John Bell has had an extensive and diverse artistic career. His work has contributed to some of the most significant special effects films made in the last two decades. It is his love of film, design and character development that continue to drive and diversify his career.
Upon graduating Art Center College of Design with a B.S. in Transportation Design, John was hired by General Motors to work in their Advanced Concepts Studios in Detroit, MI. In 1982 John returned to California to broaden his skills, working for Atari Games. By1985 John was working in film, joining George Lucas’ Industrial Light & Magic as an illustrator and Visual Effects Art Director. At ILM, John worked on numerous commercials and films including Star Trek IV, Innerspace, Tucker, The Rocketeer and Back to the Future II & III, where John was nominated for an Academy Award and won a British Academy Award. By 1990 John was Co Creative Director of ILM’s Art Department.
In 1991 John was hired as Art Director for Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park. At the conclusion of Jurassic Park, John left the film world, taking a role of Senior Designer at Nike’s World Campus in Portland, OR. designing everything from footwear and graphics to developing new brand concepts.
1994 John Returned to California, and his love of entertainment, to work successfully as a freelance artist. John contributed to numerous feature films including Men in Black, Mission Impossible, Star Wars-The Phantom Menace, Jurassic Park- The Lost World, Contact and Starship Troopers.
In 1996 John was hired as Production Designer for Dreamworks first computer animated feature, Antz. Following Antz, John continued working on films such as AI-Artificial Intellegence, Polar Express, and Cars, as well as working with clients BMW, Sony Imageworks.
Electronic Arts hired John in 2001 as Senior Art Director at their World Headquarters in Redwood Shores,CA., working on the successful titles, Freekstyle, The Godfather and currently The Simpsons. In 2003 John was also awarded one of EA’s ‘Most Inspirational’ employees.
Throughout his career, John has also made time to pursue his own art. Showing in galleries in the U.S. and abroad. Features in Garage Magazine as well as being featured in & on the cover of Juxtapoz magazine has brought more attention to John’s diverse styles. John is currently merchandising a line of clothing of his own designs that combine his love of vehicles, characters, retro pop culture, and the creative spirit.
Currently John lives with his Wife and 2 kids in San Mateo,CA.

bellj@rcn.com