Sunday, September 27, 2009

William Ekgren (mysterious “beatnik” artist)

One of my favorite blogs, thesweetestpsychopath, recently featured these covers, photos & painting by William Ekgren. I tried to find out more about him but couldn't find out much. There's not even a Wiki...

http://thesweetestpsychopath.tumblr.com/post/197104341/this-photo-is-believed-to-be-william-ekgren-taken

This photo is believed to be William Ekgren. Taken the day the original owner acquired his Girl Playing Piano painting, directly from the artist in the early 1950s.



http://thesweetestpsychopath.tumblr.com/post/197099474/this-photo-is-believed-to-be-william-ekgren-taken

This photo is believed to be William Ekgren. Taken the day the original owner acquired his Girl Playing Piano painting, directly from the artist in the early 1950s.



http://thesweetestpsychopath.tumblr.com/post/197088759/william-ekgren-girl-playing-piano-original

William Ekgren - Girl Playing Piano, original illustration. Oil on canvasboard 30 x 22in. Little is known of the enigmatic artist who painted this unique visage, William Ekgren.
WILLIAM EKGREN: http://fineart.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=677&Lot_No=58167&src=pr#Photo



http://thesweetestpsychopath.tumblr.com/post/197075813/weird-horrors-6-st-john-february-1953-cover

Weird Horrors #6 (St. John, February 1953) cover by William Ekgren



http://thesweetestpsychopath.tumblr.com/post/197077013/weird-horrors-7-st-john-april-1953-cover-by

Weird Horrors #7 (St. John, April 1953) cover by William Ekgren



http://thesweetestpsychopath.tumblr.com/post/197073817/strange-terrors-4-st-john-november-1952-cover

Strange Terrors #4 (St. John, November 1952) cover by William Ekgren (mysterious “beatnik” artist) who’s sole known, published output consists of three comic book covers for 1950s publisher, St. John Publications (Strange Terrors #4 Novemeber 1954, Weird Horrors #6 February 1953, and Weird Horrors #7 April 1953)

Heritage Auction Galleries



From May 2008, I found this:

http://www.oddballcomics.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1516

Scott Shaw! wrote:
"Our friend Ken Quattro has written a lengthy history of St. John's line of funnybooks for the latest issue of Roy Thomas' ALTER EGO magazine (No. 77, May, 2008). Great job, Ken!

http://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=644&zenid=ab7bd91f685491beddd9f574e70b9b46

Better yet, he's written a sidebar about the oddest Oddball Comics cover artist EVER, William Ekgren! Don't miss it!"


"Thanks for the plug, Scott!
That article represents about 10 years of research (including the Ekgren piece).
By the way, I've recently discovered the William Ekgren is still alive! In fact, we have been writing letters back and forth (he's 90 years old and lives in Sweden) and I hope to turn our communications into another article. I'll keep you posted."
--Ken Quattro

http://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=644&zenid=ab7bd91f685491beddd9f574e70b9b46

Alter Ego 77 - $6.95 Sale: $3.48

May 2008 - 100 pages
ALTER EGO 77 tells the Comic Book Gospel According to St. John, featuring a fabulous Golden Age Tor cover by JOE KUBERT (who else?)! Inside, KEN QUATTRO relates the full legend of St. John Publishing and the man behind it, ARCHER ST. JOHN—with art by KUBERT, NORMAN MAURER, MATT BAKER, LILY RENEE, BOB LUBBERS, RUBEN MOREIRA, RALPH MAYO, AL FAGO, ENRICO BAGNOLI—and the very special reminiscences of ARNOLD DRAKE! Plus, JIM AMASH interviews Golden Age artist TOM SAWYER. There’s also other features on the Golden and Silver Ages of Comics, including P.C. Hamerlinck’s FCA (Fawcett Collectors of America) section with Marc Swayze, C.C. Beck, and others, Michael T. Gilbert and Mr. Monster’s Comic Crypt, and more! Edited by Roy Thomas.

We're also selling the complete PDF for $2.95.



Also found a book of poetry listed by a William Ekgren:

Out of six attitudes
A collection of poems
by William Ekgren
Published in 1984, Vantage Press

Language: English
Format: Unknown Binding
ISBN 10: 0533056535
ISBN 13: 9780533056538
Subject: Poetry



Then there is this by Brendan Danielsson:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dontwakedaddy/304872640/

Brendan Danielsson: Portrait of William Ekgren

28 x 36 cm (11" x 14"), oil on board

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