Jack Sears

Jack Sears is best known for his illustrations and cartoons for various publications in the United States, such as the Salt Lake Tribune, Deseret News, New York Morning Telegraph, and New York Evening Journal. He also made a significant contribution to the University of Utah’s art department as an instructor. He spent time working as a freelance artist, doing jobs for both the GOP and Democratic National Committee.

John Septimus “Jack” Sears was born on February 20, 1875, in Salt Lake City Utah. He studied with J. T. Harwood early in his artistic pursuits before moving to San Francisco and enrolling at the Mark Hopkins Art Institute. At age 20, Jack returned to Utah where he worked odd jobs in an effort to raise enough money to go to school on the East Coast. By the next year he had acquired the funds and began studying at the Art Students League School in New York. He attended school for one year before returning to Salt Lake City where he worked as a cartoonist for both the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News newspapers.

In 1900, Jack returned to New York with his good friend and fellow artist Mahonri Young. Both young artists were captivated and deeply involved with the new American art movement that was sweeping the streets of New York. In 1919, Jack took his skills to the University of Utah where he worked as a graphic designer and draftsman. The following year, the chairman of the university’s art department, Edwin Evans, resigned and three new instructors, including Jack, were assigned to lead the program. Jack would remain in the program for 23 years, and would see many renowned artists, such as A.B. Wright and LeConte Stewart, join the program. Jack continued to create art, notably cartoons, until his death on June 6, 1969.