Kim Poor (space artist)

Kim Paul Poor (March 7, 1952 – August 16, 2017) was an American space artist, founder and CEO of Novaspace Galleries and creator of Spacefest, a widely-attended, multiyear event documenting and celebrating American and international endeavors in space exploration. His vivid airbrushed cosmic scenes appeared in magazines, television, planetariums, and international exhibitions sponsored by NASA and other organizations.^[1][2]

Early life and education

Kim Poor was born in Phoenix, Arizona, on March 7, 1952.^[2] He studied both fine art and astronomical subjects, cultivating a lifelong interest in scientifically grounded visualizations. He later settled in Tucson, Arizona, with his wife Sally and their children, Kelsey and Nathan.^[1]

Career

Poor became widely known for his airbrush technique, emphasizing luminous color and dramatic perspective in cosmic landscapes. His artwork appeared in science magazines such as Omni, Discover, Astronomy (magazine), Sky & Telescope, Science Digest, Germany’s Kosmos, and Russia’s Ogoniok.^[1] Notably, his painting *Bajada Chubasco* was featured on the back cover of The Planetary Report in January/February 1982.^[3]

The visual storytelling of science fiction TV benefited from his set-art for series such as Alien Nation, Seaquest DSV, and Babylon 5.^[1] He also collaborated with astronauts on art events, solidifying his reputation within the space community.^[4]

Novaspace & Spacefest

Poor founded Novaspace Galleries in Tucson, which became a hub for space art and astronaut memorabilia.^[2] In 2007, he created Spacefest, an ambitious space-art and astronaut conference featuring luminaries like astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Alan Bean, and space scientists such as Brian Cox and Carolyn Porco and noted for its extensive exhibition space, professional organization, and platform for bringing together the larger international space exploration community.^[5]

Exhibitions & commissions

His work was commissioned by the National Air & Space Museum and featured in planetariums, textbooks, and exhibitions worldwide, including collections of astronauts and NASA staff.^[1] In 1987, he led a U.S. delegation of space artists to Moscow for a Sputnik 30th-anniversary exhibition, and his work remains in the Yuri Gagarin Museum in Star City.^[1]

Organizational leadership

In 1986, he co‑founded the International Association of Astronomical Artists (IAAA),^[6] becoming its first president. Under his leadership, the group formalized workshops and global art collaborations.^[7]

Selected works

Many of Poor’s artworks were released as signed, limited edition lithographs, including Emerald Dawn (also called The Green Piece).^[8] His 1990s space art calendars, especially the 1996 edition, became collectible.^[2]

Death

Poor died on August 16, 2017, at his home in Tucson, Arizona, aged 65, from complications related to Machado-Joseph disease, a neurodegenerative disorder he had been diagnosed with in 2000.^[9]

Legacy

Poor is celebrated for raising the profile of space art through institutional commissions, international exhibitions, and event curation. His efforts fostered astronaut-artist collaborations and cross-cultural connections between U.S. and Soviet artists during the late Cold War.^[1]

See also

• Space art
• Astronomical art
• List of space artists