John Harris DisCon III Artist Guest of Honor’s Artwork Will Be Exhibited at Event

John Harris

John Harris, who was added as DisCon III’s Artist GoH in May 2020, will not be attending the convention in person due to its change in date from August to December. His artwork will be on display at the convention.

Alison Eldred, Artists’ Agent for Harris, shared the following statement.

John was delighted when he was asked to be the professional artist Guest of Honour at DisCon III, this year’s Worldcon in Washington DC. All credit to the organisers who have now restaged this for December this year – and this will be on their programme cover.

It’s unfortunate that he isn’t able to be there in person, but we have many plans to send work, to illustrate the programme, and to introduce his paintings, sketches and short films to people who don’t already know them.

“While we are sad that John Harris will be unable to join us in Washington, DC in person, we are beyond excited to have his extraordinary talent showcased on the cover of our program,” said Mary Robinette Kowal, Chair of DisCon III. “The way John makes pastels dance is just a delight. There’s such depth and nuance in his relationship with light and form.”

“All Worldcon Art shows are a one-time unique gallery, and while disappointed that John cannot join us in person, we are thrilled to display his art for all the fans to see,” said Randall Shepherd, Exhibits Division Head of DisCon III.

For more than 40 years, John Harris has created book covers for many of the most iconic authors in SF, such as Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Frederik Pohl, and Orson Scott Card. His work is collected internationally, and a piece commissioned by NASA hangs in the Kennedy Space Center and is part of the Smithsonian Collection. In 2015, he won the Chesley Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement.

He was also nominated for a Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist in 2014. 

Three films about him have recently been completed and can be viewed online. The latest book about his work, Beyond the Horizon, is currently in its second edition.

DisCon III will be held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC, on December 15-19, 2021.

[Based on a press release.]

2021 Worldcon Adds Artist GoH
John Harris

John Harris

DisCon III, the 79th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), has announced John Harris will be their Artist Guest of Honor. The convention will be held August 25-29, 2021 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC, USA.

“It is a great pleasure to add John to our already exciting line-up of guests. His art has inspired thousands worldwide, decorated so many memorable covers, and is collected by some of our committee and staff. He has truly earned this honor,” said DisCon III co-chairs Colette Fozard and Bill Lawhorn.  

Harris was born in London, England in 1948 and studied at Exeter College of Art, graduating in 1970. Over the last 40 years and more, John has created book covers for many of the most iconic authors in science fiction such as Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Frederik Pohl, John Scalzi, and Orson Scott Card. His work is collected internationally, and a piece commissioned by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Aftermath, T+60 (1984), hangs in the Kennedy Space Center.

In 2015 he received the Chesley Lifetime Achievement Award. He was also nominated for a Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist in 2014. Three films about him can be seen online at www.alisoneldred.com. The latest book of his work, Beyond the Horizon, is currently in its second edition.

Harris joins the list of previously announced DisCon II guests: Author Guest of Honor Kress, Editor Guest of Honor Toni Weisskopf, Fan Guest of Honor Ben Yalow, and Special Guests Malka Older and Sheree Renée Thomas.

The Worldcon is a five-day event that has been held annually since 1939 (apart from a four-year break during the Second World War). DisCon III (www.discon3.org) is the 79th Worldcon, and the third to be held in Washington, DC. Previous DC-based Worldcons were held in 1963 (DisCon I) and 1974 (DisCon II). DisCon III will be held at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park from August 25-29, 2021. DisCon III is sponsored by the Baltimore-Washington Area Worldcon Association, Inc. (BWAWA, Inc.), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Maryland.

[Based on a press release.]