CEDAR FALLS - Gary Kelley has been inducted into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame.

He is one of five illustrators inducted at last weekend's banquet at the Museum of American Illustration in New York City. The Cedar Falls resident joins an imposing list of the country's best illustrators, including Frederick Remington, Norman Rockwell, N.C. Wyeth, Howard Pyle, Maxfield Parrish, Ben Shahn and Rockwell Kent.

It's a pleasure, Kelley acknowledges, to be recognized by peers. "I'm one of two living inductees - most are recognized posthumously, so I'm happy to receive it with a couple more decades left in my career," he said, laughing.

"I'm honored. In all honesty, I was just as excited the first year I won a medal in the show - 1981, for a Theatre UNI poster. I never thought that would happen and when it did, it was beyond my wildest dreams."

Kelley has received 27 medals, setting a society record.

The illustrator worked at Hellman Associates for 15 years before becoming a freelance illustrator in 1986. Over the years, high-profile credits include illustrations for such national magazines as Time, Newsweek, The New Yorker, Atlantic Monthly and Rolling Stone. He has been commissioned by the National Football League and National Basketball League, Barnes & Noble, and served as official artist for the Kentucky Derby. His illustrations have appeared in more than a dozen picture books, including "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," "The Stolen Smile" and "MacBeth."

He has lectured and conducted seminars at The Smithsonian, Rhode Island School of Design, Chicago Art Institute, Norman Rockwell Museum and the Montreuil Book Fair in Paris. Kelley also has created artwork for 23 consecutive College Hill Arts Festival posters, including this year's design.

His work is featured in numerous galleries and private and public collections across the country, including the Hearst Center for the Arts.

Longtime friend Hugh Pettersen, owner of Henry W. Myrtle Gallery, applauds the prestigious honor. "There's no doubt Gary's work is recognized all over. When 'Sleepy Hollow' was printed, I thought it would be great if the Hearst Center for the Arts could get those originals. I recall saying to the board, 'if you had the opportunity to get illustrations by N.C. Wyeth illustrations when he was first starting out, would you have done it?' I thought Gary's work had significance. … I find it interesting that N.C. Wyeth came to my mind then, and now he's in that company," Pettersen says.

A collection of Kelley's recent large-scale oil paintings will be on display at Henry W. Myrtle beginning July 19. An opening reception is planned from 5 to 8 p.m.

The artist will sign copies of the 2007 College Hill Arts Festival poster from 5 to 6 p.m. July 20 at the festival.