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
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
Fellowships and Major Awards
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
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 Exhibitions
2010
“Drawings,” Blackfish Gallery, Portland, Oregon
“Invitational Exhibition of Visual Arts,” American Academy of Arts and Letters, New York, New York
“Geometric Themes and Variations,” Gallery 118, New York, New York
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
2009, “Two paintings by Bob,” an essay for 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,” 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 College
1994, 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 exhibits, including those of works by Ilya Bolotowsky, Joan Brown, Leon Golub, Alex Katz, Joyce Kozloff, Jacob Lawrence, Duane Michals, Robert Motherwell, Robert Morris, Jody Pinto, Charles Simmonds, Michael Spafford, Michael Spano, Nancy Spero, 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. “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. “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.
Lambert, Lisa. “Big Thinking.” Willamette Week, February 6, 2001.
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
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.
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.
Sutinen, Paul. Portland Painting Now. Exhibition catalog. Marylhurst, Oregon: The Art Gym, Marylhurst University, 1985.
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.
Wilner, Lucy. “Abstract Art in the Seattle Arts Commission Collection.” Reflex, October/November 1994.
Work in Public and Corporate Collections
Everett Public Library, Everett, Washington
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
Portland Art Museum, Portland, Oregon
Reed College, Kaul Auditorium, Portland, Oregon
Southwest Washington Medical Center, Vancouver, Washington
State of Oregon, Public Records Building, Salem, Oregon
State of Washington, State Police Cadet Training Headquarters, Lacey, Washington