Frank Kelly Freas

Frank Kelly Freas, the "Dean of Science Fiction Artists," is universally recognized as one of the most prolific and popular science fiction and fantasy artists in the world. His distinguished career spans forty years. Since The Piper" cover for Weird Tales in 1950, his art has graced the covers of hundreds of books and magazines, including Astounding/Analog from the 1950s through the 1990s; Mad Magazine covers from 1955 to 1962; cover art for Daw, Signet, Ballentine, Avon, all 67 Laser Books (which are now collectors' items) and over 90 covers for Ace books alone. He was editor and artist for the first ten Starblaze books. During his career, he was commissioned to paint the Skylab I insignia design and posters promoting the space program (used by NASA and now hanging in the Smithsonian); pinup girls on bombers while in the Army Air Corps; comic book covers; the cover of Queen's first two-million-selling album News of the World; and many others, such as more than 500 saints' portraits for the Franciscans (executed simultaneously with his work for Mad Magazine). He is very active in gaming and medical illustration.

Kelly has published several books (collections of his artwork), and frequently gives presentations. His work has appeared in numberous exhibitions. Among many other awards, Kelly was the first person to receive ten Hugos. (He has been nominated twenty times.)

Kelly's fame will soon be interplanetary: his cover for Fredric Brown's Martians, Go Home!, featuring a little green man spying on the viewer through a keyhole, will be included in a portfolio of artwork documenting the changing views of Mars as part of Visions of Mars, a collection of science fiction stories, sounds and images on a compact disc. A copy of the CD-ROM will be inside each of the two small permanent stations on Mars. Organized by The Planetary Society, in cooperation with the Russian Space Research Institute (IKI), the collection is intended as a gift from our era to the future generations of humans who shall one day explore, and perhaps settle, Mars.

No other artist in science fiction has consistently matched his astounding record. His smooth and luminous images, amiable aliens and sexy women have become part of today's science fiction visual language. His works can be ordered directly from his studios: contact the Executive Director, Dr. Laura Brodian Freas, at 7713 Nita Avenue, West Hills, CA 91304-5546.