Terry Redlin

Few artists can rival the standards of excellence achieved by Master Artist Terry Redlin.  One of the country’s most widely collected painters of wildlife and Americana, Redlin was named “America’s Most Popular Artist” for nine consecutive years, 1991-99, in annual gallery surveys conducted by U.S.ART magazine.  His induction into U.S.ART’s Hall of Fame in 1992 followed the magazine’s poll of 900 galleries nationwide which that year, placed five of Redlin’s limited editions in the top 11 in popularity.  Over the life of the poll, 30 Redlin prints were included in that list.  His use of earthy colors, blazing sunrises and sunsets and nostalgic themes are often cited as the reasons for his immense popularity.
Redlin’s interest in the out-of-doors can be traced to his childhood in Watertown, South Dakota.  A motorcycle accident at age 15 ended his dream of becoming a forest ranger, but opened his mind to the possibility of pursuing a career in the graphic arts.  A scholarship from the State of South Dakota enabled Redlin to continue his education. He earned a degree from the St. Paul School of Associated Arts in Minnesota and spent 25 years working in commercial art as layout artist, graphic designer, illustrator and art director.
In 1977, at the age of 40, Redlin burst onto the wildlife scene when his painting, “Winter Snows” appeared on the cover of The Farmer magazine.  By 1979, demand for his work had become so great that he left his art-directing career to concentrate on painting wildlife.
Redlin’s meteoric rise was unparalleled in the field of contemporary wildlife art.  In 1981 and 1984, he won the Minnesota Duck Stamp competition, and in 1982, the Minnesota Troup Stamp contest.  He placed second that year in the Federal Duck Stamp Competition.  He has been honored as Artist of the Year for Ducks Unlimited (National and Minnesota) and as Conservationist of the Year-Magnum Donor by the Minnesota Waterfowl Association for his gifts of entire print editions.  The National Association of Limited Edition Dealers three times presented him with the “Lithograph of the Year” award for excellence in the medium.
In 1987, Redlin began exploring his interest in Americana subjects and nostalgic scenes of yesteryear, painting several images for his American Memories and Country Doctor Collections.  His annual Christmas prints attracted thousands of collectors from coast to coast.
In 1992, he completed his largest series, America the Beautiful, depicting each line in the first stanza of the song, “America the Beautiful.”  All eight, which depict American life from the settling of the west to the present day, were released as limited edition prints over a three-year period, ending in January, 1995.  The series has been showcased in art and consumer magazines nationwide.  His DVD, “Terry Redlin Paints America the Beautiful,” earned a coveted Telly Award in the 1993 national competition.

In 2004, Redlin unveiled An American Portrait – A Collection of Heartfelt Firsts. This collection of seven paintings details the artist’s memories of life’s most significant “firsts” including “His First Friend”, “His First Day”, “His First Date”, etc. This heartfelt collection took the artist nine years to complete due to the emotional nature of the subject.

Redlin’s immense popularity can also be measured by the success of his books, “Opening Windows to the Wild, The Art of Terry Redlin,” released in 1987, and “Master of Memories,” issued ten years later.  A critical as well as a commercial success, Redlin’s first book was a Certificate of Merit winner at the prestigious Printing Industries of America competition in 1988.  Sales of “Master of Memories” have introduced thousands to Redlin’s world.
Redlin was committed to wildlife conservation and preservation work.  To date, his contributions to Ducks Unlimited and other conservation organizations have raised more than $40 million, setting an all-time record in art sales for wetland preservation projects.

He was honored by the City of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, by having a school named in his honor.  Terry Redlin Elementary School opened in the Fall of 1998.
Redlin’s most personal project was the construction of the Redlin Art Center in Watertown, South Dakota, his hometown. The museum opened in June 1997 and has welcomed over 3 million guests from all over the world. The $10 million facility was Redlin’s way of repaying his home state for a $1500 scholarship that put him through art school. Filled with over 160 of Redlin’s original oil paintings, the Center is open year-round and admission is always free as part of the artist’s ongoing gift.

Terry Redlin announced his retirement in 2007 due to his diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease. He passed away on April 24, 2016 after a nine-year struggle.