The Art and Life of Budd Hopkins
Elliot Budd Hopkins was an American artist, author, and ufologist. Born in 1931, he was raised in Wheeling, West Virginia. During his childhood recovery from polio, he developed an interest in drawing and watercolors. He later graduated with a bachelor's degree in art history from Oberlin College in Ohio. Moving to New York City, he worked at the Museum of Modern Art and experimented with collage techniques and abstract expressionist styles.
His artistic career included a first solo show in New York City in 1956. His work has been included in the permanent collections of several institutions, such as:
- The Whitney Museum
- Washington Gallery of Modern Art
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Museum of Modern Art
- Corcoran Gallery of Art
- The British Museum
Artistic Style and Research
In the 1960s, Hopkins' paintings combined hard-edge geometric shapes with gestural, atmospheric painting. During the 1970s, his work featured assembled paintings with architectural elements and sculptures with urban names. His later works in the 1980s included abstracted figures in sculptural pieces.
Beyond his visual art, Hopkins became a prominent figure in UFO research. He authored several books, including Missing Time and Intruders: The Incredible Visitations at Copley Woods. He also organized the Intruders Foundation in Manhattan to support individuals who claimed to have experienced alien abductions.
