In 1994 the International Association for the Visual Arts established the El Paso Artists’ Hall of Fame to honor artists for their accomplishments and contributions to the visual arts scene in the El Paso region. Artwork of the honorees resides in the museum collection. There is also a bronze plaque listing each member of the Hall of Fame in the Museum’s Foyer.
William Kolliker- 1994
William Kolliker was one of El Paso’s most beloved artists and is a member of the El Paso Artists’ Hall of Fame. Born in Berne, Switzerland on October 12, 1905, Kolliker moved to New York at the age of 16. Having artistic talent early on, he found a job with the art department of the New York American. Eventually he became the art director and art editor of the American Weekly, a position he held for twenty-five years. Mr. Kolliker studied at the Grand Central Art School, the Maryland Institute of Art, and the Boston School of Art.Soon after his relocation to El Paso, Kolliker became one of the city’s foremost artists. He created countless pieces for public and private display, and even created designs used by the U.S. Mint. Despite creations of great national significance, Mr. Kolliker was always most dedicated to painting the land that he loved, the Southwestern desert. In particular was his love of the Pre-Columbian mythology which once inhabited this desert landscape. It is a collection of these Pre-Columbian masterpieces in watercolor, along with his personal collection of Pre-Columbian artifacts that the International Museum of Art now houses.
Mr. Kolliker has created countless works of art which hang in the most prestigious places. Among his many accomplishments:
Designed 2 silver plaques presented to Mexican President Lopez Mateos and U.S. President LBJ on the occasion of the Chamizal settlement
Created a mosaic mural in the downtown El Paso Savings Bank
Designed the 7 ft. high eagles for the Amistad Dam dedicated by President Nixon
Designed 10 ounce medals cast by the U.S. Mint
Urbici Soler- 1994
Urbici Soler was born June 21, 1890 in Farran, Lerida, Spain, but spent his youth in Barcelona uner the tutelage of Pedro Carbonel. He continued his studies in Budapest, Vienna, and Munich, where he was a student of Adolph E. R. Von Hildebrand and eventually operated his own school. He also taught in Houston, New Orleans, and in El Paso at the College of Mines and Metallurgy (now UTEP). He is most famous for his figure Sierra de Cristo Rey on the mountain of Cristo Rey.
His work hangs in museums in Europe and North and South America. His public art continues to inspire, yet it is as teacher that he is perhaps best remembered. According to friend and great artist Tom Lea:”He is an artist of genius, and a craftsman of superb technical knowledge and skill. – He is a teacher gifted with sensitive power to impart his profound knowledge. He is the kind of artist who, in enriching our views of life, will give us, always, more than he receives.”
Connie Dillman- 1995
Connie Dillman began sketching as a child, but did not develop a serious interest in art until her late twenties. She enrolled in drawing courses at UTEP, and cites Jan Herring, Wiltz Harrison, Mark Pearlman, Millard Sheets, Charles Reid, and Robert E. Wood as her earliest influences. Ms. Dillman’s earliest work was in metals, which she sold at art shows across the Southwestern United States. She paints in a variety of media, and is best known for selecting female images as subjects and painting large pieces.
Ms. Dillman has won numerous awards, included the National Watercolor Best of Show 1995, Sierra Medical-El Paso Museum of Art First Place-1991 and Best of Show- 1989, and the American Watercolor Society- Artist magazine Award-1997. She is an elected signature member of the American Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society, and the Pastel Society of America.
Anna Johnell Crimen- 1996
Her career is in the hearts, minds and hands of her many students around the world, and her artwork can be viewed at the International Museum of Art.
Anna served as Director and Assistant Director of the Fort Bliss Arts and Craft program 1956- 1971
Born October 22, 1917 in El Paso, Texas – 2015. She was the first daughter of Dr. John C. Crimen, co-founder of Southwestern General Hospital, and Sarah Ellen Guinn Crimen Anna Johnell Crimen is known to be a sensitive, dignified artist and teacher. Much of her work has been shaped by her acute response to the natural environment. This special woman’s talents were her commitment, consistency and contributions to the southwest area arts community. She has helped advance the arts Through her many teaching and endeavors in the city of El Paso, and the Fort Bliss Military Base. Her most significant contributions to the arts community, however, were as a teacher and motivator. Over a period of 36 years, she owned and operated three arts and crafts schools in El Paso: The Ceramic Room, 1950-57; The Crimen School for the Designer-Craftsman, 1970-73; and The Crimen School for Arts & Crafts, 1976-86. She is well remembered professionally, philanthropically and academically; throughout the El Paso del Norte Region. Including Ciuduad Juarez, Mexico and Southern New Mexico.
Numerous local, professional artists trained at her schools and hundreds of talented amateur artists learned to appreciate the spirit of the visual arts and their own potential under her directions
She graduated from El Paso High in 1934 and was salutatorian of her 1938 graduating class at the Texas College of Mines and Metallurgy, now UTEP.Her art training began in 1946 as a student at the Hollywood (Calif.) Art Center, followed by scholarship studies under sculptor Henry Lyon in Pacific Palisades. Additionally she obtained a undergraduate fine arts studies at the John Herron Art School at Butler University. Jewelry and watercolor studies at the Lincoln County Art School in Oregon.
She participated in the first World Congress on Crafts in New York City, and workshops with renowned New Mexico artist Lincoln Fox
Over a professional career spanning over 50 years, she formally exhibited in more than 50 shows, including 8 one-person exhibitions. She judged 19 exhibitions, including 3 kermazaars and other regional competition’s.
Her art skills spanned through many mediums, including sculpture (bronze, clay, plaster and wax processes) , jewelry, leather work, metal enameling, mosaics, macramé, pottery, painting (including acrylics, alkyd, enamels, oils, vinyl and watercolor), printmaking (acid etching, diamond point, lithographs and wood block), weaving, wood carving and craft making .
