Biography
Biography- Tim Shinabarger
By Todd Wilkinson
Tim Shinabarger is an award-winning American sculptor and painter internationally known for his portrayals of wildlife. Today, his works in bronze can be found in major museums and private collections, including the Autry National Center’s Museum of the American West in Los Angeles and the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Wyoming.
A native of Montana, Shinabarger spent his youth and early adulthood never far away from his beloved wilderness areas in the northern Rocky Mountains. The past few decades have seen Shinabarger going further afield, exploring some of the most remote corners of the continent to gather reference material for new pieces. “Nature is the source of my inspiration,” he says. “There is no replacement for total immersion if what you’re seeking is the truth.”
Critics hail Shinabarger’s work both for its mature, sophisticated approach to composition and for the artist’s ability to communicate the very spirit of his subjects. Expanding his corpus, Shinabarger has also won acclaim for his depictions of African and Alaskan mega fauna. He is, without question one of the finest wildlife sculptors of his generation.
“Tim Shinabarger is like an elder statesman of wildlife art without actually being very old,” says Adam Duncan Harris, chief curator at the National Museum of Wildlife Art. He has risen to the top and has remained there with work that is consistently innovative and of the highest quality.”
Among some of his accolades: Being a four time winner of the coveted James Earle Fraser Sculpture Award at the annual Prix de West Invitational and earning similar distinctions from the National Sculpture Society, National Museum of Wildlife Art, and Society of Animal Artists. Most recently, his monumental piece “Great Northern” was installed on the sculpture trail at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, Wy. “Black Timber Bugler” monumental was also permanently installed at the CM Russell Museum, Great Falls, Mt.
Awards and Honors:
2018 “Black Timber Bugler” Monumental selected for permanent
Placement at the CM Russell Museum, Great Falls, Mt.
2016 “Great Northern” Monumental selected for permanent placement at
National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson, Wy.
2014 Bronze Medal, National Sculpture Society Annual Exhibition
2014 Major General and Mrs. Don D. Pittman Wildlife Award, Prix de
West Invitational Art Exhibition, National Cowboy and Western
Heritage Center, Oklahoma City, Ok
2011 Red Smith Award, Western Visions Art Show, National Museum of
Wildlife Art, Jackson, Wy.
2010 James Earle Fraser Sculpture Award, Prix de West Invitational Art
Exhibition—Oklahoma City, OK
2010 Elected to the Board of Directors of the National Sculpture Society
2009 Honored Guest Artist, CM Russell Art Show & Auction – Great Falls, MT
2008 James Earle Fraser Sculpture Award, Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition – Oklahoma City, Ok
2008 Elected Fellow, National Sculpture Society
2007 “Black Timber Bugler” Monumental selected for permanent
Placement at the National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson Hole,
Wyoming
2005 James Earle Fraser Sculpture Award, Prix de West Invitational Art
Exhibition – Oklahoma City, OK
2005 “Push Comes to Shove” selected for placement in the permanent collection of the Museum Of The American West, Autry National Center – Los Angeles, CA
2004 Robert Lougheed Memorial Award, Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition – Oklahoma City, OK
2004 James Earle Fraser Sculpture Award, Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition – Oklahoma City, OK
2004 “Sik Sik Shell Game” Selected for placement at the Leaning Tree Museum of Western Art – Boulder, Co
2003 Elected Professional Member, National Sculpture Society
2003 “Sik Sik Shell Game” Selected by Oklahoma City Zoo for permanent placement
2003 Featured Sculptor & Artist in Residence, Western Visions Miniature Show, National Museum of Wildlife Art – Jackson, WY
2001 The C. Percival Dietsch Prize, National Sculpture Society Annual Exhibition
1999 Elliot Liskin Award, Society of Animal Artists Annual Exhibition
1998 Louis Bennett Prize, National Sculpture Society Annual Exhibition
1996 Merit Award, Wildlife and Western Art Exhibition & Sale – Mound, Minnesota
- Tuffy Berg Memorial Award, CM Russell Art Action – Great Falls,
Montana
Publications:
Art of the West – August 2010
Western Art Collector- August 2008
Western Art and Architecture – Winter/Spring 2008
Wildlife Art - July/August 2007
Art of the West – July/August 2006
Informart – Spring 2005
Persimmon Hill – Summer 2004
Sporting Classics – July/August 2003
Art of the West – January/February 2003
Wildlife Art – July/August 2001
Southwest Art – December 1999
Big Sky Journal – Winter 1998
Art of the West – January/February 1998
Art of the West – January/February 1995
Grays Sporting Journal – Occasional Cover & Article Illustrations
Sporting Tales – Illustrations