Kim Poor

Kim Paul Poor (March 7, 1952 – August 16, 2017) was an American space artist, founder and chef executive officer of Novaspace Galleries, and creator of Spacefest, a widely attended, multiyear event documenting and celebrating American and international endeavors in space exploration.

His vivid airbrushed cosmic scenes appeared in magazines, on television, at planetariums, and international exhibitions sponsored by NASA and other organizations.

Early life and education Kim Poor was born in Phoenix, Arizona, on March 7, 1952.

The visual storytelling of science-fiction television benefited from his set-art for series including Alien Nation, SeaQuest DSV, and Babylon 5.

Novaspace and Spacefest Poor founded Novaspace Galleries in Tucson, which became a hub for space art and astronaut memorabilia.

Exhibitions and commissions His work was commissioned by the National Air & Space Museum and featured in planetariums, textbooks, and exhibitions worldwide, including collections of astronauts and NASA staff. becoming its first president. Under his leadership, the group formalized workshops and global art collaborations.

Selected works Many of Poor's artworks were released as signed, limited-edition lithographs, including Emerald Dawn (also called The Green Piece). His 1990s space-art calendars, especially the 1996 edition, became collectible.

Legacy Poor is celebrated for raising the profile of space art through institutional commissions, international exhibitions, and event curation. His efforts fostered astronau–artist collaborations and cross-cultural connections between U.S. and Soviet artists during the 20th-century Cold War.