About Preston Jackson

Preston's Resume

A professor of sculpture at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Jackson is the head of the figurative area and has served as chair of the Sculpture Department.  He also teaches children´s art, painting, sculpture and tai chi at the Contemporary Art Center of Peoria, on the RiverFront. 

Jackson's recent work deals with the subject of our history—both precise depictions of well-known historical figures as well as innovative portrayals of individuals whose lives, though unfamiliar to us, are part of our history he wants us to learn. His latest series, "Fresh from Julieanne´s Garden", reveals the lives and personalities of his ancestors and the stories of all of our forbears who lived in the Southern United States in the 19th and early 20th century.  This work reflects an admiration for the resolution and resiliency of each individual.

Preston was recently awarded a Regional Emmy for hosting "Legacy in Bronze", a television show featuring his Julieanne´s Garden sculptures.  Preston was also selected a 1998 Laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois, the highest honor given to individuals in the State.  Preston´s large-scale outdoor sculpture as well as his smaller bronze pieces have been exhibited widely in the U.S.

Preston and his wife Melba maintain homes in Dunlap and Chicago, IL. They have two daughters, Natalie and Alice, and one grandson, Blake.