Steve King (1949 – 2005)

Steve King was born Stephen Lynn King on November 17, 1949 in Shawnee, Oklahoma.  He was the third of four children born to his parents who were both in the jewelry business.  Steve was a kind soul and, even as a child, exhibited a unique perception of his surroundings.

The family moved back to Texas where Steve grew up on his grandparent’s cotton farm west of Lubbock, Texas.  Steve earned his BS in Art Education from West Texas State University in 1972, and began teaching art for the Dallas Independent School District.  Disillusioned and unfulfilled by teaching, in 1973 he accepted the position of Manager for an art gallery in Highland Park, and six years later was managing another gallery in Dallas, Texas.

Steve’s love of art manifested itself in a varied-medium progression of sketches, pen and ink drawings, watercolors, and oils produced part-time while managing the gallery.  In 1974 he entered some of his works in the National Baha’i Art Show in St. Louis.

In order to have more time to paint, Steve and his wife, Louise, left the big city life and moved to Denison, Texas. Steve continued to paint a wide variety of subjects while developing his style and techniques.

Steve participated in the Houston International Exhibition, Houston, Texas, in 1995, and the Denison Art Renaissance, Denison, Texas, in 1997.

In 2002, his work was exhibited in the Summer Small Works Exhibit, at the Limner Gallery, New York City, New York.

Short sabbaticals into Oklahoma reawakened a deep admiration and interest in the American Indian, their ways, and lifestyle.  After discovering Santa Fe, New Mexico, Steve at last felt at home.  He purchased property, and began plans to build his studio/home there.  The home was never built.

Collections:
Sandra & Ron Howard, Sugar Land, Texas
Larry King & Vivien Monaco, Orlando, Florida
Donna & Mike Gaskill, Wylie, Texas
Texas State Parks - Eisenhower Birthplace Historic Site, Denison, Texas

Publications:
Southwest Art, October 1997

Steve died in May 2005 after suffering a heart attack at his home in Denison, Texas.

His widow, Louise, is curator of his collection of work and now resides in Dallas, Texas.