James Butler

James Butler (b. 1945)

James Butler was born on August 30, 1945 in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Omaha in 1967 and his Master of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 1970. From 1970-1976, he was Professor of Art at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, and from 1976-1981 at Illinois State University at Normal. Known for his mod printmaking techniques, Butler’s prints and lithographs consist of largely of photographic imagery. His work can be found in more than 80 public and private collections including the Library of Congress, the New York Public Library, and the Smithsonian Institute. He received formal training during the Pop era and found inspiration from Peter Hill (painter at UNO) and Tom Coleman at UNL. His work combines characteristics from the Baroque period with Pop art’s simplicity and objectivity.