild World, September 2002
InformArt, The Art of Marketing: John Banovich Has Come Far in 7 Years, Fall 2001
Southwest Art, Prix de West Preview, June 2000
U.S. Art, Art Hunters, January 1999
Wildlife Art, The Prize of Humanity, January/February 1999
Game Trails, Featured Artist: John Banovich, Summer 1999
Wildlife Art, Rockport Publishers, 1999
American Artist, Out of Africa,  October 1999
Northlight Books, The Best of Wildlife Art II, 1999
U.S. Art, Painting with Passion, July 1998
U.S. Art, Pachyderm Power, November 1998
Northlight Books, The Best of Wildlife Art, 1997
Art Trends, January/February 1997
Sporting Classics, The Banovich Niche, March 1996
Wildlife Art, A Passion for the Unexpected, July 1996
Inform Art, Building A Body .of Art, September/October 1994
U.S. Art, Wildlife Art Rising Start, June 1994

 

 

AFFILIATIONS

Shikar Safari Club, Member, 2007-Present
Safari Club International Foundation, Advisory Board Member, 2015-Present
Ivan Carter Wildlife Conservation Alliance, Board Member, 2016-Present
Craighead Institute, Board of Directors & Member, 2007-Present
Banovich Wildscapes Foundation, Founder/CEO, 2007-Present
Lion P.R.I.D.E. Initiative, Founder, 2007
Society of Animal Artists, Distinguished Member, 1998-Present
Artists for Conservation, 2009-Present
Society of Animal Artists, Board Member, 2004-2008
Safari Club International “Conservation Alliance” Project, Co-Founder, 2007
Safari Club International Foundation Humanitarian Services, “Tatu” Project, Co-Founder, 2006

 

 

AWARDS

Artists for Conservation, Best in Show for Painting, ”Game of Lions”, Vancouver, B.C., 2015
Artists for Conservation, Medal of Excellence”, Vancouver, B.C., 2015
Jackson Hole Art Auction, Top Tier Artist, Jackson Hole, WY, 2014, 2015
Safari Club International, C.J McElroy Award, 2010
National Indie Coffee Table Book Award for “BEAST: The Collected Works of John Banovich”, 2010
Society of Animal Artists, Presidential Artistic Achievement Award, 2009
Artists for Conservation, Simon Combes Conservation Award, “Shelter from the Storm,” 2009
Society of Animal Artists, Award of Excellence, “End of Days,” 2008
Society of Animal Artists, Presidential Artistic Achievement Award, “A Giant Among Giants,” 2007
National Rifle Association, Artist of the Year, “Echoes in Gold,” 2007
Worldwide Nature Artist’s Group, Conservation Artist of the Month, April 2006
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Artist of the Year, “Royal Performance,” 2005
The Artist’s Magazine, Second Place Animal Art, “The Gathering Place,” 2005
The Artist’s Magazine, Landscape Category Finalist, “Under the Baobab,” 2004
The Artist’s Magazine, Animal Art Category Finalist, “Beauties and the Beasts,” 2004
Safari Club International, The People’s Choice Award, 2003
Society of Animal Artists, Award of Excellence, 2001
Society of Animal Artists, Award of Excellence, 2000
Society of Animal Artists, Award of Excellence, “White Rhino and Plovers,” 1997
Society of Animal Artists, Wildlife Art News Award, “The Defensive Line,” 1997
Pacific Rim Wildlife Art Show, People’s Choice Award, “Heading for Deep Water,” 1996
Society of Animal Artists, Activities Press Award, “104th Congress,” 1996
The Artist’s Magazine, Animal Art Category Finalist, “The Defensive Line,” 1995
Game Coin Show, San Antonio, Texas, Best New Artist, 1994
U.S. Art, Wildlife Art Rising Star, 1994
Pacific Rim Wildlife Art Show, Best of Show, “The Patriarch,” 1994
Pacific Rim Wildlife Art Show, Best of Show, “In the Heat of the Day,” 1993

 

 

SELECTED COLLECTIONS

National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson Hole, WY
Wildlife Experience Museum, Parker, CO
Tudor Investments, Greenwich, CT
Hiram Blauvelt Museum, Oradell, NJ
Borsini and Burr, San Francisco, CA
The American Patriot Building, Evansville, IN
Yellowstone Club, Warren Miller Lodge, Big Sky, MT
Mary Hart, Host, Entertainment Tonight
Dave Liniger, Founder, RE/MAX Int.
Tom Siebel, Founder, C3
Bob Parsons, Founder, GoDaddy.com
Richard Childress, Team Owner, NASCAR
Dick & Mary Cabela, Owners, Cabelas
Chris Dorsey, CEO of Orion Entertainment
Jack Hanna, Director, Columbus Zoo & TV host of “Jack Hanna’s Wild Countdown” and “Into the Wild”
Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., U.S. Army General
Ross Perot Jr., Chairman, Perot Systems

 

 

REVIEWS

"John Banovich not only possesses the vision to capture nature on canvas with unmatched insight and skill, he also extends that vision to saving the wild places that mean so much to all of us. He is an unrivaled artist and conservationist and a gift to those who marvel at the man and his art."  
-Chris Dorsey, CEO, and President, Orion Entertainment

 

“John Banovich has merged the world of wildlife art and conservation in a unique and exciting way. John is able to use his status as a world-renowned artist to further conservation efforts even in the remotest parts of the world, working to save Siberian tigers in the Russian Far East, lions in Africa, and even the brown bears of North America. John brings energy, imagination, and leadership to the conservation arena, seeking new partnerships and new mechanisms to save the world's wildlife.” 
- Dale Miquelle, Program Director, Wildlife Conservations Society

 

"His art has a bigger-than-life feel to it that makes it awe-inspiring.”  
-Paul Tudor Jones, Tudor Investments
 

"John has the special ability to capture and share his passion and love for Africa through wildlife painting. The connection to each piece, along with his dedication to the protection and preservation of the wildlife and environment is truly spectacular. He is a true advocate for the protection and preservation of African wildlife and land, John Banovich, brings the beauty of Africa to enthusiasts worldwide through his exceptional pieces of wildlife art. I wouldn’t have wanted to be shown in Africa by anyone besides John. Having the opportunity to see the land and wildlife with my family by someone so passionate was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I plan on doing every year. To have a painting of the experience makes the memory even more unforgettable."  
-Mike Meldman, Founder and CEO, Discovery Land Co.

 

“The painting just reminds me so much of the real thing. It’s the details that count: the wrinkles on the tusk and brow, the clouds of dust rising from the massive feet, the birds scampering to avoid the charge. That’s like the real thing that you would see in Africa.”  
-Richard Childress, President/CEO of Richard Childress Racing

 

“John Banovich has raised the bar for excellence in wildlife art. His work is among the best in the world. When you read his story, it gives you a deeper respect for the man behind the art and enhances an already unparalleled visual experience.”  
-Dick and Mary Cabela, Founders, Cabela’s – World’s Foremost Outfitter

 

 

 

 

 

 

© 2020 All Artwork John Banovich