Meadowlark Gallery: The Artist Biographies


Rolf Zillmer (1932-2021)

Award winning painter and sculptor Rolf Zillmer, now in his sixties has been drawing and painting for most of that time. As a youngster Rolf watched his father create, who at the time was a student at the world famous "Art Students League" in New York City. After a stint with the army during the Korean conflict, it was off to California to study at Art Center College of Design under such gifted artists as Joseph Hinninger, Reynold Brown and Harry Carmean.

Although skilled at painting anything from portraits to still life, landscapes held the greatest fascination for him. The landscapes are inspired by grand vistas as well as intimate scenes of water falls , ponds and groves of trees. While hiking along mountain trails, rural roads, desert gullies and the seashore, Rolf is always searching for yet another subject to put on canvas.

His work has become part of numerous collections including that of Dick Van Dyke and Joseph Babera of Hanna/Babera and band leader Mort Lindsey.

Published Articles:

  • Southwest Art, March 1996 "California Landscapists"
  • Art Of The West, March/April 1998 "A Dream Fulfilled"

Invitational Art Shows:

  • ARTS FOR THE PARKS--Jackson Hole, Wyoming
    TOP 100--1987, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003.
    In 1993, the "Marine Art Medallion of Merit" was received.
  • ARTS FOR THE PARKS--Jackson Hole, Wyoming
    SECOND 100--1991, 1992, 2000, 2002
  • OIL PAINTERS OF AMERICA--Park Ridge, Illinois
    1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002
  • PEPPERTREE RANCH ART SHOW--Santa Ynez, California
    1984 through 1993
  • PANORAMA OF TRADITIONAL ART--Paramount, California
    1984 through 1993
  • CLASSIC-AMERICAN WESTERN ART SHOW--Beverly Hills, California
    1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1991
  • BILTMORE CELEBRITY ART SHOW--Los Angeles, California
    1984
  • THE GRAND TRADITION--Fallbrook, California
    1987, 1988, 1989
  • CELEBRATING AMERICAN REALISM--San Diego, California
    1992
  • SCULPTURE IN THE PARK--Loveland, Colorado
    1989
  • SCULPTURE ALONG THE TRINITY--Fort Worth, Texas
    1998
  • NORTH AMERICAN SCULPTURE EXHIBITION--Denver, Colorado
    1982
  • ONE MAN SHOW--Pogan Art Gallery, Tahoe City, California 1996
  • ONE MAN SHOW--Lyon Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona 1998

Museum Shows:

  • SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE--Washington, D. C.
  • LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY--Los Angeles, California
  • CARNEGIE ART MUSEUM--Oxnard, California
  • NORTHWEST MONTANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM--Kalispell, Montana

Honors and Awards:

  • Best of Show--TOLUCA LAKE ART SHOW--Toluca Lake, California
    1986
  • Best of Show--HESPERIA ART FESTIVAL--Hesperia, California
    1989
  • Best of Show--SAN GABRIAL ART ASSOCIATION--San Gabrial, California
    1992
  • Gold Medal Recipient for Landscape--CALIFORNIA ART CLUB
    1992
  • Leonard K. Meiselman Prize for "Great Blue Heron" presented by NATIONAL SCULPTURE SOCIETY, New York City
    1982

Memberships:

  • OIL PAINTERS OF AMERICA--Park Ridge, Illinois
  • CALIFORNIA ART CLUB--Pasadena, California
    Past Vice President
    Past Show Chairman
    Signature Member
    Honorary Life Member

Education:

  • ART CENTER COLLEGE OF DESIGN--Pasadena, California
  • SCHOOL OF CARTOONING AND ILLUSTRATION--New York City, New York
  • ART CAREER SCHOOL--New York City, New York

View high resolution images of works by Rolf Zillmer when available.