Jill Soukup was born in Buffalo, New York. Shortly thereafter, her family moved to Colorado, where she still resides. Jill’s affinity for horses as a young girl resulted in countless drawings and studies of them, which made for a strong drawing foundation. As a teen, she started a pet-portrait business, acquired jobs painting murals, and designed logos for local organizations. She graduated from Colorado State University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Fine Art. There, she received awards for illustration and design and worked as an illustrator and designer for the university. She initially pursued a career in graphic design while continuing to paint part time. After 11 years as a designer, she made the switch to full-time painting. Her work continues to gain recognition as she receives awards, appears in national publications, and shows in important juried and solo exhibitions.
Solo exhibitions include: “Horses and Other Thoughts,” Saks Galleries, Denver CO; Astoria Fine Art, Jackson, WY; “Industrial & Equine Architecture,” The Longmont Museum, Longmont, CO; “Compelled by Structure,” University of Northern Colorado School of Art & Design Galleries, Greeley, CO. Group shows include: Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale, National Western Stock Show, Denver, CO; Cowgirl Up, Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Wickenburg, AZ; The Russell, C.M. Russell Museum, Great Falls, MT; Hold Your Horses, Phippen Museum, Prescott, AZ; Windows to the Divine Exhibition & Sale, Madden Museum of Art, Greenwood Village, CO; Representing the West, Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center, Pueblo, CO; California Visions, Long Beach Museum of Art; Oil Painters of America.
Awards include: Southwest Art Magazine Award of Excellence, Weekend in the West, Evergreen Fine Art; Southwest Art Magazine Award, Coors Western Art Exhibit and Sale, National Western Stock Show; People’s Choice, Coors Western Art Exhibit and Sale, National Western Stock Show; Best of Show, 2D, Representing the West, Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center; Jury’s Top 50, Salon International; Award of Excellence, Oil Painters of America.
Publications include: American Art Collector, The Artist’s Magazine; Cowboys and Indians, Denver Woman, Fine Art Connoisseur, Ranch & Reata, Southwest Art, Western Art Collector. Collections include: Cherry Creek School District; Honeywell, Inc.; Children’s Hospital.
