User:MarkDreww/Marvin Oliver (Quinault; contemporary Seattle-based artist—recently passed)

Marvin Oliver was a Seattle based artist and professor. 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 Northwest Coast and Salish. Oliver was born in Sheldon, Washington, but 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, where he later became a professor 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." His art was famous amongst many, especially those for the Northwest. Oliver also 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 and were fighting for the land.

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 great work of "Mystical Journey", weighing 12,000 pounds is in the Seattle Children's Hospital. Also, Oliver has a studio in Seattle and a gallery in Ketchikan, Alaska.

Oliver received the Odegaard Award in May of 2019. This award is given to individuals "whose leadership in the community exemplifies the former UW president's work on behalf of diversity." In Oliver's acceptance video for the award, he also stated that he had a significant influence on American Indian Art.

Oliver'sOliver would spend time with his family in Oliver's free time, ride his motorcycle, and eat at El Gaucho in Seattle.

Oliver passed away Wednesday, July 17, 2020, from pancreatic cancer at the age of 73. Oliver left behind his wife, Brigette Ellis; sister, Marylin Bard; and his five children, Brain, Owen, Lisa, Sampson, and Isadora. His family is starting an art scholarship in his name for the University of Washington students.


 * 1) Brodeur, Nicole. “Renowned Native American Artist Marvin Oliver, 'Master' of All Mediums, Has Died at 73 in Seattle.” The Seattle Times, The Seattle Times Company, 6 Aug. 2019, www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/obituary-renowned-native-american-artist-marvin-oliver-of-seattle-was-master-of-all-mediums/.
 * 2) Sudermann, Hannelore. “The Many Dimensions of Marvin Oliver.” UW Magazine - University of Washington Magazine, UW Magazine, May 2019, magazine.washington.edu/feature/the-many-dimensions-of-marvin-oliver/