BIOGRAPHY
Born in 1949, near Hot Coffee, Mississippi, John Carroll Runnels obtained his B.F.A. from the University of Southern Mississippi and in 1979 he was awarded a Ford Foundation Scholarship to study painting in Cortona, Italy with the University of Georgia. In 1984, he co-founded MotherDogStudios, the oldest surviving artists' warehouse in downtown Houston. He served as the “Creative Consultant” for the Book: The Art of Texas Children's’ Hospital. In 2001, as part of an invited delegation from Seattle, Washington, Runnels traveled to the People’s Republic of China. Artist-In-Residence programs include public art installations with the City of Tacoma, Washington, Saint Ursula Villa School in Cincinnati, Ohio & a 12-acre park in Frisco, Texas. Runnels is a co-founder and curator of the original Buffalo Bayou Art Park.
Over the years, Runnels has installed sixteen stainless steel, text-based boat sculptures along the Buffalo Bayou waterfront as part of the City of Houston’s downtown renovation and enhancement program. Recently, he completed a public art commission with the City of Phoenix, Arizona, to enhance a half-mile long water treatment plant wall with 771 polychrome porcelain ceramic tile panels, 3 METRO bus shelters and landscaping. Recent artwork in Houston includes designing three METRO light rail stations platforms downtown. He lives & works in Houston, Texas with his Sweetheart & Grandson.