Carl Lundgren

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Lundgren was an American fine artist and illustrator best known for his 1960s era rock posters and fantasy art. Lundgren's early interest into illustration was first inspired by his idol, fantasy artist and illustrator Frank Frazetta (b. 1928). By the time he was 18, Lundgren became the co-chairman of the first multimedia science fiction convention, The Detroit Triple Fan Fair, which featured comics, movies and science fiction works. In 1967, Lundgren fatefully met rock poster artist Gary Grimshaw at a Detroit rock venue called The Grande Ballroom. After being offered a job by him, Lundgren went on to create poster art for such celebrated bands as The Who, Jefferson Airplane and Pink Floyd, which over time have become highly collectible items. In 1974, Lundgren moved to New York City where he worked exclusively in science fiction and fantasy illustration up until he quit the publishing industry in 1987, to focus on fine art. Throughout his career he painted nearly 300 book covers and was the co-founder of the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists.

ADDITIONAL BIO

Carl Lundgren (born July 12, 1947 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American artist and illustrator, primarily known for his 1960s-era rock posters and fantasy art.

Career

Lundgren had an early interest in becoming a fantasy artist and illustrator like Frank Frazetta, his idol. At the age of 18, he was co-chairman of the first multimedia science fiction convention, The Detroit Triple Fan Fair, featuring comics, movies and science fiction.

In 1967 Lundgren met rock poster artist Gary Grimshaw, who was illustrating posters for a Detroit rock venue, run by Russ Gibb, called the Grande Ballroom. Grimshaw offered him a job, and Lundgren went on to create poster art for seminal bands such as The Who, Jefferson Airplane and Pink Floyd. These posters have since become highly collectible.

In 1974 Lundgren moved to New York City and turned to science fiction and fantasy illustration for a living, painting nearly 300 book covers. During this time, Lundgren became a co-founder of the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists (ASFA) and was nominated for a Hugo Award for his illustration work.

Lundgren quit working for the publishing industry in 1987, choosing to instead to focus on fine art. In 1993 he wrote and published an autobiography called Carl Lundgren, great artist.

REFERENCES

Carl Lundgren Art Studios website

Carl Lundgren on Myspace