Biography

John Banovich is known internationally for his large, dramatic portrayals of iconic wildlife.  His life-sized elephant painting “Once Upon A Time” drew global attention to ivory poaching and his deep knowledge of wildlife and unwavering commitment to conservation continues to raise awareness about imperiled species.  Under the umbrella of his Banovich Wildscapes Foundation, money generated through artwork sales has been channeled back into support efforts that promote habitat protection, science-based wildlife management and sustainable tourism. 

Banovich's work is in important museum, corporate and private collections and has appeared in numerous prestigious venues including the Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, National Museum of Wildlife Art, Wildlife Experience Art Museum, Salmagundi Club, Museum of the Southwest, Natural History Museum, Gilcrease Museum, traveling exhibitions sponsored by the Society of Animal Artists, Artists for Conservation, Nevada Museum of Art, Witte Museum and showcases hosted by Safari Club International and Dallas Safari Club. 

Throughout his journeys Banovich has developed deep relationships with those in the luxury safari world, and his extensive roaming has given him an encyclopedic knowledge, not just of how best to get from A to B, but of how an itinerary should flow from one experience to another; what each place will evoke in the hearts and minds of his guests, and how to unfurl the full extent of magic to be had, at just the right moment along the way. Most notably, all of the partners Banovich and his team work with adhere to his taste for quality and luxury, and more importantly, are firm proponents of a conservation ethos. 

The result is Wildscapes Travel, imparting a commitment to profound, meaningful experiences that open up their guests to humbling, awe-inspiring beauty, bringing them into contact with the people and projects working tirelessly to keep it all around for future generations.  LINK to WILDSCAPES TRAVEL

In the press, Banovich’s work has been showcased on Forbes, CBS Entertainment Tonight, The Outdoor Channel, The Great American Country Channel, Orion Entertainment, PBS, Southwest Art Magazine, Western Art Collector Magazine, Cowboys & Indians Magazine, Sporting Classics, Western Art & Architecture, and NBC has written about his dedication to his conservation work and named him an NBC Cause Celebrity. Most recently, Banovich has served as the Executive Producer on two award winning films, Disunity and the Edge of Existence.

Recently, the Nevada Art Museum and the Witte Museum featured Banovich in a one-man exhibition titled The King of Beasts: A Study of the African Lion.  As an internationally recognized artist who has studied lions for decades, and the Founder of the Lion P.R.I.D.E. Initiative, the body of work created for this exhibition served as an homag0e to these animals and explored questions about mankind’s deep fear, love, and admiration for these creatures. The exhibition spanned nearly twenty-five years of work, and assembled Banovich’s body of work focused on African Lions for the very first time.

Support for Conservation: 

Banovich has worked with several different world-wide organizations with a successful history of bringing the non-hunting conservation community and the sportsmen conservationists together for united efforts to save wildlife for future generations.

The Banovich Wildscapes Foundation is a nonprofit (501c3) organization fostering cooperative efforts to conserve the earth's wildlife and wild places benefiting the wildlife and the people that live there. BWF supports a total of twelve projects in seven countries. A portion of the sale of Banovich limited edition giclée canvases and Wild Accents benefit the foundation. http://www.wildscapesfoundation.org/​

Founded in 2007 by John Banovich, BWF is the culmination of tireless conservation efforts over the past two decades. Through his career as an artist, Banovich has inspired a deeper understanding of the world and its wildlife, encouraging successful conservation efforts and awareness of endangered species and their habitats. Traveling across the world seeking inspiration for his work, John has utilized these opportunities to research wildlife and to learn about associated conservation challenges at the local, regional, and national levels. Through his career, artwork and his publishing company, Banovich Art, Banovich has developed effective ways to help implement and support conservation programs and is utilizing his imagery to promote a message of wildlife preservation and to initiate real change - BWF is making a difference.

“John Banovich has merged the world of wildlife art and conservation in a unique and exciting way. John is able to use his status as world-renowned artist to further conservation efforts even in the remotest parts of the world, working to save Siberian tigers in the Russian Far East, lions in Africa, and even the brown bears of North America. John brings energy, imagination, and leadership to the conservation arena, seeking new partnerships and new mechanisms to save the world's wildlife.” - Dale Miquelle, Program Director, WCS

BWF seeks to support conservation niches that its limited resources can impact. This is accomplished by developing initiatives that work in partnership with existing organizations on the ground, promoting scientific research and conservation education, facilitating habitat protection of large conservation landscapes and restoration projects, developing creative and respectful partnerships to fund conservation programs, and building build long-term community economic well-being. Banovich has partnered with several different world-wide organizations that demonstrate a successful history of bringing the non-hunting conservation community and the sportsmen conservationists together for united efforts to save wildlife for future generations.

In February 2018 Banovich Wildscapes Foundation presented the first ACE Award for Conservation Excellence The mission of the ACE is to honor and appreciate a legacy of conservation through recognition of men and women who share their passion to conserve the great outdoors, and have made extraordinary contributions to the sustainability of nature and wildlife. The Award recognizes a conservationist’s long-term commitment to making our planet a better place, and empower people in both local and international communities to advance wildlife conservation. The ACE is intended to become the most significant award in the conservation arena. www.awardforconservationexcellence.org

For the first time in decades, the ACE event brought together those from the hunter/sportsman conservation world and the non-hunting environmental/conservation world and academia.  Banovich Wildscapes Foundation believes that the ACE created an awareness of the need for everyone to work together to protect and preserve the earth’s wild places and wildlife.

ACE recipients were named and presented at a premier gala ceremony with distinguished speakers, celebrity presenters and the incredible animals from the Columbus Zoo and Busch Wildlife.  The event was held at the Gaillard Center in Charleston, SC during the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition.

The Award for Conservation Excellence (ACE) was created to recognize the extraordinary contributions made to wildlife conservation by the world’s leading scientists.  

 

Special Achievements: 

Education

·       University of Montana, Art & Zoology, Missoula, MT

·       Art Institute of Seattle, Associates Degree-Visual Communications, Seattle, WA

Exhibitions/Events

·       National Museum of Wildlife Art, Western Visions Invitational, Jackson Hole, WY, 2005-2006, 2016-Present

·       Safari Club International, 1995-Present

·       Dallas Safari Club, Dallas, TX, 1995-Present

·       National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Prix de West Invitational, Oklahoma City, OK, 1999-2020, 2022

·       Southeastern Wildlife Art Exposition, 1993, 1995, 1996, Feature Artist: 1998, Guest Artist: 1997, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2010, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022

·       African Community & Conservation Foundation, Tusk Lion Trail Exhibition & Fundraiser, Hamptons, NY, August 2021

·       National Museum of Wildlife Art, Living Legends III Exhibition, Jackson Hole, WY, October 31, 2020-May 16, 2021

·       The Witte Museum,  KING OF BEASTS Exhibition, San Antonio, TX, April-September 2020

·       Nevada Museum of Art, KING OF BEASTS Exhibition, November 2019-February 2020

·       Seattle Art Fair, Seattle, WA, August, 2019

·       Behring Global Education Foundation, Keynote Speaker, The Power of Art to Increase Awareness for Conservation, Wuhan Natural History Museum, Wuhan China, July 2018

·       Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Birds in Art, Wausau, WI, 1997-2006, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017

·       Society of Animal Artists, Art and the Animal Exhibition, 1998-2016

·       Artists for Conservation, Vancouver, B.C., 2009, 2017

·       Houston Safari Club, Houston, TX, 2015

·       Safari Club International Miniature Invitational, Las Vegas, NV, 2015

·       Settler’s West Gallery, American Miniature Show, Tucson, AZ, 2008-2015

·       Scottsdale Art Auction, Scottsdale, AZ, 2015

·       Jackson Hole Art Auction, Jackson Hole, WY, 2013-2015

·       Coeur d’Alene Art Auctiion, Reno, NV, 2014, 2015

·       Wildlife Experience Museum and Museum of the Southwest, Nature of the Beast, Solo Exhibition, 2010

·       Gilcrease Museum, American Art in Miniature Invitational, 2006

·       The City Gallery at Waterfront Park, One Man Exhibition, Charleston, SC, 2005

·       Society of Animal Artists, Animals in Art Holiday Exhibition, Miami Metro Zoo, Miami, FL, 2004

·       Hiram Blauvelt Museum, Solo Exhibition, Oradell, NJ, 2002

·       J.N. Bartfield Gallery, Nature’s Legacy: Wildlife and Wild Country, New York, NY, 2002

·       Phillips Auction House, Rhino Rescue, London, England, 2001

·       Everard Read Gallery, Natural History Paintings and Sculpture, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2000

·       Trailside Galleries, Wildlife Discovery, Scottsdale AZ, 2000

·       Lt. Governor’s Art Council Exhibition, The Power of Nature, Capitol Building, Olympia, WA, 1998

·       Wonders of Nature Tour, Hong Kong, 1997

·       Spanierman Gallery, Natural Habitat, New York, 1997

·       Pacific Rim Wildlife Art Show, 1993-1996, Featured Artist 1996,

·       The Houstonian, One Man Exhibition, Houston, TX, 1996

·       Art Chateau, One Man Exhibition, Butte, MT, 1990

·       Wild Wings, Designs in Nature, Seattle WA

·       Northwest Invitational, Howard Mandeville Gallery

·       Prestige Gallery, Original Art Showcase, Ontario, Canada

·       Nature in Art Museum, Gloucester, England

Selected Publications

·       KING OF BEASTS: A Study of the African Lion by John Banovich, Live Oak Press, 2019

·       BEAST: The Collected Works of John Banovich, Banovich Fine Art Publishing, 2009

  • Two Hearts in Tanzania: Dick and Mary Cabela's Hunting Chronicles II by Mary Cabela and Richard N. Cabela

Selected Press

·       FOUR Magazine, “Wilds of Africa”, Featuring John Banovich, 10th Anniversary Edition, Summer 2021

·       Sporting Classics, Cover, The Tszavo Twins, “Man-Eaters of Tsavo” by John Banovich, July/August 2021

·       Forbes, Meet the Tarzan Who Can Paint, July 2020

·       Newsbreak, Meet the Tarzan Who Can Paint, July 2020

·       Flipboard, Meet the Tarzan Who Can Paint, July 2020

·       San Antonio Magazine, King of Beasts Exhibition, June 2020

·       San Antonio Current, New Exhibit by San Antonio’s Witte Museum Uses Artwork to Educate About Big Cats, June 2020

·       CBS, K5 News, Weather Minds Classroom-Field Trip to the Witte Museum, July 2020

·       Sporting Classics, King of Beasts: A Study of the African Lion, January/February 2020

·       Sporting Classics, Cover, Inside the Red Zone, January/February 2020

·       Western Art & Architecture, Creativity for Conservation, October/November 2019

·       Safari Magazine, Beyond the Edge of the Canvas, Winter 2019

·       ABC Channel 4 News, South Carolina, February 2018

·       Robb Report, Inside Singita’s Super Exclusive Serengeti House, November 2017

·       Artists for Conservation, Banovich Establishes New $100,000 Conservation Award 2017

·       Western Art Collector, Cover, June, 2017

·       Sporting Classics, John Banovich: Heart of a Lion by David Cabela, January/February, 2017

·       Sports Afield, The Art of the Game, November/December, 2016

·       Stanford University, Millennium Alliance for Humanity and Biosphere, John Banovich-Painting Animals & Protecting Wildscapes, October, 2016

·       CBS, KZBK TV, Livingston, MT, July 2016

·       Western Art Collector Magazine, February, 2016

·       Orion Entertainment, Great American Country Channel, Ultimate Sportsman’s Lodge TV Series, 2015

·       Distinctly Montana, Magazine, 2015

·       Sporting Classics, “On Location” by Chris Dorsey, December, 2015

·       Private Air Luxury Homes, John Banovich – Larger than Life Big Canvas Bigger Artist, September/October 2015

·       Southwest Art, My World, June, 2015

·       Western Art & Architecture, February/March, 2015

·       NBC Cause Celeb, October, 2014

·       Cowboys & Indians, John Banovich, January, 2015

·       Safari Express, Buenos Aires Argentina SCI Chapter, An Inspiring Artist, Spring 2014

·       The Outdoor Group, Inc., 42nd Annual SCI Convention, February 2014

·       Safari Magazine, Art of the Hunt: Maximum Impact,  Jan/Feb 2014

·       Safari Club Convention Daily News, Banovich Now and Future, February 8, 2014

·       Discovery Life Magazine,The Artist’s Touch, Volume VII, Fall 2013

·       The Sporting Life Radio Show, Celebrity Guest: John Banovich, November 2013

·       Western Art & Architecture, In the Studio, Dec/Jan 2013

·       Open Fences, John Banovich: Big Animals, Big Teeth, Big Program, Spring 2012

·       Texas Sporting Journal, Beyond Passion, January/February 2011

·       Sporting Classics, Living What He Paints, January 2011

·       Banovich Travels to China, Project Panda: The Global Search for Chengdu Pambassador, Fall 2010

·       Entertainment Tonight, Highlights “BEAST: The Collected Works of John Banovich,” November 2009

·       Cowboys & Indians, Gallery Tour, Featuring “Passing Along the Lessons She Learned,” June 2009

·       Western Art & Architecture, Swimming with Giants, Winter/Spring 2009

·       Pakistan Chronicle, November 2008

·       Montana Living, John Banovich, Summer 2007

·       Big Sky Journal, Arts Issue, July/August 2007

·       African Wildlife Foundation, Africa Geographic, PRIDE Initiative, May 2007

·       Outdoor Life Network, Dangerous Game Episode, October 2006

·       WPBS Television, An Artist’s Journey, March 2006

·       Wildlife Art Magazine, Big As Life, Jan/Feb 2006

·       The Artist’s Magazine, Big Game, July/August 2006

·       Game Trails, Featured Artist: John Banovich, Summer 2006

·       Distinctly Montana, Painter of the Big Wild, Winter 2005-2006

·       The Outdoor Channel 2, Wildlife Art Gallery, 2005

·       African Sporting Gazette, 2005

·       African Wildlife Foundation, Africa Geographic, The Mind’s Eye, Fall 2005

·       Wildscape Magazine, UK, Banovich: Step by Step, Summer 2005

·       PBS, Journeys of an Artist, July 2004

·       Sporting Classics, This ‘N That, May/June 2004

·       Wildscape Magazine, UK, The Art of John Banovich, March 2004

·       Art World News, Banovich: Making A Difference Naturally, May/June 2003

·       Big Sky Journal, John Banovich: A Painter’s Barn, Summer 2003

·       Bozeman Chronicle, Living and Painting Large, May 2003

·       Wildlife Art, Redefining Success, Jan/Feb 2003

·       Montana Pioneer, Banovich’s Wild, Wild World, September 2002

·       InformArt, The Art of Marketing: John Banovich Has Come Far in 7 Years, Fall 2001

·       Southwest Art, Prix de West Preview, June 2000

·       U.S. Art, Art Hunters, January 1999

·       Wildlife Art, The Prize of Humanity, January/February 1999

·       Game Trails, Featured Artist: John Banovich, Summer 1999

·       Wildlife Art, Rockport Publishers, 1999

·       American Artist, Out of Africa,  October 1999

·       Northlight Books, The Best of Wildlife Art II, 1999

·       U.S. Art, Painting with Passion, July 1998

·       U.S. Art, Pachyderm Power, November 1998

·       Northlight Books, The Best of Wildlife Art, 1997

·       Art Trends, January/February 1997

·       Sporting Classics, The Banovich Niche, March 1996

·       Wildlife Art, A Passion for the Unexpected, July 1996

·       Inform Art, Building A Body .of Art, September/October 1994

·       U.S. Art, Wildlife Art Rising Start, June 1994

Affiliations

·       ACE Award for Conservation Excellence, Founder, 2018

·       Ivan Carter Wildlife Conservation Alliance, Board Member, 2016-Present

·       Shikar Safari Club, Member, 2007-Present

·       Safari Club International Foundation, Advisory Board Member, 2015-2020

·       Craighead Institute, Board of Directors & Member, 2007-Present

·       Banovich Wildscapes Foundation, Founder/CEO, 2007-Present

·       Lion P.R.I.D.E. Initiative, Founder, 2007

·       Society of Animal Artists, Distinguished Member, 1998-Present

·       Artists for Conservation, 2009-Present

·       Society of Animal Artists, Board Member, 2004-2008

·       Safari Club International “Conservation Alliance” Project, Co-Founder, 2007

·       Safari Club International Foundation Humanitarian Services, “Tatu” Project, Co-Founder, 2006

Awards

·       Safari Club International, Featured Artist, 2022

·       National Museum of Wildlife Art, Trustee Purchase Award, “Among the Giants, Jackson Hole, WY, 2020

·       Sporting Classics, Award of Excellence, 2018

·       Artists for Conservation, Best in Show for Painting,”Game of Lions”, Vancouver, B.C., 2015

·       Artists for Conservation, Medal of Excellence”, Vancouver, B.C., 2015

·       Jackson Hole Art Auction, Top Tier Artist, Jackson Hole, WY, 2014, 2015

·       Safari Club International, C.J McElroy Award, 2010

·       National Indie Coffee Table Book Award for “BEAST: The Collected Works of John Banovich”, 2010

·       Society of Animal Artists, Presidential Artistic Achievement Award, 2009

·       Artists for Conservation, Simon Combes Conservation Award, “Shelter from the Storm,” 2009

·       Society of Animal Artists, Award of Excellence, “End of Days,” 2008

·       Society of Animal Artists, Presidential Artistic Achievement Award, “A Giant Among Giants,” 2007

·       National Rifle Association, Artist of the Year, “Echoes in Gold,” 2007

·       Worldwide Nature Artist’s Group, Conservation Artist of the Month, April 2006

·       Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Artist of the Year, “Royal Performance,” 2005

·       The Artist’s Magazine, Second Place Animal Art, “The Gathering Place,” 2005

·       The Artist’s Magazine, Landscape Category Finalist, “Under the Baobab,” 2004

·       The Artist’s Magazine, Animal Art Category Finalist, “Beauties and the Beasts,” 2004

·       Safari Club International, The People’s Choice Award, 2003

·       Society of Animal Artists, Award of Excellence, 2001

·       Society of Animal Artists, Award of Excellence, 2000

·       Society of Animal Artists, Award of Excellence, “White Rhino and Plovers,” 1997

·       Society of Animal Artists, Wildlife Art News Award, “The Defensive Line,” 1997

·       Pacific Rim Wildlife Art Show, People’s Choice Award, “Heading for Deep Water,” 1996

·       Society of Animal Artists, Activities Press Award, “104th Congress,” 1996

·       The Artist’s Magazine, Animal Art Category Finalist, “The Defensive Line,” 1995

·       Game Coin Show, San Antonio, Texas, Best New Artist, 1994

·       U.S. Art, Wildlife Art Rising Star, 1994

·       Pacific Rim Wildlife Art Show, Best of Show, “The Patriarch,” 1994

·       Pacific Rim Wildlife Art Show, Best of Show, “In the Heat of the Day,” 1993

Selected Collections

·       Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium, Springfield, MO

·       James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art, St. Petersburg, FL

·       National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson Hole, WY

·       Wildlife Experience Museum, Parker, CO

·       Tudor Investments, Greenwich, CT

·       Hiram Blauvelt Museum, Oradell, NJ

·       Borsini and Burr, San Francisco, CA

·       The American Patriot Building, Evansville, IN

·       Yellowstone Club, Warren Miller Lodge, Big Sky, MT

·       Mary Hart, Host, Entertainment Tonight

·       Dave Liniger, Founder, RE/MAX Int.

·       Tom Siebel, Founder, C3

·       Bob Parsons, Founder, GoDaddy.com

·       Richard Childress, Team Owner, NASCAR

·       Dick & Mary Cabela, Owners, Cabelas

·       Chris Dorsey, CEO of Orion Entertainment

·       Jack Hanna, Director, Columbus Zoo & TV host of “Jack Hanna’s Wild Countdown” and “Into the Wild”

·       Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., U.S. Army General

·       Ross Perot Jr., Chairman, Perot Systems