Artist Statement
I am a Seattle based artist with a significant and original body of work spanning
more than thirty years. My paintings offer a unique vision of the landscape and the inspirational
forces of nature which shape it. The canvases are boldly colored and the brushwork energetic,
reflective of the physicality of the land and the processes of painting.
My primary medium is acrylic paint on canvas, applying the material with a direct and
corporeal technique. Genuine painting involves risk-taking. I rely on spontaneity and embrace
the unplanned and accept that painting, like nature, is a continuous chain. The emphasis of
my process is one of discovery. It is this philosophy that makes painting exciting and
meaningful for me and feeds my ambitions as an artist.
The central theme of my work has always lain within the primacy of the application of
material in the process of painting. It is in essence the evidence of the physical interaction
of the artist with the “stuff of this world,” - an evidence of life. I am fascinated by the leap
made by an individual or the collective imagination to conceive of the possibilities that lie
within any material, image, or object. Where meaning and form can be translated in the
minds eye far beyond the intrinsic make up of that which is seen.
In my work I try to capture that moment of becoming, when the paint on the canvas
floats between what it is and what it might be. At a fundamental level it is about transformation.
The process of painting becomes an echo of the traces left from a story of living imprinted
on the land.
Education
1992 - MFA, School of Fine Art, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
1988 - BA in Fine Arts, School of Fine Art, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
Exhibitions
Selected Solo
2023 - Homecoming, New Paintings by Jeff Olson, Marmot Art Space, Spokane, WA
- The Basement of Time: A Selection of Paintings from 2017-2023, CBB Mercer Island, WA
2019 - Making My Mark, Paintings by Jeff Olson, Art Gallery Tacoma Community College, Tacoma, WA
- Art on View: Featuring Jeff Olson, at Auburn City Hall Gallery, Auburn, WA
- Deambular (to Wander), Atelier Drome Architecture & Design, Seattle, WA.
- Vicennial: Paintings by Jeff Olson 1999-2019, Renegade Red Studio & Gallery, Hoquiam, WA
2018 - 5 Years: The Salon Show, CORE Gallery, Seattle, WA
- Recent Paintings, BCH, Arts & Festivals Commission, Percent for Public Art, Bothell, WA
2017 - Beguiling Gambol: Paintings by Jeff Olson, CORE Gallery, Seattle, WA
2016 - Sea & Stone: Paintings by Jeff Olson, CORE Gallery, Seattle, WA
- Guest Artist Series, West Sound Academy, Poulsbo, WA
- Paintings 1999-2015, Gallery II, Fine Art Center, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
2015 - Familiar Tetouan, GOA Gallery, Tetouan, Morocco
- Reflections, CORE Gallery, Seattle, WA
2014 - A River Runs Through It: New Paintings by Jeff Olson, CORE Gallery, Seattle, WA
2010 - New Work, University of Washington, School of Law, Brotman Gallery, Seattle, WA
2002 - Visiting Artists Series, Kinsey Gallery, Seattle University, Seattle, WA
1998 - Artist Profile, Edmonds Community Art Gallery, Edmonds Art Commission, Edmonds, WA
1997 - ARTWA, Art in Public Places, Insurance Commission Bldg., WA State Capitol, Olympia, WA
1995 - Icons, Metropolis Contemporary Art Gallery, Seattle, WA
1993 - Anatomy of Myth, Freeman Gallery, Northwest College of Art, Poulsbo, WA
- Initiation, Wonderful World of Art, Seattle, WA
1992 - New Artist Series, Pioneer Square Saloon, Seattle, WA
- MFA Thesis: Accumulated Experience, Museum of Art, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
1988 - She’s the Boss, Gallery III, Fine Art Center, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
Selected Group
2023 - Bold Expressions 2023, 68th Annual Open Juried Exhibition, Northern California Arts Inc, Sacramento Fine Arts Center, Carmichael, CA
- Fall into Place, Three Person Exhibition, CBB Mercer Island, WA
2022 - Year of Rembrandt, Royal Talens Ambassador Exhibition, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, NL
- STRATA: Manifesting Through the Layers, International Juried Exhibition, Verum Ultimum Art Gallery, Portland, OR
- Abstract 2022, International Juried Exhibition, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA
- 30th Annual Art Auction, Juried Exhibition, Museum of Northwest Art, La Conner, WA
- 15th Annual CVG Juried Exhibition, Collective Visions Gallery, Bremerton, WA
2021 - Acrylic Painters USA Juried Exhibition, ArtCenter Manatee, Bradenton, FL
- Absolutely Abstract, Juried Exhibition, MVA Gallery, Bethlehem, PA
- Abstract Only! 11th Annual Multimedia National Juried Competition, HIAA, Wailoa Center, Hilo, HI
- Second Half Art Show, Juried Exhibition, Las Laguna Art Gallery, Laguna, CA
- 11th Annual International Juried Exhibition, Gallery 110, Seattle, WA
- 14th Annual CVG Juried Exhibition, Collective Visions Gallery, Bremerton, WA
- Favorite Things: Trees, Juried Exhibition, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA
2020 - 18th Annual Juried Art Exhibition, Art Gallery, Tacoma Community College, Tacoma WA
- Bold Expressions 2020, 65th Annual Open Juried Exhibition, Northern California Arts Inc, Sacramento Fine Arts Center, Carmichael, CA
- Invasive Species, Art Gallery, Tacoma Community College, Tacoma, WA
2019 - 39th Annual Faber Birren Color Juried Award Show, Stamford Art Association, Stamford, CT
- Motherland: 2019 CoCA Members Juried Show, Center on Contemporary Art, Seattle, WA
- Olson & Lutz, Painting and Sculpture, Traumhaus Gallery, Snohomish, WA
- Group of Four: Poole, Laura, Soans, & Olson, Cannon Beach Arts Association, Cannon Beach, OR
2018 - Arts Bestowed, Group Exhibition, Traumhaus Gallery, Snohomish, WA
- 3: Trilogies & Triptychs, Group Exhibition, CORE Gallery, Seattle, WA
- Skagit Artists Arts Alive! Juried Exhibition, LaConner, WA
- GOA Anniversary Exhibition, GOA Gallery, Tetouan, Morocco
- Artworks Northwest Juried Exhibition, Umpqua Valley Arts Association, Roseburg, OR
- CVG 2018 Juried Exhibition, Collective Visions Gallery, Bremerton, WA
2017 - Environmental Variations: Lutz, Olson, & Shapiro, Northwind Arts Center, Port Townsend, WA
- A Hero’s Journey, Juried Exhibition, Columbia Center for the Arts, Hood River, OR
- Kingston Arts Festival, Juried Exhibition, Kitsap County Arts Association, Kingston, WA
- Do You See What I See, Group Exhibition, CORE Gallery, Seattle, WA
2016 - Silver & Gold, Group Exhibition, CORE Gallery, Seattle, WA
2015 - Holiday, CORE Gallery, Seattle, WA
- Bemis Spring Art Show, Bemis Arts, Seattle, WA
2014 - Holiday Show, CORE Gallery, Seattle, WA
2004 - SF Open Studios, ArtSpan, San Francisco, CA
2003 - SF Open Studios, ArtSpan, San Francisco, CA
1997 - Faculty Exhibition, Freeman Gallery, Northwest College of Art, Poulsbo, WA
1996 - From the Same Trough: Olson & Sharp, Wonderful World of Art, Seattle, WA
- Introducing New Gallery Artists, Sol-Art Gallery, Seattle, WA
- Northwest Artists Juried Exhibition, Lewis-Clark Center for the Arts & History, Lewiston, ID
- Seattle Art Museum Open, Seattle, WA
- Faculty Exhibition, Freeman Gallery, Northwest College of Art, Poulsbo, WA
1995 - Catalyst, Wonderful World of Art, Seattle, WA
- Icons, Metropolis Contemporary Art Gallery, Seattle, WA
- Seattle Art Museum Open, Seattle, WA
- Net Contents Annual, Net Contents Gallery, Bainbridge Is., WA
- Faculty Exhibition, Freeman Gallery, Northwest College of Art, Poulsbo, WA
1994 - Figures of Speech, Net Contents Gallery, Bainbridge Is., WA
1993 - Net Contents Annual, Net Contents Gallery, Bainbridge Is., WA
- Faculty Exhibition, Freeman Gallery, Northwest College of Art, Poulsbo, WA
- One Year After, Gallery II, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
Professional Experience
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2017-Present - Art Education Director, Royal Talens North America, Northampton, MA - An accomplished college and university instructor in studio art, having more than twenty-five years in the art material industry with product expertise in a variety of mediums; Olson’s lectures, workshops and classes deliver meaningful insights into the history, development, and application of artists’ materials and art practice.
Visiting Artist & Guest Lecturer
American Impressionist Society, Omaha, NE
Art & Art History Department, Seattle University, Seattle, WA
ArtConnectEd, IHSAE, Chicago, IL
Art Department, Santa Rosa College, Santa Rosa, CA
Art Students League, NYC, NY
Cabrillo College, Santa Cruz, CA
Cerritos College, Norwalk, CA
CPSA, Augustine, FL
Creativation by NAMTA, Columbus, OH
Department of Art & Art History, Auburn University, Auburn, AL
Department of Art & Art Professions, New York University, NYC, NY
Fine Art Center, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
Fine Art & Illustration Departments, Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA
Napa Valley College, Visual Arts Department, Napa, CA
National Arts Club, NYC, NY
New School, Parsons School of Design, NYC, NY
Oil Painters of America, Crystal Lake, IL
Salmagundi Club, NYC, NY
School of Art, TCU, Fort Worth, TX
Scottsdale Artists' School, Scottsdale, AZ
School of Fine Art, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA
School of Foundation Studies, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA
SDCCD, San Diego, CA
Southern States Pastel Society
Studio Art Department, Daytona College, Daytona Beach, FL
Summer Advanced Art & Animation Program, Couer d' Alene Tribe, Plummer, ID
TMCC, School Visual & Performing Arts, Reno, NV
University of Missouri St. Louis, Department of Art & Design, St.Louis, MO
West Sound Academy, Poulsbo, WA
Whidbey Island Fine Art Studio, Langley, WA
92Y, NYC, NY
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Art Instruction
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1992-1998 - Northwest College of Art, Poulsbo, WA - Fine Art Chair/Instructor
1990-1992 - Washington State University, Pullman, WA - TA Instructor
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Additional Professional Activities
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2023 - Bold Expressions Blue Ribbon Award, Bold Expressions 2023, 68th Annual Open Juried Exhibition
2022-Current - Savannah College of Art & Design Professional Mentor
2022 - Materials and Studio Practice, Oil Painters of America - Panelist
2020 - NorthWind Arts Center, Port Townsend, WA, "Small Expressions" - Juror
2018 - 3: Trilogies & Triptychs, CORE Gallery, Seattle, WA - Curator
- Collaboration on Canvas, CORE Gallery, Seattle, WA - Curator
2017 - Do You See What I See, CORE Gallery, Seattle, WA - Curator
2016 - Silver & Gold, CORE Gallery, Seattle, WA - Curator
2015 - GOA, Tetouan, Morocco - Artist in Residence
1998-2015 - Utrecht Art Supplies & Blick Art Materials - VP Retail Operations & District Manager
1994-1998 - Freeman Gallery, Northwest College of Art, Poulsbo, WA - Gallery Director/Curator
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Gallery Representation
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Marmot Art Space, Spokane, WA
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