Mystery artist identified

  • Published
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFNS) --  The artist of nine paintings hanging in the technical support building lobby at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colo., has been identified as Terrance Patterson, a life-long Colorado historian and artist.

The nine paintings, which depict the evolution of air and space, will be adopted into the Air Force Art Program this year. However, the identity of the artist was a mystery as the paintings were only signed "T. Patterson" and did not include a date.

Readers identified Mr. Patterson after an article appeared on the Air Force website. Mr. Patterson was a Department of Defense graphic artist who was asked to paint the series for the Chidlaw Building, which was the headquarters for the Aerospace Defense Command of the North American Air Defense Command. Mr. Patterson passed away in 1991; however, his family continues to run a gallery which sells replicas of his original military sculptures.

Col. Russell Wilson, the 721st Mission Support Group commander at Cheyenne Mountain AFS, has invited Mr. Patterson's family to view the art and expects to have a plaque made identifying the artist.

(Courtesy of the 21st Space Wing Public Affairs.)