Clemson University alumnus Jon Bolton MFA ’23 completed fifteen hand-drawn presidential portraits now installed in President’s Hall in the Nieri Family Alumni and Visitors Center. Rendered in graphite, the portraits depict all past Clemson University presidents and were completed over approximately one year.
Clemson’s Board of Visitors commissioned the project. Bolton worked from archival photographs and historical references to develop a consistent collection representing each president.
“I definitely felt the weight of responsibility,” Bolton said. “Each portrait represents a leader who helped shape Clemson, and I wanted to honor that history with care and accuracy.”
Bolton has professional and academic ties at Clemson University. As a graduate student, he led the Figure Drawing Club, and after completing his MFA, he taught Drawing and Figure Drawing as a Lecturer for two years. His professional work includes recognition as an Emerging Artist at Artisphere, multiple years of exhibiting with ArtFields, and participation in national and international exhibitions and publications. He maintains a studio at Oye Studios in downtown Greenville, S.C.
“The Department of Art is immensely proud of Jon Bolton MFA ’23 for his commission to create fifteen portraits of Clemson University’s past presidents in graphite for President’s Hall,” said Valerie Zimany, chair of the Department of Art. “Jon is a remarkable artist with a deep understanding of the human figure, and his ability to capture the essence of each president in rich detail is striking. Over twenty alumni contributed to various roles across the Center’s design and construction teams, and the building unifies the three disciplines of the College of Architecture, Art and Construction.”
“Each portrait represents a leader who helped shape Clemson, and I wanted to honor that history with care and accuracy.”
Jon Bolton MFA ’23
The portraits are rendered in graphite, a medium closely associated with Clemson’s academic history. Drawing appeared in Clemson Agricultural College’s 1893 course catalog and was a required course for students at the time.
“These portraits connect Clemson’s past and present,” said Barbara Cullum, past chair of Clemson’s Board of Visitors. “Selecting a Clemson-trained artist who is an Alumnus to honor our presidents was intentional.”
The portraits are now on display in President’s Hall and are visible by request to visitors to the Alumni and Visitors Center.
