Meadowlark Gallery: The Artist Biographies

James Boren (1921-1990)
James Boren was born in Waxahatchie, Texas, in 1921 and died in 1990. As a minister's son, Boren called himself "a religious person." By the time he graduated from high school, he knew he wanted to be an illustrator but he quit Southwestern College to enlist in the Marines for World War II. After the war, he enrolled in the Kansas City Art Institute and in his second year transferred to fine arts. Boren earned his MFA in 1951 and taught art for two years at St. Mary's College. He then traveled the Southwest and painted in Alaska until 1956 when he moved to Denver to work as a concept illustrator for the Martin Company. He began selling cowboy theme paintings in 1959. In 1964 Boren was asked to become Art Director of the new Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. He was named Texas State Artist of the Year in 1976, and was a member of the Cowboy Artists of America.
View high resolution images of works by James Boren when available.