Biography

Jackson Boelts is an accomplished artist, graphic designer, and former business owner, having co-founded a successful venture with his brother, Eric. A retired Professor Emeritus of Art at the University of Arizona, Boelts dedicated over four decades of his life to the visual arts and philanthropy. With an extensive body of work recognized internationally, he has earned numerous accolades for his innovative contributions to art and design. His expertise extends beyond academia, as evidenced by his guest lectureships and workshops around the globe. Throughout his career, Boelts, along with his business and students, has been actively involved in supporting non-profit organizations and emerging businesses through volunteerism and creative collaboration.

Having retired after 43 years of teaching watercolor, graphic design, and digital illustration at the University of Arizona, Boelts has accumulated more than 400 awards for his work. His art has been exhibited in cities such as Moscow, Russia; Mexico City, Mexico; Berlin, Germany; Warsaw, Poland; Santiago, Chile; Chongqing, China; and across various U.S. cities. He has also taught summer watercolor courses in Orvieto, Italy, and served as a visiting artist at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Currently, in addition to painting, Jackson and his wife, Alison, are caretakers of Sanctuary Cove, a not-for-profit desert preserve located just outside Tucson, Arizona. This 80-acre property features hiking trails, an air bnb cottage, an amphitheater, and a chapel, which hosts weddings and memorials. The preserve is home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, javelinas, coyotes, wildcats, mountain lions, and rattlesnakes’some which visit daily.