Andy Yelenak - Biography

Albertus Magnus College Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration, Graduated 1982

Paier College of Art Graduated 1981

A freelance illustrator for over 25 years, I have received commissions from a wide variety of clients, including Golf Digest Magazine, Spalding Sports Worldwide, Nike, General Dynamics, Pratt & Whitney Aircraft and The Hartford Insurance Company.

My paintings have been exhibited at the Society of Illustrators in New York, the Guild of Boston Artists Gallery, Beckett Sports Art Gallery in Dallas and at the Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists shows for the past three years.

In 2001, I had a solo exhibition at the Old State House in Hartford, Connecticut titled "The Art Of Sports." I was the artist for the official 1997, 1998, 2003 & 2004 Boston Marathon lithographs, the 1999-2003 New York City Marathon posters, the 2001-2010 Utica Boilermaker Road Race/National Distance Running Hall of Fame posters, and for many Hartford Marathon posters including the 2010 edition. Many of these paintings are on permanent display at the National Distance Running Hall of Fame in Utica, New York.

My work appears on numerous covers of Marathon & Beyond Magazine and I am a regular contributor to New England Runner Magazine. My book illustrations include The Quotable Runner Training Log and a children's book, Run Dad Run.

My work appeared on the cover of the program for the 100th Yale-Harvard football game and on the covers of Beckett's Sports Publications. My painting of Michael Jordan was selected as a winner in the 1997 Beckett Sports Art Gallery National Contest.

In 2005, I completed an eight-year project for the Wallingford VFW Post 591. My 20 foot wall mural, Fighting for Freedom, honors the veterans of the wars of the 20th century and includes Raoul Lufbery, the famous WWI fighter ace.

I've also been the artist for the Connecticut Sports Alliance Gold Key Awards for over 20 years. I'm currently working on a painting for the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. The marathon honors the 168 victims of the 1995 bombing of the Murrah Building. My painting will appear on the cover of a special edition souvenir magazine and be made into the race poster.

My wife Merrill and I live in North Haven, Connecticut.