Born in Tahoka,Texas in 1934, James Francis Gill received his first commission at just 10 years old, to render a pair of horse’s heads.At that time in Texas, Gill was not naturally immersed in the art scene and after attending San Angelo High School and touring with the United States Marine Corps, he studied architecture at the University of Texas from 1956 to 1960. However, he couldn’t ignore his talent for long and with the encouragement of architect Bruce Goff, he began to focus on painting, studying art and sculpture on a painting scholarship at the university from 1960 to 1961. After catching the eye of noted art dealer Felix Landau in 1962, who had already introduced artists like Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Francis Bacon and David Hockney to the US art market, he was instantly catapulted into a world of celebrities and international success.That same year, his ‘Marilyn Triptych’ artwork was added to the prestigious Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection.
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