The Western Art of James Bama

James Elliott Bama (born 1926) is an American artist known for his realistic paintings and etchings of Western subjects. Life in Wyoming led to his comment, "Here an artist can trace the beginnings of Western history, see the first buildings, the oldest wagons, saddles and guns, and be up close to the remnants of Indian culture ... And you can stand surrounded by nature's wonders." In addition to his western art, he is responsible for some of our most memorable pop culture images. He is the creator and artist of the slightly surreal covers for the 1960s paperback reprints of old "Doc Savage" pulp novels. He was inducted into the Illustrator's Hall of Fame on June 28, 2000. At the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, when he was the first Honored Artist at the Buffalo Bill Art Show in 2003, Bama commented, "Everything I've done - the rodeo, the trappers, the mountain men - has been done around here. The fact that I'm from Cody makes this very significant to me. They're really honoring Cody and the Buffalo Bill Historical Center." He was inducted into the Monster Kid Hall Of Fame at The Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards. This is the first collection that was ever done of his work.