Legend Biography

Few artists can rival the standards of excellence achieved by Master Artist Terry Redlin
over the past 30 years. He is truly one of the country's most widely collected painters of
wildlife and Americana. For eight consecutive years, 1991 through 1998, Redlin has been
named America's Most Popular Artist 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 prints have been 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 out-of-doors themes can be traced to his childhood in Watertown,
South Dakota. A motorcycle accident ended his dream of becoming a forest ranger, and
he opted to pursue a career in the graphic arts. He earned a degree from the St. Paul
School of Associated Arts and spent 25 years working in commercial art as a layout
artist, graphic designer, illustrator and art director. In his leisure time, he researched
wildlife subjects and settings.
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.
Since then, Redlin's meteoric rise has been unparalleled in the field of contemporary
wildlife art. In 1981 and 1985 , he won the Minnesota Duck Stamp competition, and in
1982, the Minnesota Trout Stamp contest. He also 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 collections. The
National Association of Limited Edition dealers has three times presented him with the
"Lithograph of the Year" award for excellence in the medium.
In 1985, Redlin added an entirely new artistic direction, limited edition collector plates.
To date, he has released more than 30 editions, many of which are now available only on
the secondary market. In addition to fine art and collector plates, Redlin's images also
appear in a variety of collectibles and decorative accessories. Cabins, homes and church
sculptures adopted from some of his most popular art prints join music and keepsake
boxes, steins and ornaments in collectors' displays.
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. Since then, his annual Christmas prints have attracted thousands of collectors
from coast to coast.

In 1992, he completed his most ambitious work to date, painting each line in the first
stanza of "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, and it has been acclaimed by thousands of collectors. "Terry
Redlin Paints America the Beautiful", a video presentation produced by Hadley House,
earned a coveted Telly Award in the 1993 national competition.
Redlin's immense popularity can also be measured in the success of his book, "Opening
Windows to the Wild, The Art of Terry Redlin." In its sixth printing, the book details his
paintings, pencil sketches and biography. Always the perfectionist, he personally
supervised the printing and production of this important project. A critical as well as a
commercial success, the book was a Certificate of merit winner at the prestigious Printing
Industries of America competition in 1988. His second book, "Terry Redlin, Master of
Memories," was released in 1997 and was recently voted Best Art Book by those
galleries polled for the U.S.ART survey.
Terry Redlin derives the most satisfaction from his conservation work. Over the 17 year
period from 1981 to 1997, his donations to Ducks Unlimited raised more than $28
million, setting an all-time record in art sales for wetland conservation projects. By his
own estimate, he has donated several million dollars of art to other nonprofit conservation
organizations.
Redlin's most compelling project is the construction of the museum to house his original
art in Watertown, South Dakota, where he now resides. The Redlin Art Center, which
includes a regional tourism office, and amphitheater, opened in the summer of 1997 and
has seen more than 2 million visitors from all over the world. Terry Redlin donated the
$10 million museum to the State of South Dakota in appreciation for an art scholarship he
received after graduating from high school in Watertown.
He was honored in 1998 by the City of Sioux Falls, South Dakota by having an
elementary school named in his honor. Terry Redlin Elementary School opened in the
Fall of 1998.
In June of 2007, Terry Redlin announced his retirement from painting and print signing.
He resides in Watertown, South Dakota.