Tim Holliman - Wyclef Jean

Original artwork by Tim Holliman
Wyclef Jean, 2013
30.48 x 45.72 (12 x 18 in)
Graphite and oil pastel on paper
Free shipping

Tim is a pop artist par excellence, born in Chicago in December 1962. A highly inspired and independent creator, he has been painting for over two decades, developing a singular visual language rooted in popular culture.

Working primarily in portraiture, Tim depicts his favorite media personalities, athletes, and entertainers. His emerging nonconformist style combines humor, honesty, and insight, transforming familiar icons into reflections on society and racial perception. Each drawing captures the essence of its subject through a vivid mix of pencil and oil pastel, blending precision with expressive color.

Tim follows a meticulous process: he collects magazine clippings, which he carefully folds, records, and archives. Each portrait begins in pencil, layered with oil pastels, then refined through further line work. He completes the piece by adding the subject’s name and taping the original clipping to the back, along with his signature, date, and a personal tagline or logo. Recently, he has expanded his practice to series-based works that reinterpret every image from a specific magazine issue within his collection.

His distinctive vision and dedication have earned him a passionate following of collectors and admirers. Tim works at Austin Special Chicago, where he collaborates closely with Edwige Massart, the organization’s Art Program Facilitator.

About Austin Special Chicago

Austin Special Chicago is a nationally accredited, non-profit, community-based agency providing residential and developmental training services for individuals with developmental disabilities.

The Austin Special Arts Program supports and mentors artists who express themselves through the visual arts. All participating artists are self-taught and work in diverse mediums. The program’s mission is to help artists develop their skills, nurture their talent, and create opportunities for their art to be recognized and shared.

Through exhibitions, promotion, and sales, the program provides both income and a sense of personal achievement while connecting artists to the wider arts community. All proceeds are shared between the artists and the organization.