Marvin Oliver (artist)

Marvin Oliver (1946–2019) was an Indigenous American artist and professor.[1] He mainly focused on contemporary sculpture 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]

Marvin Oliver
BornJuly 1, 1946
Shelton, Washington, U.S.
DiedJuly 17, 2019
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Occupation(s)Artist, professor
Known forSculpture, printmaking

Biography
Salish Clam Basket (2008) by Marvin Oliver at the Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C., in 2022

Oliver was born in Shelton, Washington in 1946[3] and his family moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, when he was eight years old.[2] He later attended the University of Washington, graduating in 1973. He studied art history and art under Bill Holm and Jacob Lawrence.[2] He became a professor at the University of Washington the next year in 1974.[2] One of this students was Jewell James.[4]

In 1975, Oliver offered the Seattle Seahawks a redesign of their logo, to bring its look close to that of local formline art styles.[5]

Oliver created many pieces from glass such as "Northwest Coast-style baskets and spirit boards, kachinas and fins, faces and disks. He 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 to 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."[6]

Oliver died from pancreatic cancer on July 17, 2019, in Seattle, Washington.[2]

Collections

Oliver's art is held in the permanent collections of the following institutions:

See also

References
  1. "The Northwest Indian College Community Mourns the Loss of Marvin Oliver". Native News Online. 2019-07-30. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  2. Brodeur, Nicole (2019-07-17). "Renowned Native American artist Marvin Oliver, 'master' of all mediums, has died at 73 in Seattle". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  3. "Salish Clam Basket". SAAM. Smithsonian American Art Museum. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  4. Fentress, Kathryn (February 2015). "Unsung Heros, Jewell James and Art as Activism". Whatcom Watch Online. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  5. "The mask that inspired the Seahawks logo". Burke Museum. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  6. Sudermann, Hannelore (May 2019). "The many dimensions of Marvin Oliver". University of Washington Magazine.
  7. "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.
  8. "Summer Run". Portland Museum of Art. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  9. "Works – Marvin Oliver". Seattle Art Museum. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
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