Biography
James C. Christensen (American, 1942–2017) was a beloved painter of fantasy, myth, and fable whose richly detailed imaginary worlds invited viewers, in his own words, to believe so that they might see. A longtime professor at Brigham Young University, where he taught for more than two decades, he drew on folklore, scripture, literature, and pure whimsy to populate his canvases with saints, fools, mermaids, pilgrims, and impossible flying fish.
Fantasy, Myth & Jewel-Like Detail
Each scene is rendered with the jewel-like detail of a Renaissance miniature and a sly sense of humor, so that a single painting rewards long looking — there is always one more small joke, creature, or detail hiding at the edge. That density of invention, paired with genuine technical refinement, set him apart in the fantasy-art field and built an unusually loyal collector base.
Collecting James C. Christensen
His imagery earned numerous honors, including multiple Chesley Awards from the fantasy-art community and recognition as a Utah Art Treasure, and was gathered into best-selling illustrated books. Released as detailed, signed limited-edition prints, his work has a famously devoted following among collectors who return again and again to discover something new in the magic.