Artist List    Arthur Runquist    Images  |  Bio Arthur Runquist was born in South Bend, Washington in 1891. He attended the University of Oregon and later spent several years in New York where he attended classes at the Art Students' League. During the thirties, while employed on the Artists' Project of the W.P.A., he executed two murals for the Library at the University of Oregon in Eugene. His work was shown at the New York World's Fair and at the Golden Gate Exposition in San Francisco. He also exhibited in important juried shows of the region at Seattle Art Museum and Portland Art Museum, and in a major invitational exhibition, "Paintings and Sculptures of the Pacific Northwest," organized for the State's centennial year in 1959. He held joint exhibitions with his brother, Albert, as follows: The Kharouba Gallery, Portland; Reed College; Pacific University, Forest Grove; Salishan Lodge; and The Image Gallery (1963, 1968, 1969). The Runquists have long been known as sensitive chroniclers of the Oregon coast. They are linked almost entirely, in the minds of many people, to the themes of the beach and sea. They actually painted a great many other topics in their 40 years or more of painting. Nevertheless, it is true that a large and impressive body of work was created by them in the nearly 20 years they lived in the Harry Wentz house on the cliff at Neahkahnie. It is interesting to observe that their association was so close throughout their long painting careers that they developed, at times, almost a single style--something very remarkable in the world of art. In the mature and later work, of course, the styles became more and more individual. Each one went pretty much his own direction in painting. Arthur was always a figure-centered painter. Even when he painted the landscape, he did it in relation to man or the impact of man. And, for this exhibiton, "The War Years," we chose a group of closely related works all of which reveal his viewpoint toward life and toward painting. They show us his tremendous feeling for, his great identification and concern with all human beings who live and work for a living all over this world. All of these paintings were done in a brief period during World War II, from 1942 to 1945. Many are dated as well as signed. It was an important and productive period for Arthur Runquist. The Kaiser Shipyards provided a wealth of material for his observing eye. The setting was truly suited to a painter of social comment. Arthur was essentially a social critic. Fortunately for us all, he was also a talented, dedicated, sensitive artist. His style was staightforward and direct. His intention was to communicatie in a clear and uncompromising way. And as we look at the work, we find that this is just what he did. --Barbara L. McLarty for "The War Years: Paintings by Arthur Runquist" The Image Gallery, February 9 - March 8, 1975