About the Author

Living a life engrossed in the visual arts has allowed author Peter Hiller to express his creativity through his own art, and to share that experience with students during a teaching career of almost forty years. His discovery of the world of Jo Mora opened new doors of interest as he endeavored to uncover Mora’s seemingly endless creative abilities and accomplishments. This biography is the culmination of more than twenty-five years of striving to understand and appreciate this important artist. Since 1981, Hiller has been fortunate to live on the Monterey Peninsula in California with his wife of forty-eight years. He is the proud father of two grown sons.

Reviews

“Peter Hiller’s illuminating biography The Life and Times of Jo Mora tours the works of one of the most productive, multitalented artists of twentieth-century America.
As a testament to, and investigation of, Mora’s “never diminished” creative drive, and as a contribution to a study of Western art, The Life and Times of Jo Mora, like the work of Mora himself, honors and dignifies its subject.”
*Foreword Reviews*

“[Mora’s] written works are excerpted here, his visuals are presented in good-sized color images, and his art is analyzed in an an outstanding coverage that links Mora's life to his times and achievements.
No arts library should be without this in-depth survey of his world.”
*Donovan's Bookshelf*

“… visually rich and captivating …”
*Elko Daily*

“a window into the prolific world of Jo Mora. One could take pages and pages to illustrate the fullness of Jo Mora’s creative life, but luckily Hiller has done just that in the [336] pages of this wonderful book. Reading Hiller’s knowledgeable tome on Jo Mora, one cannot help but be amazed at the incredible historic contribution Mora left, as well as the unbridled enthusiasm he had for the American West, its people and culture.”
*Western Horseman*

"Reading Mora's story in his own words is … the highlight of this book's examination of this multifaceted gifted artist and writer. 
*California Map Society*

“This is an enjoyable biography exploring Mora’s life and works, an artist who deserves to be more widely known.”
*LibraryThing*

“… an exquisitely produced biography of a truly gifted and under appreciated artist who brilliantly captured his chosen slice of Americana. Hiller’s use of Mora’s diary entries serve to put an authentic autobiographical stamp on the narrative, surely making this the definitive book on the subject. Printed on heavy stock, semi-gloss paper, and profusely illustrated, this book is a joy to read and savor. This stunning work provides great insights into Mora’s creative process, Hopi and Navajo culture, and the rich aesthetic of the American West.”
*LibraryThing*

“I don't think I'd ever heard the name, Jo Mora, before receiving this wonderful book, but it's not likely one I'd forget now. The book is generously illustrated throughout in both color and black and white with Mora's drawings, paintings, sculptures, and other works of art, as well as numerous family photos. I especially like the full-page reproductions of his cartes (maps), which had me digging out my magnifying glass to get a better look at the details. I also particularly like that so much of the narrative is in Mora's own words from the letters he wrote. Highly recommended.”
*LibraryThing*

“Fans of Mora will be thrilled with this comprehensive biography, while those unfamiliar with him will be thankful for this splendid introduction.”
*HistoryNet*

“This is the deep dive you’re looking for to understand the Uruguayan-born cowboy Renaissance Man of the West ….”
*Cowboys & Indians Magazine*

“Art lovers will salivate over the colorful images of versatile Mora’s paintings, sculptures, murals, maps and architecture while learning about the ‘Renaissance Man of the West.’”
*True West*