Air Force Art Program - Illustrating on a Mission

A panel discussion will be led by Victor Juhasz, along with illustrators Jeff Fisher, Stephen Gardner, Melanie Reim, Joel Iskowitz and John Witt and will focus on the challenges of capturing action in real time and how these reportage artists adapt to their circumstances.

Documenting military operations in the US through art can be traced back to our battle for independence. Today, even with the use of the camera, there is a need for the talents of the artist to document history.

In 1950, the US Army transferred over 800 works of art documenting the early days of the Army Air Corps and its predecessor services. In 1951, Society of Illustrators president and noted illustrator, Arthur William Brown accompanied a group of cartoonists on a tour of Cold War air bases and in 1952 arranged a 7000 mile tour with thirty Society of Illustrators artists.

The USAF Art Program, as we know it today, began in 1954 when Lt. Col. William Lookadoo with the concurrence of Major General Sory Smith met with the Society of Illustrators Board of Directors. Lt. Col. George Bales, formalized the concept and became USAF Art Director. Today, with the participation of other organizations, there are over 10,000 works in the collection. Reproductions appear in publications and various media and the original art is displayed in museums, the Pentagon, Air Force bases and public exhibitions around the world.