Before devoting himself full-time to painting, Warren Travis enjoyed a long career as a theatre designer. As an artist, he has, therefore, significantly shifted his focus—from an art form that is, by nature, collaborative to one that is almost always singular, from art that is part of a time-bound, performative whole, to one in which the created object stands alone.
John Warren (Worsham) Travis is an award-winning designer and painter whose creative career spans more than 70 years. A pioneer in theatrical costume and set design, his early work in costume and scenic design shaped more than 150 productions across the U.S., including the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, American Conservatory Theater, and San Francisco Ballet.
After retiring as Professor Emeritus of Dramatic Art at UC Berkeley, Travis turned to painting—studying in Paris and exhibiting in galleries across California and New York. His work reflects a lifelong exploration of light, space, and emotion, informed by deep roots in theater, architecture, and art history.
Now based in Columbia, Missouri, he continues to paint and write poetry, drawing inspiration from global art movements and the ever-evolving world around him. His current work—rooted in tradition, but always evolving—offers a window into an artist who’s never stopped exploring.
