Biographical Sketch

Ron Pekar works as a sculptor, painter, teacher and lecturer. Thousands of his works are represented in corporate, museum, university and private collections worldwide.

He is a mentor/lecturer/consultant and teacher for hundreds of artists at Disney (including Disney Feature Animation and Walt Disney Imagineering), Dreamworks Feature Animation, and other entertainment/design studios.

He has been commissioned to develop various large-scale sculptural works for various entities such as sports institutions, civic projects (i.e., firefighter/police memorials, park installations, sculptural cell towers, etc.), and national nonprofit/charitable organizations.

He was a professor of art for more than 20 years and continues to develop and teach specialty workshops and lecture series for institutions across the country.

He has recently completed large, bronze commissioned sculptures for the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Currently, he is developing paintings and sculptures for a series of exhibitions traveling throughout China.

Articles & Publications

Hidden in Plan Site, Sign of the Times

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October 2003 (pdf format)

Professional & Educational Experience

  • 35 years experience as a painter, sculptor, designer and professor.
  • Works are represented in more than 600 corporate, public, civic, museum and private collections worldwide.
  • Diversified and extensive experience in all areas of the visual arts and visual education.
  • Held more than 26 solo shows, with a broad range of experiences in private galleries, universities and museums.
  • Works are represented in more than 15 museums including the Smithsonian; High Art Museum, Atlanta; Tennessee Museum, Nashville; Riverside Museum, California; Nelson/Atkins Museum, Kansas City; etc.
  • Guest faculty, graduate reviewer and/or visiting critic at numerous universities nationwide including Yale, Maryland College of Art, Cranbrook, University of Florida, SMU, Art Center College of Design, Syracuse, Rhode Island School of Design, Parsons, etc.
  • Teacher of numerous courses in Southern California colleges: California State University, Northridge; Otis College of Art and Design; Art Center College of Design; Glendale Community College; and University of La Verne including courses such as 2D and 3D design, drawing, anatomy, painting, animation, etc.
  • 20-year professor at the Memphis College of Art, chair of Foundations Division and faculty representative to Board of Trustees. Teaching duties included all areas of visual education such as painting/drawing/anatomy, sculpture/materials and methods, printmaking (all types), independent and guided special studies, graphic design/illustration, art history and survey, etc.
  • Director/teacher of numerous workshops across the United States in areas of oil, acrylic and watercolor painting and portraiture; animation effects and storyboarding; museum tours and appreciation; etc.
  • Served on numerous grant review boards and juried exhibition committees such as the Tennessee Arts Commission; Memphis City School Board Advisory Panel; Southeast Region, National Endowment for the Arts; City of Glendale Arts Commission, etc.

Concept Design & Studio Production Experience

  • Disney Feature Animation consultant and teacher for studio artists in drawing, painting, and sculpture; also, a consultant for background mood impression/expression, character study for animation.
  • Disney Imagineering consultant for theme park concept design, attractions and illustration, theme park detailing and faux finishing, and teacher for studio artists in painting, drawing and sculpture.
  • Dreamworks consultant for character development and teacher for studio artists in sculpture.
  • "Motor City" theme park, concept designer and presentation team leader, a complete environmental package covering all aspects of project design for private developers and the City of Detroit.
  • Consultant to numerous independent set design and special effects studios for specific television, feature film or parade projects.
  • Set designer for television, theater/stage, and arena/live performance shows such as the "MTV Video Music Awards" shows from Universal Amphitheater and Radio City Music Hall, "Ally McBeal" TV series, etc.; Broadway and off-Broadway productions of "Tommy," "Rocky Horror," etc.; "Great Adventures of the Bible" and "It's Magic" traveling show, etc.
  • "Signature Tree," sculptor, designer and team leader for public monument/art concept, fundraising system for arts and culture.
  • "Peace Garden Memorial," designer and team leader, participant in exhibition of top ten placements out of 2,200 entries in international competition for national park design, park site between the Potomac River and Washington Canal, Washington, D.C.
  • "Spirit of the River," designer and coordinator of a five-year audio/visual program and children's hands-on art experience gallery (Mighty Mississippi River Theme), for the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, City of Memphis.
  • "Television Paintings" (known as TV-P's), brief TV segments, like commercials, focusing on visual elements and subjects, broadcast on NBC and educational affiliates in Memphis and mid-South area of U.S.