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on the square in llano, texas
Ira Kennedy
Born in a tent near San Saba, Ira Kennedy is a fifth generation Texan of Cherokee-Irish descent. Growing up in numerous locations from Japan to Germany, his experiences are as diverse as his  talents.

Ira held two solo exhibitions in New York City from 1967 & 1968 , and in 1969 he participated in the group exhibition, “The Art of Money”, with Andy Warhol in New York’s Chelsea Gallery .

In 1974 Ira was hired to create courtroom drawings for two trials in San Marcos,Texas for the Austin-American Statesman.  After graduating from Texas University with a degree in commercial art he followed his other passion, writing for The Highlander newspaper in Marble Falls, Texas where he garnered both first and second place journalism awards from the National Newspaper Association and several photojournalism awards from the Texas Press Association and the South Texas Press Association — 1986-87.

As a graphic artist, photographer and writer Ira served as Art Director for theAmerican Botanical Council’s magazine HerbalGram from 1987-1992 before becoming publisher and editor of Enchanted Rock Magazine —1993-1998 creating numerous pen and ink illustrations and articles on Texas history.

Articles, photos and illustrations by Ira  have been published by Texas Monthly,Texas Highways Magazine, The Nature of Texas --Texas A&M Press-- and Sacred Sites byNatasha Peterson. As a writer and artist Ira has been featured in  the German magazine Spotlight, the Austin Chronicle, The Highlander, The San Marcos Record, as well as segments on KLRU-TV & KTBC-TV, plus several area radio stations including the syndicated “The Sound of Texas,” with Tumbleweed Smith, and the syndicated TV program Texas Country Reporter  — the video “Bob Phillips Tours Texas State Parks” available at their website.

Ira Kennedy currently lives in Llano County where he paints in a style which combines techniques symbolic images from Australian Aboriginal, Mexican primitive, Native American  and Pop Art.


llano,texas 78643
325.247.4963