Biographical Information

Jacob Pfeiffer
Born Resitza, Romania, 1936

Born in Romania, Jacob Pfeiffer fled to Austria with his mother at the age of twelve, after communism had taken over his country. There they reunited with his father who had been a POW. In Austria he learned about the early days of America, and the dangerous and uncertain time this was for both the Native Americans and the newcomers. The American Frontier became Jacob's favorite reading and art subject during his adolescent years. He felt great empathy for the American Indian, having gone through a similar experience of losing one's homeland. In his art classes, he learned to paint with watercolors, and often portrayed scenes of early America as he envisioned them from his studies. His art teachers in Austria encouraged him to pursue art as a career, although it was not an easy decision in those postwar years.

At age 19, Jacob immigrated to the USA, and traveled immediately "out west" to view the land and its people. He began to paint in oil, and chose to depict the different tribes of Indians from a historical narrative perspective, when they were at the height of their independence. He focused on their oneness with the land, their family and tribal unity, and their survival skills in an often hostile environment. Since he also admired the early trappers and mountain men for their courage and self-sufficiency, Jacob occasionally painted them. These "western" paintings garnered three Best of Show awards at the National Wildlife and Western Art Collectors Society shows in the Midwest, as well as a Jurist award for outstanding work at the Alexandria Museum of Art, LA. among others.

In the early years, Jacob worked at a variety of jobs to support his young family. He took evening classes at the Cincinnati Art Academy, and painted at night and on weekends. In 1969, demand for his paintings allowed him to pursue art full time.

In recent years, Jacob has broadened into other subject matter, painting from life when possible. In this pursuit, he was greatly influenced by contemporary artists C.W. Mundy of Indianapolis, Dan Gerhartz and Joe Abbrecia of the Scottsdale Artists School, and John Michael Carter of Louisville, KY. Their workshops, input and critiques were invaluable.