Resume
Michael Knutson
Born: May 1, 1951, Everett, Washington
Resides: Portland, Oregon
Contact: knutsonm@reed.edu
Education
Yale University School of Art, MFA 1975
Yale Summer School of Music and Art, 1972
University of Washington, BFA, 1972, magna cum laude
Cascade High School, Everett, Washington, 1968
Teaching
Reed College, Professor of Art, 1982 to present
Swarthmore College, Instructor and Assistant Professor, 1975 - 1982 Yale University School of Art, Teaching assistantships, 1974 - 1975
Visiting Artist lectures
Marylhurst University, 1983, 2001, 2005, 2006; Pacific Northwest College of Art, 1983, 1985; Whitman College, 1985; Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington, 1985; Yale Summer School of Music and Art, 1986; Willamette University, 1989; University of Oregon, 1989; Brandeis University, 1992; Catlin Gabel School, 1993; Portland Art Museum, 1993, 2009; Swarthmore College, 1995; Portland Community College, Sylvania, 2006; Lewis & Clark College, 2006; Contemporary Arts Council (Portland Art Museum), 2006; Portland Community College, Cascade, 2010; University of Washington, 2011
Fellowships and Major Awards
American Academy of Arts & Letters Purchase Award, 2010
Betty Bowen Memorial Special Recognition Award, Seattle Art Museum, 1995 Oregon Biennial, Portland Art Museum, Juror's Awards in 1985, 1999
National Endowment for the Arts Individual Artist Grant, 1982
Alice Kimball English Traveling Fellowship, Yale University School of Art, 1975
Gallery representation
Blackfish Gallery, Portland, Oregon
Greg Kucera Gallery, Seattle, Washington
Images on Websites
Blackfish: www.blackfish.com
Greg Kucera: www.gregkucera.com
Geoform: www.geoform.net
Reed College: http://academic.reed.edu/art/faculty/knutson/
Solo Exhibitions
2013
"Symmetrical Ovoid Fields," Governor's Office Gallery, Salem, Oregon
2011
"Layered Coils," Greg Kucera Gallery, Seattle, Washington
2010
"Translucent Fields & Cubic Knots," Blackfish Gallery, Portland, Oregon
2009
"Cascade Head Landscapes and Lawnchair Photos," Blackfish Gallery (back room), Portland, Oregon
2008
"Astral and Prismatic Fields," Greg Kucera Gallery, Seattle, Washington
"Enfolding Fields,"Blackfish Gallery, Portland, Oregon
2006
"Recent Paintings and Watercolors," Greg Kucera Gallery, Seattle, Washington
"Selected Representational Works," Blackfish Gallery, Portland, Oregon
"Michael Knutson, Paintings and Drawings, 1981-2006," presented in two parts, at The Art Gym, Marylhurst University, Marylhurst, Oregon, and the Eric and Ronna B. Hoffman Gallery, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, Oregon
"Six Large Watercolors," Kaul Auditorium, Reed College, Portland, Oregon
2004
"Recent Paintings," Vollum Gallery, Reed College, Portland, Oregon
"Coiled Lattices," Blackfish Gallery, Portland, Oregon
"Watercolors, 1996-2004," Blackfish Gallery (back room), Portland, Oregon 2002
"Convoluted Coils," Blackfish Gallery, Portland, Oregon
1999
"Radiant Fields," Blackfish Gallery, Portland, Oregon
1993
"Baby Block Variations," Catlin Gabel School, Portland, Oregon
1989
"Reflective/Objective Fields," Vollum Gallery, Reed College and Hallie Ford Gallery, Willamette University, Salem, Oregon
1985
"Recent Paintings," Vollum Gallery, Reed College, Portland, Oregon
1982
"Recent Work," Vollum Gallery, Reed College, Portland, Oregon
1976
"Paintings, Drawings & Collages," Florence Wilcox Gallery, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Group and Two Person Exhibitions
2012
Carol Benson & Michael Knutson, Blackfish Gallery, Portland, Oregon
"Oregon Artists- Bill Rhodes Collection", Pence Gallery, Central Oregon Community College, Bend, Oregon
"Super Saturated: Pigment and Pattern," Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center, Auburn, New York
"Under the Influence," Blackfish Gallery, Portland, Oregon
2011
"Super Saturated: Pigment and Pattern," Kenise Barnes Fine Art, Larchmont, New York
"The Horse," Blackfish Gallery, Portland, Oregon
"Abstract Selections," works from the RACC Portable Works Collection, Hatfield Hall (PCPA), Portland, Oregon
2010
"Drawings," Blackfish Gallery, Portland, Oregon
"Invitational Exhibition of Visual Arts," American Academy of Arts and Letters, New York, New York
"Awards Exhibition," American Academy of Arts and Letters, New York, New York "Geometric Themes and Variations," Gallery 118, New York, New York
"Made in U.S.A.," Greg Kucera Gallery, Seattle, Washington
2009
"Oregon Seen," Blackfish Gallery, Portland, Oregon
"Blackfish Thirtieth Anniversary Show," Blackfish Gallery, Portland, Oregon "Geometrics II," Gallery 118, New York, New York
2008
"The Pacifist Potential," Carnegie Art Center, Walla Walla, Washington "Digital Dimensions," Blackfish Gallery, Portland, Oregon
"Twenty-fifth Anniversary Show," Greg Kucera Gallery, Seattle, Washington 2007
"Unexpected Watercolors," Lee Center Gallery, Seattle University, Seattle, Washington "Blackfish Group Show," Gallery 110, Seattle, Washington
"The Pacifist Potential," Blackfish Gallery, Portland, Oregon
"Geometrics," Gallery 118, New York, New York
"Blackfish exhibit," Portland Center for the Performing Arts, Portland, Oregon 2006
"Blackfish at 55 Mercer," 55 Mercer Gallery, New York, New York
"Self-portraits," Clackamas Community College Gallery, Oregon City, Oregon
"Patchwork: Affinities & Influences," Greg Kucera Gallery, Seattle, Washington "Mythfest," Blackfish Gallery, Portland, Oregon
2005
"Unexpected Watercolors," The Art Gym, Marylhurst University, Marylhurst, Oregon "Chroma," Gallery 500, Portland, Oregon
"New Inventory," Greg Kucera Gallery, Seattle, Washington
"Floats and Flowers," Blackfish Gallery, Portland, Oregon
2003
"Draw" exhibit, Core Sample: Portland Art Now, Portland, Oregon
"Over the Couch," and "Old and New," Blackfish Gallery, Portland, Oregon 2001
"Exponential: 4 Huge Paintings," The Art Gym, Marylhurst University, Marylhurst, Or. "Michael Knutson and Carol Benson Knutson," Blackfish Gallery, Portland, Oregon
"December Show," Blackfish Gallery, Portland, Oregon 2000
"Paper Products," Blackfish Gallery, Portland, Oregon 1999
"Breaking Down the Barriers," Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Monica, California, (Blackfish exchange exhibition)
"2 x 2 x 2000," Blackfish Gallery, Portland, Oregon
1998
"Oregon Biennial," Portland Art Museum, Portland, Oregon
"New Members Exhibition," Blackfish Gallery, Portland, Oregon
1997
"Drawing Conclusions," Blackfish Gallery, Portland, Oregon
"Abstraction", Flanders Lofts, Portland, Oregon
"Earth, Air, Water, Fire", Blackfish Gallery, Portland, Oregon
"Oregon Biennial," Portland Art Museum, Portland, Oregon (juried)
1994
"Abstract Art in the Seattle Arts Commission Collection," Seattle Center Pavilion, Seattle, Wa. 1993
"Crosscut," Oregon Biennial, Portland Art Museum, Portland, Oregon (juried)
1991
"Abstract Painting," Elizabeth Leach Gallery, Portland, Oregon
1990
"Creative Arts Community Silver Exhibition, "Blackfish Gallery, Portland, Oregon
1989
"Bumbershoot," Seattle Center, Seattle, Washington
"Creative Arts Community Faculty Exhibit," Graystone Gallery, Portland, Oregon
1988
"Midsummer Night's Dream," Blackfish Gallery, Portland, Oregon
"University of Washington Alumni Exhibition Part Three, 1975-85", Safeco
Plaza Gallery, Seattle, Washington
1987
"Art is the Center," Portland Center for the Visual Arts, Portland, Oregon
1986
"Faculty and Visiting Artist Show," Ellen Battelle Stoeckel Gallery, Yale Summer School, Norfolk, Connecticut
1985
"Painted Structures," Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington "Portland Painting Now," The Art Gym, Marylhurst University, Marylhurst, Oregon
"Oregon Biennial," Portland Art Museum, Portland, Oregon (juried)
"Washington-Oregon Exhibition," Maryhill Museum of Art, Goldendale, Washington
(juried)
"SIZE," Bumbershoot, Seattle Center, Seattle, Washington
1983
"Hascall, Knutson, Rey," The Art Gym, Marylhurst University, Marylhurst, Oregon
and at 213 First Avenue South, Seattle, Washington
"Salon des Refusés," Symbol/Form/Gesture exhibition, Belltown Cafe, Seattle, Wa. "Re-Critical Modernism," Bumbershoot, Seattle Center, Seattle, Washington
1981
"Tradition and Innovation," Alfred O. DeShong Museum, Widener University, Chester, Pa. Butcher More Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
"Rutgers National Drawing Exhibition," Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Stedman
Art Gallery, Camden, New Jersey and University Art Gallery, New Brunswick, New Jersey
1979
"Kit-Yin Tieng Snyder and Michael Knutson," Florence Wilcox Gallery and Lang Music Building, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
"Rutgers National Drawing Exhibition," Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Stedman Art Gallery, Camden, New Jersey and University Art Gallery, New Brunswick, New Jersey
1977
"Faculty Show," Florence Wilcox Gallery, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pa.
1975
"Michael Knutson and Louisa Chase," Graduate Thesis Exhibit, Yale Art Building Gallery 1974
"New Generation Drawing," Cheney Cowles Museum, Spokane, Washington (traveling to museums in Western states, 1974 – 1976)
"Bumbershoot," Seattle Center, Seattle, Washington
"Northwest Watercolor Society Annual", Seattle Art Museum Pavilion (juried)
1973
"Northwest Annual," Seattle Art Museum Pavilion, Seattle, Washington (juried)
"Tacoma Art Museum Biennial," Tacoma, Washington (juried)
"Bumbershoot," Seattle Center, Seattle, Washington
"Renton Arts Festival," Renton, Washington (juried, Painting first prize)
"Edmonds Art Festival," Edmonds, Washington (juried, Drawing first prize)
"Group Show," Art Louie Gallery, Seattle, Washington
"Everett Arts Festival," Everett, Washington (juried, Purchase prize)
1972
"Northwest Watercolor Society Annual," Seattle Art Museum Pavilion , Seattle, Washington "Drawing Invitational, "Western Washington State Fair, Puyallup, Washington
1971
"Anacortes Arts Festival," Anacortes, Washington (juried, Drawing first prize)
"Group Show," Main Street Gallery, Seattle, Washington
1968
"National Scholastic Art Award Exhibition," Frye Art Museum, Seattle, Washington
Writings and Other Professional Activities
2014, Organizer and moderator of the panel discussion on the occasion of Blackfish's 35th anniversary and the 75th anniversary of "Avant-garde and Kitsch." Past and present local art critics discuss works that have challenged their aesthetics.
2009, "Two paintings by Bob." an essay in the Robert Dozono catalog.
2008, Introduction to the catalog for the David Reed exhibit at the Cooley Gallery, Reed College 2008, "A phenomenon like Nick." an essay in the catalog, "The Art of Nick Benson."
2007, Thirty-two skeleton drawings reproduced in the Northwest Review, the literary journal of the University of Oregon (Winter 2007 issue).
1997 Co-curated and wrote the catalog essay for "Robert Morris, 1963-1992", Douglas F. Cooley Memorial Art Gallery, Reed College1994, Hillsboro Light Rail Extension Art Advisory Committee. 1992-1998, West Side Light Rail Advisory Committee.
1986-90, Board member, Creative Arts Community,
1983, "On Elizabeth Murray." the brochure essay for the exhibit "Elizabeth Murray, Recent Paintings & Drawings," Portland Center for the Visual Arts
1982-1986, Exhibition Committee, Portland Center for the Visual Arts.
1978 contributed to a collaborative artists' book,"80 PAGES/LINE", New York City.
1976-1982, Exhibition Coordinator, Florence Wilcox Gallery, Swarthmore College.
Curated and installed over 35 solo and group exhibits of works by such artists as Ilya Bolotowsky, Joan Brown, Louisa Chase, Leon Golub, Alex Katz, Joyce Kozloff, Jacob Lawrence, Duane Michals, Robert Morris, Robert Motherwell, Esther Parada, Jody Pinto, Leo Rubenfein, Charles Simmonds, Michael Spafford, Michael Spano, Nancy Spero, Roger Tibbetts, and George Trakas.
Bibliography
Allan, Lois. "Grids that Attract and Tease." Artweek, March 3, 1989.
—. "Michael Knutson at Blackfish Gallery." Artweek, February-March 2003.
Beechem, Stephanie, "Knutson's kaleidoscope coils impact eye and psyche," the Pioneer Log (Lewis &Clark College), November 10, 2006
Bruce, Chris. "Painted Structures." Exhibition catalogue. Seattle, Washington: Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington, 1985.
Coleman, Patrick. "Chroma." The Daily Vanguard, Portland State University, February 9, 2005. Cotter, Holland. "GeoMetrics." The New York Times, December 7, 2007.
Edmunds, Kristy, Roberts, Prudence, Toedtemeier, Terry, Weber, John. Crosscut. Contemporary Art from Oregon, Exhibition catalog. Portland, Oregon: Portland Art Museum, 1993.
Glowen, Ron. "Sculpture is artist's canvas." Everett Herald, July 18, 1985.
—. "Color as structure." Artweek, 1985
—. "A region examined." Artweek, November 16, 1985.
Goetze, Janet."Different strokes." The Oregonian, January 6, 2005.
—. "A show of extraordinary proportions." The Oregonian, January 4, 2001
Gragg, Randy. "Cornering variations on an abstract theme." The Oregonian, February 5, 1993. —. "State of the Art." The Oregonian, July 18, 1993.
Gragg, Randy and Taylor, Sue. "Oregon Biennial, two views." The Oregonian, July 4, 1999. 2x2x2000. Blackfish Gallery 1979 – 1999 exhibition catalog. Portland, Oregon: Blackfish Gallery, 1999.
Graves, Jenn. "Michael Knutson at Greg Kucera." The Stranger, May 5, 2006.
Hackett, Regina. "Two artists expand the experience of abstraction at Greg Kucera." Seattle Post- Intelligencer, April 18, 2008.
—. "Michael Knutson's logical, geometric patterns have a living, free-flowing quality." Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May-26, 2006.
—. "Six artists combine for new show at Henry Art Gallery." Seattle Post-Intelligencer, July 10, 1985.
—. "Three unnoticed painters put on own show to get deserved attention." Seattle Post- Intelligencer, December 8, 1983.
—. "Hascall, Knutson, Rey." Seattle Post-Intelligencer, December 28, 1983
Hayakawa, Alan. "Show's second part improves on first." The Oregonian, November 14, 1985. Hopkins, Terri. "Exponential: 4 Huge Paintings." Curator's statement. Marylhurst, Oregon: The Art Gym, Marylhurst University, 2001.
Hopkins, Terri, Rinder, Lawrence, Snyder, Stephanie, Tesner, Linda. "Michael Knutson Paintings and Drawings 1981-2005," essays in exhibition catalog, 2006.
Jahn, Jeff. "The Score October 2010." Portlandart.net, October 29, 2010
__, "Michael Knutson at Blackfish." nwdrizzle.com, December 2002.
Johnson, Barry. "New visual center show harmonious and diverse." The Oregonian, July 8, 1987. —. "Midsummer Night's Dream." The Oregonian, July 8, 1988.
Kangas, Matthew. "Michael Knutson: "Layered Coils" at Greg Kucera Gallery, art ltd.,
Nov-Dec 2011
—. "On SIZE." Bumbershoot curator's statement. Seattle, Washington, 1984.
—. "Knutson: Form and Myth." West Art, June 28, 1985.
—. "Seattle Painting 1925-1985." Bumbershoot curator's statement. Seattle, Washington, 1985 —. "Re-critical Modernism." Bumbershoot curator's statement. Seattle, Washington, 1983.
—. "Michael Knutson, Reed College." Vanguard, February 1983.
—. Hascall, Knutson, Rey. Exhibition catalog. Marylhurst, Oregon: The Art Gym,
Marylhurst University, 1983.
Kanjo, Katherine. 1999 Oregon Biennial. Exhibition catalog. Portland, Oregon: Portland Art Museum, 1999.
Karabenick, Julie, Interview with Michael Knutson, Geoform website, 2008.
Lake, Eva. "Interview with Michael Knutson at the Enfolding Fields exhibit." Youtube, 2008.
__. "The convoluted coils of Michael Knutson." The Daily Vanguard, Portland State University, October 20, 2004.
__. Radio interview (10-5-10), Art Focus on KBOO, evalake.blogspot.com.
Lambert, Lisa. "Big Thinking." Willamette Week, February 6, 2001.
Lasarow, Bill and Lake, Eva, "Whatever It Looks Like Is Never Quite What You Think."
ArtScene, October 26, 2010, and Huffington Post, October 29, 2010
McMorran, Megan. "Oregon Biennial suffers from excessive 'prettiness'." The Business Journal Magazine, April 15, 1985.
Motley, John. "Michael Knutson."The Portland Mercury, November 16, 2006
__. "Mark Grotjahn at the PAM and Michael Knutson at Blackfish," The Oregonian, October 15, 2010.
Parkinson, Trude. "Unexpected Watercolors." Curator's statement, The Art Gym, Marylhurst University, Marylhurst, Oregon.
New Generation Drawing. Exhibition catalog. Spokane, Washington: Eastern Washington State Historical Society, 1974.
Pence, Elizabeth, "Michael Knutson at Greg Kucera Gallery", Artweek, September 2006 Raymond, Camela. "Michael Knutson Convoluted Coils." The Organ, November-December 2004. —. "Draw." Core Sample: Portland Art Now. Exhibition catalog essay. Astoria, Oregon: clear cut press.
Row, D. K. "A new geometry." The Oregonian, September 4, 2008
—. "A Portland artist gets long-overdue attention." The Oregonian, November 5, 2006
—. "Painting by numbers." The Oregonian, November 22, 2002.
—. "Shows of note." The Oregonian, October 10, 2004.
—,"Livin'Large." The Oregonian, January 21, 2001.
Rushworth, Katherine. The Power of Patterns." The Post Standard, August 5, 2012
Rutgers National Drawing Exhibition. Exhibition catalog. New Jersey: Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Stedman Art Gallery, Camden; and University Art Gallery, New Brunswick; 1979.
Speer, Richard. "Michael Knutson." Willamette Week, October 1, 2008
—, "Michael Knutson Layered Ovoid Lattices", Willamette Week, November 7, 2012
Sutinen, Paul. Portland Painting Now. Exhibition catalog. Marylhurst, Oregon: The Art Gym, Marylhurst University, 1985.
Sykes, Claire. "The art of Teaching/The Teaching of art." Reed Alumni Magazine, Winter 2007 Tarzan, Delores. "Exhibit features painted sculpture." Seattle Times, July 12, 1985.
Taylor, Sue. "Michael Knutson at Blackfish Gallery." Art in America, April 2005.
Tesner, Linda. "Geometry Askew: The Drawings of Michael Knutson." Lewis & Clark exhibition brochure, 2006.
Unnamed, "Michael Knutson at Blackfish," Portland Monthly, October, 2010
Wilner, Lucy. "Abstract Art in the Seattle Arts Commission Collection." Reflex, October/November 1994.
Work in Museum, Public and Corporate Collections
Everett Public Library, Everett, Washington
Hallie Ford Museum, Willamette University, Salem, Oregon
Horizon House, Seattle, Washington
King County Public Art Collection, Seattle, Washington
Landye, Bennett, Blumstein LLP, Portland, Oregon
Microsoft, Redmond, Washington
Multnomah County Portable Works Collection, Portland, Oregon
Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon
Pan Pacific Hotel, Seattle, Washington
Polyclinic, Seattle, Washington
Portland Art Museum, Portland, Oregon
Reed College, Kaul Auditorium, Portland, Oregon
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Scottsdale, Arizona
Southwest Washington Medical Center, Vancouver, Washington
State of Oregon, Public Records Building, Salem, Oregon
State of Washington, State Police Cadet Training Headquarters, Lacey, Washington Swedish Hospital, Seattle, Washington