John Collins, MBA, is a lifelong artist who grew up and studied in Western Massachusetts. His love of art has spanned many forms including drawing, painting, and sculpting. For many years he has pursued his art only part-time while raising his family but in early 2022 he transitioned from the business world, phasing out his own architectural products marketing company to focus on taking his art to the next level.
Fresh into his second act as an artist (June 2022) John entered one of his car portraits (Carrera GTS oil painting) in a national Porsche Club of America art show event and won both first place for a studio art painting and the Porsche Family Award for Excellence which is an award judged by a Porsche AG executive as the ‘best in show” representation of the company's product. Grant Larson, Director of Special Projects for Porsche AG and lead designer for the 25th Anniversary Boxster, was the Porsche Representative. On the heels of his artist residency at Eagle Hill School John was honor with a 1st place award for his sculpture at the 5th annual Northeast Fine Art Exhibition.
John loves to paint portraits of people, pets and prized possessions (cars). However, sculpting the three-dimensional human form, although challenging, is his favorite subject matter. Sculpting seriously for only 3 years, he has experimented with many materials including stone, wood, clay, and even snow, ice and beach sand — winning competitions for his unique larger than life human form sand sculptures on Narragansett Beach. His other “more permanent” sculptures have been exhibited locally and throughout the Northeast including the national juried shows of the Norman Rockwell Museum’s Sculpture Exhibition, Art in the Orchard, Academic Artist and the Northeast Fine Arts Show. A sampling of John’s works at available at West Brookfield Art Gallery. When he is not painting or sculpting John also trains golden retrievers, helps care for a elementary school age foster child with his wife of 44 years, and has a talent for teaching and sharing his passion for and knowledge of art with people of all ages.
I am an artist emerging after retirement, with a deep passion for sculpting and painting. My primary artistic focus is creating clay and bronze sculptures that capture the essence of human and animal forms. Whether it’s the soulful expression in a portrait or the subtle movement in a figure, sculpting allows me to tell stories that resonate deeply with viewers. I’ve had the honor of completing several commissioned portrait sculptures now housed in private collections, and I find immense joy in collaborating with clients to bring their visions to life.
Public connection is also central to my artistic practice. I’ve led live demonstrations of portrait sculpture, sharing my process and inspiring audiences through the tactile, transformative journey of shaping clay into a likeness. These experiences highlight the communal aspect of art and the power it has to engage and connect.
Painting also remains an important part of my work, especially vehicle portraiture. My love for cars began at age 12 when my father brought home a 1957 Chevy, sparking a lifelong appreciation for vehicles as rolling works of art. One of my proudest moments as a painter was winning “Best in Show” for an oil portrait of a Porsche 911, judged by the Porsche Corporation lead designer of that very model.
Throughout my artistic journey, I have exhibited work in juried shows across the Northeast and completed residencies that have deepened my practice. My sculptures and paintings aim to tell meaningful stories, capture moments, and celebrate connections—whether between people, animals, or objects that hold special significance.
Art, for me, is about creating a lasting impact. Through my sculptures and paintings, I strive to evoke emotions, spark conversations, and celebrate the beauty in the everyday.
John Collins
Artist | Sculptor | Painter