Marvin Oliver (artist)
Marvin Oliver (1946/1947-2019) was an American artist and professor.[1] He mainly focused on contemporary sculptors and printmaking. Oliver used his Quinault and Isleta-Pueblo heritage as an influence for his art, but he also took inspiration from Coast Salish traditions.[2] Oliver was born in Sheldon, Washington and his family moved to the Bay Area, California, when he was eight years old. He later attended the University of Washington as a graduate student and became a professor there in 1974.
Oliver created many pieces from glass such as "Northwest Coast-style baskets and spirit boards, kachinas and fins, faces and disksHe carved and painted wood totem poles, cylinders, and door panels. He cast towering bronze fins. His serigraphs of whales and birds were bright and joyful". Oliver gifted his artwork to the University of Washington graduates celebrating Raven's Feast community dinner. He also created an honor group for students at San Francisco State University who occupied Alcatraz from 1969-1970.
A few of Marvin Oliver's works can be seen in Perugia, Italy. His piece "The Orca" is located in Sisters Orca Park. Also, "Soul Catcher" and "Raven's Journey" are both located on the University of Washington campus. The work "Mystical Journey", weighing 12,000 pounds is in the Seattle Children's Hospital. Oliver also had a studio in Seattle and a gallery in Ketchikan, Alaska.
Oliver received the Odegaard Award in May 2019, which is given to individuals "whose leadership in the community exemplifies the former UW president's work on behalf of diversity."[3]
Oliver died from pancreatic cancer on July 17, 2019.
Collections[]
Oliver's art is held in the permanent collections of the following institutions:
References[]
- ^ "The Northwest Indian College Community Mourns the Loss of Marvin Oliver". Native News Online. 2019-07-30. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
- ^ Brodeur, Nicole (July 17, 2019). "Renowned Native American artist Marvin Oliver, 'master' of all mediums, has died at 73 in Seattle". Seattle Times.
- ^ Sudermann, Hannelore (May 2019). "The many dimensions of Marvin Oliver". University of Washington Magazine.
- ^ "Marvin Oliver, doors of the Neutrogena Wing at the Museum of International Folk Art, 1984. Photograph by Blair Clark". El Palacio. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
- ^ "Summer Run". Portland Museum of Art. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
- ^ "Works – Marvin Oliver". Seattle Art Museum. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
- 20th-century American sculptors
- 20th-century male artists
- 21st-century American sculptors
- 21st-century male artists
- 20th-century American printmakers
- 21st-century American printmakers
- Native American sculptors
- Native American printmakers
- 2019 deaths