John Hendrix

Kenneth E. Hudson Professor of Art and Chair of Design in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts

John Hendrix is a New York Times Bestselling illustrator and author of many children’s books, including Shooting at the Stars, Drawing is Magic, John Brown: His Fight for Freedom, Miracle Man: The Story of Jesus, and, most recently, The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler.  His first picture book, Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek, was named an ALA Notable book of 2008 and won the Comstock Award for read aloud books.  His book on John Brown won the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal and was named one of the “Best Books of 2009” by Publisher’s Weekly.

Professor Hendrix has a degree in visual communication from the University of Kansas and an MFA from The School of Visual Arts.  He has taught design at Parsons School of Design and worked at The New York Times as Assistant Art Director of the Op-Ed page.  His work has appeared in publications including Newsweek, Sports Illustrated, Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, Esquire, The New York Times, and Time Magazine. He has also drawn book jackets for the likes of Roaring Brook, Random House, Simon & Schuster, Harper Collins, Greenwillow Books, Knopf, Penguin, and Abrams Books. His images also appeared in advertising campaigns for ESPN/ABC, AT&T, and Travelocity. His drawings have won numerous awards, including Silver Medals from Society of Illustrators in 2006, 2008, and 2015.  In 2012, Professor Hendrix served as President of ICON7- The Illustration Conference, a biennial global summit for the illustration community, as well as Vice President of ICON6 in 2010. He also chaired The Society of Illustrators 55th Annual Show, which is the Illustration industry’s longest running and most prestigious juried show.

Professor Hendrix has served as a Ruling Elder at Grace & Peace Fellowship for eight years, part of the PCA (Presbyterian Church of America). He has presented his work and drawings at venues including Hutchmoot, The Rabbit Room’s Annual Conference of art, music and faith – Church NEXT Conference – Story Conference, Nashville – Q Commons St. Louis, and The National Archives.  His sketchbook drawings from church have been featured in Christianity Today and Smithsonian Magazine. Professor Hendrix lives in St. Louis, with his beautiful bride Andrea, son Jack, and daughter Annie.

Reviewing his 2016 book, Miracle Man, the New York Times wrote that “even nonbelievers will enjoy this powerfully told and visually dazzling book.”

Contact John Hendrix here.

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