John Nelson Battenberg was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1931. An artist named John Goray first influenced him when Battenberg was about 10 years old. Battenberg did his undergraduate work in art at various Midwestern universities. He also attended the Ruskin School, Oxford University for two years. He received M.F.A.'s from Michigan State University and California School of Arts and Crafts. Battenberg has resided in both Italy and England. He was a professor of sculpture at San José State University and now holds the title of professor emeritus. He left his professorship to pursue his sculpture full-time. Battenberg turned to painting when his failing health prevented him from sculpting. The Honolulu Academy of Arts, the Krannert Art Museum (University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois), the National Museum of Wildlife Art (Jackson Hole, Wyoming), the Oakland Museum of California (Oakland, California) the San Diego Museum of Art, the Seattle Art Museum (Seattle, Washington), the Syracuse University Art Collection (Syracuse, New York) and the Triton Museum of Art (Santa Clara, California) are among the public collections holding works by John Nelson Battenberg.
References
- Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, "Separate Realities: California Representational Painting/Sculpture", Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, 1973.
- Sarda, Michel F., "Faces of Arizona: A Tribute to Arizona Artists ", Phoenix, Bridgewood Press, 1998.
