Parker, James Varner, 1925-

James Varner Parker was born in Missouri. After serving in the U.S. Army, he enrolled at Arizona State University, Tempe, where he earned both BFA and MA degrees. In 1956 he became a staff member at the Heard Museum, Phoenix, Ariz., where he served through the mid-1970s in various capacities including art educator, curator of contemporary Indian art, and assistant director. As an artist in his own right, Parker has received international recognition for his individualistic and decorative art and decorative art works, particularly collages and mosaics with abstract fauna, flora and ethnological motifs.