The Inspired Paintings of Crealdé Founder Bill Jenkins
William Sterling Jenkins traveled the world, built and prospered in many different careers, recorded his travels and experiences in beautiful paintings, and made a permanent impact on the Central Florida community.
Jenkins received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1934 from the University of Florida and was awarded a post-graduate scholarship to study art in Florence, Italy, at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. He spent several intensive years traveling through Europe, by rail and bicycle, creating figure and landscape paintings. Upon his return, he established an art school in Columbus, Georgia. In 1942, he married Alice Moberg after meeting her in Mexico, where he studied silversmithing. Following a brief stint in the U.S. Army, Jenkins received an honorable discharge after contracting pneumonia and was then sent to the Veterans Administration hospital in Orlando to recuperate. He then worked for the VA and pioneered a program of rehabilitative art therapy classes for veterans.
After earning his master’s degree in psychology from Florida State University in 1950, he settled in Winter Park and established Jenkins Construction Company and built many residential communities and shopping centers. In 1975, Jenkins established the Crealdé School of Art, donating the organization and the property to the community in 1990. He also established the Jenkins Chair at the University of Central Florida, and donated the majority of his paintings to the UCF Art Gallery.
Jenkins’ love for art and people live on through Crealdé and its mission to "stimulate the creative process inherent in each individual through hands-on education in the visual arts and to cultivate a lifelong aesthetic appreciation."
Jenkins will also be featured in Art Legends exhibitions at the City of Orlando Terrace Gallery (October 15, 2015 through January 8, 2016) and the Orange County Regional History Center (March 5 through May 29, 2016).
