Art Commissions in the Spotlight
Artist
John Randall York
Client
CHRISTUS Health
Location
Tyler, Texas
About the Artwork
For the artwork in Bradley-Thompson Tower at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler, ARCH collaborated with a mission integration team to creatively incorporate symbols and elements related to their brand and history.
The goal for the commissioned collection was to recognize and honor CHRISTUS Health’s three sponsoring congregations in a universally appealing way. The client wanted to emphasize their strong connection with the community by hiring a local artist for the project.
Our team suggested local watercolor artist John Randall York, who has vast experience painting pictures of his hometown of Tyler. York was commissioned to paint three chapels representing the contributing congregations.
During the early stages of project planning, the team reviewed historic photographs of the chapels’ exteriors. ARCH proposed that the artist paint the interior of each chapel to create a more immersive experience for viewers, and the client agreed. Artist John Randall York referenced photos of each chapel’s interior, adding his signature whimsical style to each painting. He incorporated splashes of purple to signify the CHRISTUS brand and complement the hospital’s interior color scheme.
York’s watercolor paintings are framed with a weighted double mat and an engraved nameplate to identify each chapel. The collection is in a prominent area of the hospital to connect patients and visitors to the hospital’s rich history and mission of faith-inspired healing.
About the Artist
Texas artist John Randall York is an illustrator and watercolor painter who seamlessly blends these techniques to create whimsical, unique, vibrant works of art. York’s local ties to the community and ability to appeal to a broad audience through his signature style made him an excellent fit for this commission.
When John began illustrating and painting, he especially enjoyed creating fantasy images. He has since taken an interest in painting scenery and buildings in his hometown of Tyler, Texas, connecting the places he paints to his personal history.