John Collier
John Collier was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, the oldest of six children. His father Carroll Lloyd Collier (b. 1923) is also an artist. John abandoned his studies in philosophy and engineering at University North Texas in Denton to pursue a career in art. He was selected as one of the sculptors for the Catholic Memorial at Ground Zero; he created four 6-foot tall bronze sculptures as memorials to groups affected by the tragedy (St. Joseph, patron of construction workers; St. Michael the Archangel, patron of police; St. Florian, patron of firefighters; and St. Mary Magdalene, first witness to the Resurrection).
While much of John Collier’s life has been spent making art for the world’s major secular institutions and for private collectors, in recent years, he has devoted himself to painting and sculpting for the Catholic Church. His work has been exhibited at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg, PA, the Mulvane Art Museum at Washbum University, KS, the Narthex Gallery at Saint Peter’s Church in New York City and at Tatischeff Gallery in New York, the New York Historical Society Museum, the Museum of Biblical Art in Dallas, as well as many churches and religious institutions.