C. J. Swanson
Painter
C. J. Swanson is a painter working primarily in oil and acrylic, with a practice rooted in abstraction, color, and the expressive potential of mark-making. Her work spans large-scale canvas paintings and intimate works on paper.
Drawing from a wide range of influences — from geometric abstraction to organic form — Swanson builds layered compositions that reward close looking. Each piece is an exploration of tension between structure and spontaneity.
Her work is held in private and public collections including Microsoft and the City of Shoreline, and is available for purchase and commission. She welcomes inquiries from collectors, galleries, and collaborators.
Artist Statement
Starting out with a connection to my preceding works. I work using intuition and improvisation to develop a painting. I am endeavoring to capture ideas that are pictured in my mind. Sketching and drawing daily to stay visually fit, the concept works itself out eventually as long as I stick with the idea.
My ideas are informed by solid structures, organic life and transparent elements of design seen in daily environment. These concrete, steel and glass structures are seemingly solid and unmovable, but I see them as organic. The forms move and bend in my imagery because I wish to create a new way of seeing. My concern is about discovery of the visual and to paint my personal artistic influences as they transform.
I paint overlapping and sometimes colliding structural grid-like forms. I tether cells of color that relate to the borders around them. Sometimes they are floating in a net that supports the individual colors. What I see is an organic and floating entity of alternating hues. In my experience as a painter, I gravitate towards non-figurative, and non-representation with indications of actual forms and objects in my work.
Exhibition History
Curriculum Vitae
Solo Exhibitions
- 2024TAS, Olympia, WA
- 2019Washington State Department of Ecology, Lacey, WAMain Floor Lobby
- 2018Batdorf & Bronson Coffee, Olympia, WARecent Works
- 2016Tacoma Community College Library, Tacoma, WASmall New Works
- 2016Modèles Furnishings, Seattle, WA
- 2015West Elm, Local Wall, Seattle, WA
- 2015Wheelhouse Café, Seattle, WA
- 2013Essentia Showroom, Belltown, Seattle, WA"Join Together," 23 paintings
- 2011Belltown Lofts Lobby Gallery, Seattle, WA"Looking Toward the Horizon"
- 2011Polaris, Bellevue, WA15 paintings
- 2011Sunlight Café, Seattle, WA"A Return to the Beginning"
- 2010Chaco Canyon, Seattle, WASmall paper collages on panel
- 2009Pierce College Gallery, Tacoma, WANew Work
- 2008Living Room Gallery, Gig Harbor, WA
- 2008Two Bells, Seattle, WACurated by David C. Kane
- 2003Theatre on the Square, Lobby Gallery, Tacoma, WA
- 2002Commencement Art Gallery, Tacoma, WAWith Hélène Lund Den Boer
- 2002The Design Gallery, Tacoma, WA"New Works"
- 1999Equity Building Lobby, 850 Third Avenue, New York, NY
- 1997Art Space, Pioneer Square, Seattle, WA
- 1996OK Hotel, Seattle, WA
Group Exhibitions
- 2018South Puget Sound College Gallery, Olympia, WAAnnual Postcard Fundraiser
- 2017South Puget Sound College Gallery, Olympia, WAInvitational, curated by Amy McBride
- 2017Art House Gallery, Olympia, WARegional Art Group Show
- 2016The Gallery at TCC, Tacoma, WA14th Annual Juried Local Show
- 2016The Gallery at TCC, Tacoma, WASugar and Spice Exhibition
- 2015Seattle Convention Center, Seattle, WAGeometica — curated by CJ Swanson & Rachel Holloway
- 2012The Gallery at TCC, Tacoma, WA10th Annual Juried Local Show
- 2011Post-Pop Art, The Gallery at TCC, Tacoma, WA
- 2009Washington State Convention Center, Seattle, WADefinitions of Space
- 2009The Feminist Show, The Gallery at TCC, Tacoma, WA
- 20086th Annual Local Art Show, The Gallery at TCC, Tacoma, WA
- 2008Robert Daniel Gallery, Tacoma, WAThe Opening Show
- 2007Art on Center Gallery, Tacoma, WA
- 2006Portalis Wine Bar, Seattle, WAAugust & September
- 2005Art on Center Gallery, Tacoma, WA
- 2004The Gallery at TCC, Tacoma, WAArt and Literature
- 2003First Annual Local Artists Exhibition, The Gallery at TCC, Tacoma, WA
- 2003Auburn City Hall Gallery, Auburn, WA
- 2000Coastal Kitchen, Seattle, WA
Public Collections
- Microsoft, Redmond, WA
- City of Shoreline, Shoreline, WA
- Pierce County Portable Works
- Pierce County Art Bank
Public Art Projects
- 2012Microsoft QBE AwardsEight individual paintings created to coincide with award recipient categories; plus a 6′ × 5′ commemorative canvas for the QBE Awards ceremony.
- 2012Shoreline "Piano Fun Time" — Painted PianoPublic piano painting for the City of Shoreline.
- 20056th Avenue Business District — "Can-Do" / Indigenous T-TownOrnate wrought iron public trash containers painted with enamel. Tacoma, WA.
- 2004Mary Bridge Children's Health Care / MultiCare50′ × 8′ elevator mural, visible through the glass wall of a moving elevator. Tacoma, WA.
- 2001Seattle Pigs on Parade — "Sowadelic"Sponsored by the Elliott Hotel. Featured on the cover of the Pigs on Parade book.
Press & Publications
- 2012Alec Clayton, The Weekly VolcanoSeptember 2012
- 2011Rosemary Ponekanti, Tacoma News Tribune"Going Pop—or Post Pop"January 26, 2011
- 2011Alec Clayton, The Weekly Volcano"Pop Art to Post Pop"February 2, 2011
- 2009Dawn Quinn, Tacoma Weekly"TCC Celebrates Women's History Month with Feminist Art Show"March 12, 2009
- 2007Rosemary Ponekanti, Tacoma News Tribune"New Exhibit, New Gallery"April 8, 2007
- 2006Natasha Jakich, Tacoma Weekly"T-Town Indigenous"December 14, 2006
- 2004Jesse Elliott, Auburn Reporter"Artists' Works Exhibited at City Hall"April 28, 2004
- 2003Jen Graves, Tacoma News TribuneThe Gallery at TCC2003
Education
- Grays Harbor College, Aberdeen, WAAssociate of Science
- Clover Park College, Lakewood, WA
- University of Puget SoundPainting 205 (Elise Richman)
- Washington Technical Institute, Seattle, WAGraphic Arts
- Seattle College of Design, Seattle, WAInterior Design
- The Factory School of Visual Arts, Seattle, WALife Drawing and Painting