The Artists

Frank Kelly Freas

Frank Kelly Freas was arguably the premier artist of science fiction and fantasy. His career, spanning fifty-plus years, earned him ten Hugo awards, the highest recognition in the field. His art graced the covers of innumerable science fiction and fantasy magazines, twice winning readers' poll awards for best cover of the year for Analog Magazine. In 2000 Freas was elected a Fellow of the International Association of Astronomical Artists. He died in 2005.

Robert T. McCall

Robert McCall is widely regarded as the preeminent artist of space. Science writer Isaac Asimov called him "the nearest thing to an artist-in-residence from outer space." McCall's giant mural in the National Air & Space Museum has become a cultural icon. If there was any doubt of his influence, his immortaility was ensured when Stanley Kubrick commissioned McCall to produce a set of promotional paintings for the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey. In addition to the Apollo 17, Mission Control, and ASTP patches, McCall has designed a number of Shuttle mission patches, including STS-1, STS-3, STS-5, STS-41B, and STS-71.

Emilio Pucci

Emilio Pucci, Marchese of Barsento, was born in 1914 into an illustrious Florentine family. He was educated for a diplomatic career, and earned a Ph.D. in social science. A brilliant athelete, he was a member of the 1934 Italian Olympic ski team. He served as a career pilot (not an aeronautical engineer) in the Italian Air Force for 14 years, earning multiple decorations, and finally retiring due to health problems resulting from injuries acquired during his service. While skiing in the winter of 1947, he met a fashion photographer who, when she learned that he had designed his own ski outfit, asked him to design some women's skiwear. Thus began a long career as a fashion designer. In the 1970's Pucci was elected to the Italian Parliament. Later he began labeling and selling the wine produced on his estate in Chianti, owned by the Pucci family since the 13th century. He died in 1992.

Leonardo da Vinci

Perhaps the greatest genius the world has known, Leonardo was born in Vinci, Italy (thus, Leonardo da [of] Vinci) in 1452. At the age of 17, Leonardo and his father moved to Florence. By 1472 he had become a member of the painter's guild of Florence. His career saw him in Milan, Mantua, and Venice, during which time he served as an architectural consultant and military and civil engineer, as well as artist. His painting, "Mona Lisa" is perhaps the best-known work of art in the world. Leonardo died in Amboise in 1519.

Walter A. Weber

Born in Chicago in 1906, Walter Weber grew up as one of eleven children of poor immigrant parents. His artistic talents flowered early, and he began taking classes at the Chicago Art Institute at the age of nine. His earliest job, with the Natural History department of the Field Museum, gave him the opportunity to embark on extensive research travel. In 1936 Weber became the chief scientific illustrator for the National Park Service. In 1949 he was appointed staff artist and naturalist for the National Geographic Society, a position which allowed him to travel much of the world. In addition to illustrating many articles and books, Weber was the first artist to design two federal duck stamps. He retired in 1971, and died in 1979.

Lumen M. Winter

Born in 1908, Lumen Winter spent his childhood in western Kansas. After attending the Cleveland School of Art and New York's National Academy of Design, he served a stint as an Air Force artist during World War II. Following this, he settled in Santa Fe. Over the next 40 years, Winter was to become one of the country's most reknowned muralists. His style, according to The Paris Moderne, "is not abstract nor is it realistic, but he has created synthesis which is all his own." Winter died in 1982.