Richard M. Powers
Richard M. Powers (February 24, 1921 – March 9, 1996) was an American science fiction illustrator. He was inducted by the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2008.[1][2]
Life and work
Born in Chicago 1921 into a Catholic family, Richard Michael Gorman Powers[3] spent most of his early life supported by his mother and aunt. His father left the family when Powers was young. At eleven, Powers was introduced to art when his uncle gave him a sketch book, although in later life his uncle's wife would try to prevent from making any art. He became one of the most influential science fiction artists of all time.
He began by working in a conventional pulp paperback style, but quickly evolved a personal Surrealist idiom influenced by the cubists and surrealists, especially Picasso and Yves Tanguy. He also dabbled in abstract art and collage at a later age before dying in 1996 at the age of 75.
From the 1940s through the 1960s, he did many of covers for Doubleday. During the 1950s and 1960s, he served as an unofficial art director for Ballantine Books.
The estate of Richard Powers, which includes original artwork, is represented by Worlds of Wonder.[4]
Cultural influence
In 2010, Andy Partridge, former frontman of the British New wave band XTC released a limited edition CD of music inspired by Powers' art titled POWERS.[5]
Selected works
Collections
- Spacetimewarp: Paintings (1983) (Doubleday Science Fiction Book Club)
Illustrated books
Powers provided interior illustrations for a number of Easton Press special editions of classic science fiction novels, including a 1986 editions of The Gods Themselves and To Your Scattered Bodies Go.
- American Tall Tales, Adrien Stoutenburg, interior illustrations (Puffin, 1976) ISBN 978-0-14-030928-7
- The Number of the Beast (1980), interior artwork and cover illustrations, first edition
Album covers
- Symphonie Fantastique Hector Berlioz, Charles Munch, conductor, Boston Symphony Orchestra. RCA Victor, 1955[6]
Book covers
The Internet Speculative Fiction Database catalogs hundreds of book covers illustrated by Powers beginning 1950 (two known).[3]
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References
- ↑ "2008 Science Fiction Hall of Fame Ceremony Tickets On Sale May 15". Press release April/May 2008. Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame (empsfm.org). Archived 2008-05-10. Retrieved 2013-03-19.
- ↑ "Powers, Richard". The Locus Index to SF Awards: Index of Art Nominees. Locus Publications. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Richard Powers at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database (ISFDB). Retrieved 2013-04-09. Select a title to see its linked publication history and general information. Select a particular edition (title) for more data at that level, such as a front cover image or linked contents.
- ↑ Worlds of Wonder Art Store.
- ↑ .
- ↑ Rca Victor LM-1900: Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique by Charles Munch
- Citations
- Frank, Jane; "The Art of Richard Powers", London : Paper Tiger, 2001. ISBN 1-85585-890-8
- The Frank Collection: A Showcase of the World's Finest Fantastic Art, Jane and Howard Frank. Paper Tiger, 1999
External links
- Dave Hartwell's account of Richard M. Powers
- A collection of Richard M. Powers' published artwork: The Powers Compendium
- Richard Powers at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- Richard M. Powers biography at the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame
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