D. Jeffrey Mims is a painter, educator, lecturer, and muralist who has been at the forefront of the revival of the classical tradition for the past 30 years. In 1976, he received a Greenshields Foundation grant to copy masterworks in museums in England, France, and Italy. For over a decade, he maintained studios in Italy and the US, during which time he executed both easel and public mural paintings. In recognition for his work in traditional fresco painting Classical America presented Mims with an Arthur Ross Award in 1984 for ‘excellence and integrity in the application of classical ideals’. He was awarded an Affiliated Fellowship at the American Academy in Rome in 2009 from The Institute of Classical Architecture and Art.
Work
D. Jeffrey Mims is founder and director of the Academy of Classical Design, a school of fine art with an emphasis on traditional mural painting and architectural decoration. The Academy serves as the educational branch of The Classical Design Foundation, a US based non-profit which was established for the preservation and practice of classical design in the public realm.
From a recent article in Traditional Building magazine, Mims writes, ‘The preservation of significant buildings is one way that we can protect and learn from our cultural heritage. It is related to – but not the same as – the preservation of craft necessary for the maintenance and continued development of our most valued architectural accomplishments. The future of traditional building needs both.’ [1]
Mims has lectured on historic collaborations between artists and architects for, among other organizations, the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art and the University of Notre Dame. He is currently working on the creation of a Mural Guild to promote the integration of the allied arts in traditional architectural settings.
Reference
1. Creating a Classical Academy, Traditional Building magazine, April 2016
Further Information
D. Jeffrey Mims
Academy of Classical Design
115 W. Pennsylvania Avenue
Southern Pines, North Carolina 28387
USA
administrator@academyofclassicaldesign.org
www.academyofclassicaldesign.org
