John Berkey
John Berkey (August 13, 1932 – April 29, 2008) was an American artist known for his space and science fiction themed works. Some of Berkey's best-known work includes much of the original poster art for the Star Wars trilogy, the poster for the 1976 remake of King Kong and also the "Old Elvis Stamp".
John Berkey | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 13, 1932 |
| Died | April 29, 2008 (aged 75) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Minneapolis School of Art |
| Known for | Magazine & book covers, film posters |
| Notable work | Poster art for King Kong (1976); Star Wars (1977) |
| Movement | Science fiction art |
| Awards | Spectrum Award for Grand Master 1999 |
| Elected | Society of Illustrators |
| Website | www |
Berkey produced a large body of space fantasy artwork, producing utopian scenes of bubble-shaped, yacht-like spaceships. His distinctive painterly style has been evaluated as "at once realistic, yet impressionistic and abstract", and his space craft designs as being "distinctly elegant, yet clearly technological and unmistakably Berkian; more inspired by luxury yachts and manta rays than NASA". He has been described as "one of the giants in the history of science fiction art".