Clark Kelley Price: Mormon Artist
Clark Kelley Price is an artist best known for both his religious and Western art. He was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, on February 12, 1945. He grew up in a log cabin that his parents built in Montana. He loved to draw and his parents encouraged him. His love of the West and a cowboy’s life was nurtured in his teen years when he worked on various ranches. He has spent decades packing and hunting in the mountains of Idaho and Wyoming.
He graduated from Ricks College and then earned a bachelor’s degree in oil painting from Brigham Young University. From 1964 to 1966, Price served a full-time mission to Tonga for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Some of his paintings are found in the Nuku alofa Tonga Temple, the Apia Samoa Temple, and the Seattle Washington Temple. He illustrated the cover for John H. Groberg’s books about his mission to Tonga, In the Eye of the Storm and The Fire of Faith. He loves to use his talent to build the kingdom of God. He has depicted stories from the Book of Mormon, the Bible, and Church history. He is a descendant from members of the Martin Handcart company and has depicted pioneer experiences in his paintings. Many of his paintings have appeared in the Ensign magazine and have been acquired by the Museum of Church History and Art.
He loves painting the American west, both modern and historical. His paintings are well known in the Western art world. He has participated in the Jackson Hole Art Auction, the C.M. Russell Art Auction, the Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition and Sale at the Autry National Center. He has been selected twice for the Arts for the Parks Top 100 in Jackson, Wyoming; he won the historical award one year. The Wyoming Historical Society has also awarded him for his work.
He has painted full time since 1973. Clark is a member of the Cowboy Artists of America. He and his wife, Irene, live in Star Valley, Wyoming. They are the parents of seven children.
