Preston Eugene Jackson

Preston Eugene Jackson is an American painter, sculptor and educator who has created many public art sculptures in the Central Illinois area.^[1][2] He works in metal, both steel and foundry cast metals, and also paints.^[3] His paintings and sculptures cover many styles, from abstract to "emotionally charged realism."^[4] In 1998 he was named the Laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois and received the Order of Lincoln Medallion.^[5][6] He owns The Raven Gallery, home of the Contemporary Art Center in Peoria, Illinois.

His traveling sculpture exhibit "Fresh from Julieanne’s Garden" features more than 100 unique bronze castings of people of color telling fictionalized stories of their lives from the 17th through 20th centuries.^[6] Jackson received a Regional Emmy for hosting "Legacy in Bronze" a television show featuring these sculptures.^[7] In 2018 he was voted one of the best Illinois artists of all time as part of The Illinois Top 200 project.^[8]

Jackson began his career as a professor of art at Western Illinois University from 1972 to 1989. He later moved to the Art Institute of Chicago in 1989 as a professor of sculpture. He was appointed chair of the Sculpture Department from 1994 through 1996 and is currently a Professor Emeritus.^[1]

Jackson received his BFA from Southern Illinois University and his MFA degree from the University of Illinois in 1972.^[1]

Jackson was born on March 1, 1944, in Decatur, Illinois. The son of Shirley and T.J.Jackson, he grew up one of ten children in Decatur Illinois.^[3] He and his wife Melba have two daughters.^[7]