Reflected in the work of John Dunnan is his fascination with the human form and movement, as well as his lifelong devotion to creating life with art.  John Grew up in Washington, D.C., a city perfect for nurturing an emerging artist, and philanthropist.  By the time he graduated from the prestigious St. Albans High School, he was already an award-winning artist.

Inspired by the grace and talent of his grandmother and two close aunts who were also successful painters, John enrolled in the Corcoran School of Art, an institution founded “for the purpose of encouraging American genius.”  After graduating with honors, John wasted no time earning his now well-established reputation as a vital figure in the art community, locally and nationally.

John’s contributions to the preservation and accessibility of the fine arts have landed him on many of the most important arts-related boards in the country.  He served as NCPA Chairman from 2005-2007, the Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts and currently is the NCPA Chairman Emeritus of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where he continues to play an essential role in fostering the creative nature of the country and the arts abroad.

Locally, John serves as Chairman of the Charleston Concert Association, the board responsible for bringing to Charleston world-class artists, formerly Luciano Pavarotti and Yo Yo Ma.  He serves on the Spoleto Festival USA Board, the MUSC Children’s Hospital Fund Advisory Board, and is Chairman Emeritus of the Corcoran College of Art’s Alumni Association.

John is involved passionately in keeping the arts alive in America and around the world.  He and his wife Meredith and seven-year-old son live on the High Battery in Charleston, SC.  John owns & operates The John M. Dunnan Galleries, 121 Church Street, downtown Charleston in the historic French Quarter.  The gallery, a newly restored 18th Century building, features John’s collections of abstract paintings and figurative drawings and sculptures as well as the works of many other local, regional, national, and international artists emerging & established.