Cardinal Shrike, 2008

Oscar Jay Gillespie  

Oscar J. Gillespie is a professor of art at Bradley University where he has been a member of the faculty since January 1986. He teaches printmaking, drawing, and painting. As an engraver, he is distinguished by his expertise in monotypes and intaglio, particularly metal plate engraving. His professional affiliations include the Southern Graphic Council, the Society of American Graphic Artists, Pi Kappa Phi National Honor Society, and the Mid-America Print Council, serving as vice president, editor, and board member of this last.

From 1986 to 1991 he directed three biennial Bradley National Print and Drawing Exhibitions. Since 1991, he has guided Bradleys Cradle Oak Press as printer and coordinator of the program which invites renowned artists to campus for the purpose of creating original editions of prints. , exhibitions by invitation and juried. His work is in many public collections, including the Fogg Museum, Harvard; the Kleven Print Collection, Bemidji, Minnesota; the Kemper Group Collection, Chicago; the Lauren Rogers Museum, Laurel, Mississippi; the Nelson-Atkins Museum, Kansas City, the New York Public Library; the Plains Museum, Fargo, North Dakota; and Queensland University of Technology Art Museum, Australia.

He has received numerous awards as an artist and scholar, including: the Samuel Rothberg Award for Professional Excellence, Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois; Finalist Award, 2002 Artist Fellowships, Illinois Arts Council; Distinguished Alumni Award, Centennial Celebration Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ; Printmaking Residency, Plains Art Museum, Fargo, North Dakota; and others.