Indigo Fine Art 949-689-2047

Jim Conrad, American (1924 – 2002)

Jim Conrad and his twin brother Paul were born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1924. The boys attended St. Augustin's Elementary School in Des Moines, Iowa. Jim and Paul served as altar boys at St. Augustin's Church. They graduated from Roosevelt High School, choosing to skip the graduation ceremony in favor of getting a jump start in the working world. Their first jobs were to be an adventure, working on the Alcan Highway.

In December of 1942, when the world was fighting World War II, Jim and Paul enlisted in the armed services. Jim served in the Air Corps, Paul was declared 4F due to poor eyesight. Paul was later accepted and served in the Engineering Battalion during invasions of Guam and Okinawa.

After the war Jim studied at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas; Iowa State College in Ames, Iowa; University in Iowa City, Iowa; and at the University of Colorado in Denver, Colorado. Jim and Paul were both gifted artists. Jim fashioned a career as a commercial artist and a sculptor, while Paul became an award winning cartoonist.

Jim was a member of the Denver Press Club for 35 years, serving as a commercial artist. In his later years he used his artistic abilities as a sculptor, creating finely detailed sports related and wildlife sculptures. His sports related sculptures capture the subjects in action poses, while his wildlife sculptures present the calm spirit of nature.

Jim Conrad’s bronze sculpture titled Ground Zero was created in remembrance of the late Father Mychal Judge, Chaplain of the New York Fire Department, who lost his life on September 11, 2001 while administering last rites. The sculpture depicts the flag raising at the World Trade Center. The sculpture remains on display at New York City Firehouse Engine No. 1.