Vancouver, BC CANADA - July 15, 2022 - Artists for Conservation is pleased to announce that AFC Signature Member, John Banovich's painting "Into the Papyrus", has been selected for the cover of this year's AFC Exhibit book. John is an internationally acclaimed American artist, conservationist and past recipient of AFC's highest honor - the Simon Combes Conservation Artist Award. The annual hardcover "coffee-table" book is published on sustainably forested paper, as a companion to the 15th annual AFC Exhibit, showing in Vancouver, BC September 22-25. The image will be on display in AFC's virtual online exhibit this fall. Featured on the back cover of the book, for the first time, are two artworks: bronze sculpture "Pangolin" by another UK artist, Casey Banwell and "One Turtle's Journey" by US artist, Aga Elliot.

The exhibit book is published as a companion to the annual exhibit. The 240-page tribute to AFC's global pool of artist talent and features artwork juried into the world's top conservation-themed exhibit and sale - centrepiece of the upcoming Artists for Conservation Festival, as well artworks featured in a broader online virtual show. All proceeds from book sales support Artists for Conservation charitable programming. The book can be pre-ordered online or purchased at the Artists for Conservation Festival. Stock is very limited and this prized collector's book is sure to sell quickly.

Image:
John Banovich
Into the Papyrus, 2019
oil on Belgian linen
48h x 72w in
121.92h x 182.88w cm

Artists for Conservation
Artists for Conservation (AFC) is the world's leading group of artists supporting the environment. Founded in 1997, the non-profit organization comprises a membership of 500 of the world's most gifted nature artists from 27 countries, across five continents. Dedicated to nurture, promote and leverage its world-class community of artists in support of our natural world, AFC drives its mission through three key programs: Art & Environmental Education; Field Work & Research; and Artist Development. The Artists for Conservation Festival is AFC's annual flagship initiative to showcase, support and further these programs. 

STORY BY Tyler Sharp

John Banovich is not your typical wildlife artist. With a mixture of past lives as varied as the oil paints on his palette, John has paved a unique path that has led him to the top tier of the art world, and to the forefront of global conservation initiatives. Born out of a lifetime spent in wild places — both as a hunter and a nature observer — his oil paintings depict raw and timeless beauty from the natural world in detail and a scale that is unmatched.

Western Visions® is the National Museum of Wildlife Art’s largest and longest-running fundraiser and is one of the signature events of the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival. Top contemporary wildlife artists – and collectors – from around the world will be congregating at the Museum in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The show features a wide selection of art for sale and the money raised from this fundraiser supports the Museum. The week’s events, offered at the Museum’s award-winning facility across from the National Elk Refuge, draw an international crowd to this critically acclaimed gathering. During Fall Arts Festival (and year-round), the Museum is a hub for art lovers, wildlife and outdoor enthusiasts, and more.

THE TSAVO TWINS

American artist, author and conservationist John Banovich creates spellbinding oil paintings that celebrate the beauty of African wildlife. Passionate about honoring and preserving these wild beasts, John’s world-renowned works overflow with emotion and the trials and tribulations of the landscape.

FOUR Magazine is a multi-award-winning lifestyle magazine, offers a lifestyle twist that is a must-read for the high net worth individual. Dedicated to increasing environmental awareness and decreasing our carbon footprint, FOUR is printed using recycled paper and free of plastic packaging and content showcases chefs and luxury eco-travel destinations that are putting conservation of the environment at their forefront, focusing on sustainability, zero-waste concepts and other green practices and principles. FOUR has been designed to reflect the diverse interests and passions of those who enjoy a luxury lifestyle , with editorial on travel, property, fine wine and cocktails, art and culture.

For internationally acclaimed wildlife artist John Banovich, it’s about saving the planet one portrait at a time.

It’s a good bet that wherever you find wildlife painter John Banovich, there will be a captivating view nearby. The globe-trotting artist is a study of a man in motion, forever combining his love of all things wild with an obsession to preserve natural habitats and the creatures that inhabit them. Meet him and hear the passion in his voice as he talks about Siberian tigers or mountain gorillas and you quickly tweak that his art—brilliant though it may be—is a means to an end. Banovich is forever in a race to save species and habitats whose days on Earth are numbered without intervention. He uses a paintbrush the way Ansel Adams did a camera, empowering the visual to transform the spiritual—ultimately inspiring people to make a difference.

LINK TO VIEW ARTICLE

by Michele Corriel
A retrospective at the Nevada Museum of Art places John Banovich’s artwork in historical context.

John Banovich’s conservationist ideals, as fierce as the lions he portrays, roar with authenticity. His large paintings express a poignant love for places losing their hold on wilderness, and in turn, they bring to light the delicate balance of the natural world in danger of extinction. Because of this ideology, the Banovich Wildscapes Foundation funds endeavors in Africa to protect endangered areas.

The Annual Western Visions®, presented by the National Museum of Wildlife Art, is the signature event of the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival. Top contemporary wildlife artists and collectors from around the world will be congregating at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The museum has carefully curated an exhibit of artists whose work is in the permanent collection.  The money raised from this fundraiser supports the Museum. The week’s events, offered at the Museum’s award-winning facility across from the National Elk Refuge, draw an international crowd to this critically acclaimed gathering. During Fall Arts Festival (and year-round), the Museum is a hub for art lovers, wildlife and outdoor enthusiasts, and more.

PRE-RELEASE BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT
Release Date: October 2019

Following best seller and award-winning book “BEAST: THE COLLECTED WORKS OF JOHN BANOVICH” we are pleased to announce the pre-release of “KING OF BEASTS: A STUDY OF THE AFRICAN LION by John Banovich”. Featuring 208 large format pages, “King of Beasts” illustrates the dramatic artwork of John Banovich, all focused on depicting the extraordinary African Lion. An internationally recognized artist who has studied lions for decades, Banovich has selected a body of work that pays homage and explores questions about mankind’s deep fear, love, and admiration for these creatures.

KING OF BEASTS: Gallery Edition - $60.00
12” X 11” Signed, Hardcover with full-color dust jacket, featuring image of “In Their Prime II.”
KING OF BEASTS: Deluxe, Leather Bound Edition - $90
12” X 11” Signed and Numbered of 400

Click to Purchase King of Beast: A Study of the African Lion
Booksigning at the Nevada Museum of Art, Reno Nevada-November 15, 2019 at 5pm
 

The “Why” of John Banovich’s Art
BY MICHAEL G. SABBETH

Not being limited or defined by the canvas has become an existential battle for Banovich. To express himself in ways that “feel good,” his art incorporates aspects drawn from a thousand choices: the line, color, brush stroke angle, paint depth, all guiding the competition for the viewer’s attention. But the lions, tigers and bears, the acacias, flamingos and elephants hibernating in his pigment tubes are liberated for a transcendent purpose — to escape the confines of the canvas and inspire and entice audiences to participate in his vision and quest. “I love that challenge when you create beyond the edge of the canvas, when you nail it,” Banovich enthused.

Wuhan Natural History Museum
Wuhan, China

Artist and conservationist John Banovich was the keynote speaker at the Behring Global Education Foundation Forum with the topic of “The Power of Art to Increase Awareness for Conservation.” Additionally Banovich and Banovich Wildscapes Foundation COO, Kimberly Fletcher participated in the Global Natural History Days program as international judges for the exhibition competition and the painting competition. This was the second year Banovich and Fletcher participated in the event.

Wildlife painter John Banovich takes a more direct approach to animals with his panoramic painting Symbiosis, featuring buffalo running through heavy snow and scattering nearby magpies into the cold winter air. “The black-billed magpie has a long and sordid history with Native Americans and bison. In this symbiotic relationship, the magpies are often found near bison herds feasting on the ticks and ectoparasites found on the shaggy beasts,” he says. “Interesting that the magpie often caches its hoard for consumption at a later date…While the magpie is in the crow family, it is arguably one of North America’s most intelligent birds, and also one of its most beautiful. With a long, iridescent colored tail and wing patches, white chest and wingtips, and coal black face it can be found roaming alongside bison herds across the west. While its diet consists mostly of ground dwelling anthropoids, seed and carrion, it does fancy the blood rich taste of bison and elk’s parasite nemesis…I wanted to portray the movement through the cold air and deep powder of these two symbiotic partners.”

Set along the gentle slopes of Tanzania’s Sasakwa Hill, deep in the heart of the private Grumeti Game Reserve, Singita Serengeti Househas been one of East Africa’s most sophisticated places to stay since first opening in 2012. Opulent yet seamlessly connected to the nature that surrounds it, the estate offers an exclusive safari experience unlike any other. And now, following an extensive renovation by longtime Singita collaborators and all around safari-design gurus Cécile & Boyd, the buy-out property is even better than before.

John Banovich, “Clean Water,” oil on linen, 18 x 12 inches

The National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, Wyoming, is celebrating 30 years of excellence this September during its annual Show & Sale. The show features a wide selection of art for sale, parties, panel discussions, and more. Details here!

AFC Signature Member, John Banovich has established a new major award through the Banovich Wildscapes Foundation - the Award for Conservation Excellence (ACE). The purpose of the award is to recognize the exceptional contributions made by some of the world's leading conservationists and is intended to become the most significant award in the conservation arena. A call for nominations is now open through August 31, 2017. Nominations for the ACE award can be made here.

Hosted by Chris & Amy Dorsey

On Monday, March 13th we will explore man's relationship to nature and the ways in which man can co-exist with Big Things With Big Teeth in a world of shrinking habitat." 

"Master of the Herd" featured in National Cowboy & Western Heritage promotional video.

The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum hosted its prestigious invitational art exhibit of over 300 paintings and sculpture by the finest contemporary artists in the nation with art seminars, receptions and awards banquet. The exhibiting artists bring a diversity of styles to this prestigious art exhibition. Works range from historical pieces that reflect the early days of the West, to more contemporary and impressionist works of art. Landscapes, wildlife and illustrative scenes are always highlighted in the exhibition. John Banovich presentrf his new original oil paintings "Master of the Herd", oil on belgian linen, 12 x 32 in, $21,000 and "Arctic Plunge", oil on belgian linen, 11 x 14 in, $9,300

 

SEWE is a three-day showcase of everything we love about wildlife and nature. It brings together people of all ages, men and women, sportsmen and conservationists, artists and artisans, fans and families. Through an incredible lineup of events – from fine art exhibits, conservation education, sporting demonstrations and parties, SEWE invites us all to explore our “wild” side and pay tribute to our naturally beautiful world.

Published on Feb 17, 2016
Artist John Banovich talks with writer Todd Wilkinson about his connection with Safari Club International and the motivation that drives his art.

For John Banovich, the animals he paints aren’t ones he chooses—they choose him.

Painting animals  allows  him to fall  into a rhythmic dance, the artist says, as the living, breathing and awe-inspiring creatures pull the artist and viewers in with the presence of life. For wildlife fans who aren’t always able to get up close and personal with animals, such as towering bears, majestic elk and mammoth marine life, the 34th annual Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, February 12 through 14 in Charleston, South Carolina, gives art lovers a glimpse into animal-filled worlds depicted by Banovich and more than 100 other wildlife artists.Art lovers at the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition preview gala live auction in 2015.

THE BEAST WITHIN: WILDLIFE ARTIST JOHN BANOVICH
A DM INTERVIEW

 

After nearly 5 years in the making, internationally renowned artist and conservationist, John Banovich has opened a new institution on the wildlife art landscape. The new 6500 square foot Art Center is located in Paradise Valley, Montana - one of the most naturally beautiful and dramatic areas of the US - 11 miles south of Livingston and 45 minutes from Yellowstone National Park.

The center aims to vicariously transport its visitors to some of the wildest places on earth.  We will be hosting special events, public appearances and important exhibitions centered around the celebration of Wildlife and Wild Places and the important role both play in enriching our lives.

"Through this cultural platform we hope to imbue an understanding that art can move, reveal and inspire to seek a deeper understanding of the world around us; it can paint a face on an idea, a region, a cause and help engage us at visceral level to conserve our wildlife heritage."

We are excited to announce that John's daughters, Siana and Mara have their name on a cheetah collar! This is very exciting as this is the first time there have ever been GPS tracking collars placed on cheetah in the Masai Mara reserve. We are so excited that Siana and Mara can begin to have a connection to the place where their names have originated. And on their favorite animal no less. - Exciting day!

"Game of Lions" by John Banovich receives the Medal of Excellence and the Best in Show awards in the 2015 Annual Exhibit held in Vancouver, B.C.

Fine Art Connoisseur-Fine Art Today
Featured Artists at SEWE

Andrew Webster - September 24, 2015

SEWE Executive Director John Powell says, “Kyle and Stefan are headlining one of the finest groups of artists I have seen during my tenure with SEWE.” Speaking of last year’s Featured Artists, he adds, “Having John Banovich and Greg Beecham back in Charleston as guest artists, along with over 100 others from around the country, creates such a powerful exhibit of wildlife art, I believe preview packages and Friday ticket sales will be brisk. It will be an exciting time to be a fan of wildlife art and a great time to be in Charleston.”

 "Acclaimed artist John Banovich will go to any length—or depth—to gain an intimate view of his wild subjects."

Like a religious revival, Safari Club International summons its faithful to the desert and treats them to a sporting art bonanza unlike any other. This year, Banovich returns to SCI with another epic: a 75- by 50-inch stunner, titled Game of Lions, that functions as a massive window into the savannah of East Africa. As tens of thousands of wildebeest thunder across the plain, two huge male lions dart toward the viewer amid a tangle of hyenas, vultures and Marabou storks.

John Banovich: The Montana-born artist, conservationist, and storyteller paints to preserve wild animals and the wild places they inhabit.

Artist Banovich Is Dedicated To Protecting The Wild In His Wildscapes - NBC Cause Celeb highlights a celebrity’s work on behalf of a specific cause.

Banovich Now and Future - The Banovich booth was packed Thursday afternoon as the renowned wildlife artist and hunter celebrated 20 years of exhibiting at SCI.

The Outdoor Group, Inc. Attends 42nd Annual SCI Convention.  

Although Banovich and his paintings are always in demand from attendees wanting to visit with the talented artist, the real stars of the show were two adorable Cheetah cubs that Banovich brought in for the convention. It was standing room only at the spacious Banovich booth as the artist talked about the lives of Cheetahs in the wild and what needs to be done in order to insure their existence. It was truly a memorable experience for everyone in attendance.  

The Banovich Wildscapes Foundation (BWF) launched the Beast Benefit in January of 2014 to raise funding for the critical projects that BWF supports. Through a silent auction, sales of the Banovich "King" giclee canvas and many generous donations, the efforts raised over $75,000 for the foundation. The Beast Benefit closed with an event held in Las Vegas in February. Held in honor of wildlife conservation, the evening featured many special guests including speakers Dr. Laurence Frank, Living with Lions Project Director, Dr. Lance Craighead, Conservation Director of the Craighead Institute and Kat Combes, CEO of the Soysambu Conservancy. John Banovich and the Banovich Wildscape Foundation deeply thank all generous donors, sponsors and supporters.

Art of the Hunt: Maximum Impact - Painter John Banovich, 20 years an SCI favorite, goes big for wildlife art fans in Las Vegas

OVER THE IMPORTED back bar of Yellowstone Club' s Warren Miller Lodge hangs Cold Air Deep Powder, a life-size mural of a family of bison in all stages of life, bulls, cows, calves, and young adults bursting through the snow. Even from 100 feet away, the painting, measuring 8 feet by 16 feet, makes a dramatic statement.  The wall fronting the entrance is like a mountain in front of you,says wildlife painter John Banovich who conceived and created the epic work especially for the cavernous space.
 

Wildlife artist John Banovich teams with architect Jerome Diepenbrock to create an intimate space that works.
written By Lawrence w. Cheek
Photography By Henry Ngan, Studio 3 Inc.

John Banovich is a man of fierce determination and tight discipline and thus knew precisely what qualities he wanted for his new studio. A remote, isolated, forested setting with many bears for neighbors. Good road access for shuttling big canvases and welcoming up to 100 people for workshops and fundraisers. A refuge so intimate and personal that he could nurture his “true self” in it. A room so cavernous he could back 50 feet away to study a big painting in progress. The feeling of a barn. The feeling of a womb. The feeling of a lair, a home base for a world-roaming adventurer. Banovich wanted the impossible, a farrago of contradictions.

By David Light

Artist John Banovich began painting when he was seven years old with his sister, Teri, a talented artist. She started him off properly of course, in oils. Along with painting, he went into the woods hunting with his father, an avid gamesman. During this time he gained an intimate knowledge of animal anatomy while field dressing game and a patient, watchful eye, the hallmark of a great hunter, and, in this case, also a great artist.

Living what he paints Before painting any wild creature, renowned artist John Banovich first sets out to immerse himself in the animal’s world. by David Cabela

The “Nature of the Beast” exhibition, comprised solely of Banovich works, was displayed in 2010 at both the Wildlife Experience Museum and Museum of the Southwest, providing the public with a rare opportunity to view a selection of Banovich paintings from mostly private collections assembled together for the first time. Capturing the spirit of wildlife, the collection introduced viewers to unique habitats and offered a glimpse into the secrets of creatures from around the world, resurrecting moments from nature that inspire thought and foster respect for wild places. 

Project Panda: The Global Search for “Chengdu Pambassador”

Entertainment Tonight, the world's most watched entertainment news program, highlights John's BEAST book signing at the prestigious Barnes & Noble located at The Grove, Los Angeles. 

The National Indie Excellence Awards contest shines a spotlight on books that demonstrate excellence. National Indie Excellence Award judges are professional copywriters to publishers, writers, editors and more. They select award winners and finalists based on overall excellence of presentation. To be acknowledged by your peers is one of the highest honors bestowed on a publisher. "BEAST" also made it to the Barnes & Noble best sellers list in 2010.

Painter John Banovich raises awareness of the connection between hunting and wildlife conservation Written by Scott McMillion Swimming with Elephants - Bulls Oil on Linen 40 x 48 inches very afternoon for 10 days, John Banovich went to the banks of Botswana’s Khwai River, where families of elephants gathered to eat and drink and bathe. With 25 trips to Africa under his belt, he’d seen a lot of elephants but he wanted to see more, to learn more. Like the time he spotted a baby that had lost its trunk, perhaps to a lion attack, and he saw its mother break off branches to feed the infant. 

Read about Banovich's incredible experience in Pakistan in pursuit of the elusive snow leopard.

Safari Club International Convention 2008 - John Banovich and RCR owner, Richard Childress, offered a one-of-a-kind NASCAR hood for auction, with proceeds jointly benefiting wildlife conservation. "Inside the Red Zone" graced the hood of driver Kevin Harvick’s #29 racecar, bearing autographs by Banovich, Childress and Harvick – and joyfully celebrated the new 501 (C) 3 Banovich Wildscapes Foundation as a recognized and respected conservationist of the earth’s wildlife and wild places. 

by Michael Scott-Blair
John Banovich: A Multifaceted Artist, Businessman, Conservationist, Philosopher

John Banovich is one of the most acclaimed wildlife artists in the United States and his art is also widely appreciated by many international collectors. He specializes in large oil canvases of Africa’s wildlife, but his work is inspired by subjects from all the continents of the globe. John is talented, prolific and dedicated – both to his art and to preserving the wild places where the animals live. To this end, he has partnered with AWF to create the Pride Initiative – a conservation-awareness and fund-raising effort that focuses specifically on preserving Africa’s largest and most social of cats – the African lion. 

When looking at the herd in “Heavy Drinkers of the Okavango,” that spans every size and position that elephants come in, or the convincing movement of the four wild dogs at spirited play in “After the Rains,” one cannot help but wonder,“Who is this artist, and how did he succeed so well in bringing us to Africa?” Or Africa to us.

Produced by Randy Warren for the Outdoor Channel.
A short segment filmed at John Banovich's previous studio in Paradise Valley near Livingston, MT. Produced by Randy Warren for the Outdoor Channel. 

Includes footage from the PBS segment "Journeys of an Artist," hosted by Gene Canning, exploring the work and travels of John Banovich. Also featuring part of "A Journey of Discovery," produced by Orion Entertainment, and an interview with Dick and Mary Cabela, David Cabela, Wayne Lapierre of the NRA and Tony Makris, host of the TV series "Under Wild Skies". The video interview highlighted David Cabela's book, "Two Hearts in Tanzania" as well as Banovich's work, which was featured on the cover and throughout the book. "Two Hearts in Tanzania" follows the travels of Dick and Mary Cabela during five different expeditions to Tanzania.