Born:
Palm Springs, CA, 1935
Education:
1963-1994 Emeritus Professor University of Washington School of Art, Seattle, WA
1960 M.A. Harvard University, Cambridge, MA,
1959 B.A. Pomona College, Claremont, California
Awards and Grants:
2006 Mayor’s Art Award, Family of NW Artists: Spike Mafford, Elizabeth Sandvig, Michael C. Spafford, Seattle, WA
2005 Artist-in Residence, Dartmouth College, Hanover NH
2005/2006 Award for Visual Artist, Flintridge Foundation, Pasadena. CA
1999 Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award, Corporate Council for the Arts, Seattle, WA
1996 “The Neddy” Artist Fellowship, The Behnke Foundation, Seattle, WA
1987 Centrum Print Commission, Fort Worden, WA
1983 Visual Art Award, Academy of Arts and Letters, NYC
1979 King County Arts Commission’s Honors Award
1967-1969 Rome Prize Fellowship, American Academy in Rome, Italy
1965-1966 Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Grant, New York, NY
Solo Exhibitions:
2013 Michael C. Spafford: Hercules and Other Greek Legends, Study and Print Study Center, Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Willamette University, Salem, OR
2010 Michael Spafford: Prints and Monoprints, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
2006 Michael Spafford: Paintings & Works on Paper, Laura Russo Gallery, Portland, OR
2009 Michael Spafford: Images from The Odyssey, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
2005 Michael Spafford: Of Gods and Giants, Jaffe-Friede & Strauss Galleries, Hopkins Center, Dartmouth College, NH
2005 The Iliad, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
2001 Michael Spafford: Prints, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
2000 Michael Spafford: Myths and Metaphors, Hockaday Museum of Art, Kalispell, MT
2000 Michael Spafford: Prints, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
1999 Michael Spafford: Myths and Metaphors, The Art Gym, Marylhurst University, OR
1997 Michael Spafford: Prints, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
1995 Michael Spafford: Prints, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
1994 Michael Spafford: Woodcuts, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
1994 Michael Spafford: A Mythological Narrative, Cheney Cowles Museum, Spokane, WA
1993 Michael Spafford: Woodcuts, Whatcom Museum of History and Art, Bellingham, WA
1993 Michael Spafford, Prints, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle WA,
1992 Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR
1992 Visions of Myth, Sheehan Gallery; Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA,
1992 Michael Spafford: Origins, Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue, WA,
1991 Michael Spafford: New Work, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
1991 Michael Spafford: Origins, Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue, WA
1991 Michael Spafford: Prints, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
1990 Index Gallery, Clark College, Vancouver, WA
1987 The Mythic Themes of Michael Spafford, Whatcom Museum of History and Art Gallery, Bellingham, WA,
1986 Documents Northwest, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
1986 Recent Woodcuts, Baskin Gallery, Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, WA
1986 Michael Spafford: Prints, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
1985 Bumberbienniale – Art Since Century 21, Bumbershoot Festival, Seattle Center, Seattle, WA
1984 Works from the Chimera Series, Vollum College Center Gallery, Reed College, Portland, OR
1983 Michael Spafford: Prints, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
1982 Wentz Gallery, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland, OR
Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
1982 Woodcuts, Wentz Gallery, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland, OR
1980 Michael Spafford: Prints, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
1977 Michael Spafford: Prints, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
1976 Michael Spafford: Prints, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle WA
1975 Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Salt Lake City, Utah
1975 Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, WA
1973 Kittredge Gallery, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA
1972 Michael Spafford: Prints, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
1969 Michael Spafford: Prints, Francine Seders’ Otto Seligman Gallery, Seattle, WA
1967 Francine Seders’ Otto Seligman Gallery, Seattle, WA
1966 Westside Federal Savings and Loan, Seattle, and Burien, WA
1966 Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, WA
1965 Otto Seligman Gallery, Seattle, WA
1963 Galerias C.D.I. Mexico City, Mexico
1962 Mexican-North American Cultural Institute, Galerias Norte y Sur, Mexico City, Mexico
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2016 What’s New at TAM? Recent Acquisitions, Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, WA
2015 A Fluid Tradition: NW Watercolor Society at 75, Cascadia Museum, Edmonds, WA
2013 Jacob Lawrence and Michael Spafford, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
2011J ones and Spafford, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
2011 A Family Show, (with Spike Mafford), Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
2011 Seattle as Collector, Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs Turns 40, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
2010 Guy Anderson and Other Friends: The Paul I. Gingrich Jr. Collection, Museum of Northwest Art, La Conner, WA
2010 Honoring 15 Years of Neddy Artist Fellows, Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, WA
2010 A Continuing Cultural Legacy: Selections from the Safeco Insurance Collection Donation to the WA Art Consortium, Wright Exhibition Space, Seattle, WA
2008 Century 21: Dealer’s Choice, Wright Exhibition Space, Seattle, WA
2008 Seattle Public Utilities Northwest Masters Portable Works, Mayor’s Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, Seattle Municipal Tower Gallery, Seattle, WA
2008 WAR, Guestroom Gallery, Portland, OR
2007 Print Invitational, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
2006 8th Northwest Biennial, Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, WA
2006 Then and Now: Collectors and Their Artists, Northwind Arts Alliance, Port Townsend, WA
2006 Elizabeth Sandvig and Michael Spafford, Clatsop Community College, Astoria, OR
2005 pARTners, Kirkland Arts Center, Kirkland, WA
2005 Private Art by Public Artists, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
2005 A Decade of Excellence: Celebrating the Neddy Artist Fellowship, Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, WA
2005 The Blair and Lucille Kirk Collection, The Catterall Collection: Stewards of the Northwest Vision, Museum of Northwest Art, La Conner, WA
2004 Collaborations from the Elizabeth Tapper Print Workshop, Museum of Northwest Art, La Conner, WA
2003 Anne Hirondelle and Michael Spafford, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
2003 Collectors’ Choice, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
2002-2004 Les Fables de La Fontaine, Centre pour L’Art et la Culture, Aix-en-Provence, France
Temple University, Rome, Italy
The Jacob Lawrence Gallery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
The Meyerhoff Gallery, The Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD
2002 Shared Labors: Spike Mafford and Michael Spafford, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle WA
2002 Francis Celentano, Robert Jones, Michael Spafford: Three Eminent Northwest Artists, The Laura Russo Gallery, Portland, OR
2001 Northwest Views: Selections from the SAFECO Collection, Frye Art Museum, Seattle, WA
2001 Husbands and Wives, Kittredge Gallery, The University of Puget sound, Tacoma, WA
2000 The Elwood Collection, Washington State University Museum of Art, Seattle, WA
2000 Bumberbiennale: Painting 2000, Olympic Room, Seattle, WA
2000 Artists Making Prints, The Jacob Lawrence Gallery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
1999 Michael Spafford: Myth, Edward Cain Galleries, Pt. Townsend, WA
1998 The Yang Of It: R. Allen Jensen – New Work, More Work, Michael Spafford – The Twelve Labors of Hercules, Museum of Northwest Art, La Conner, WA
1998 Gods, Lovers and Heroes, Classical Myths from the WSU Permanent Collection, Washington State University Museum of Art, Seattle, WA
1997 Safeco Collects: Northwest Art 1976-1997, Selections from the Corporate Collection, Jundt Art Museum, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA
1997 Wood, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
1997 Curatorial Choice: A Northwest Survey, Sherman Gallery, Holter Museum of Art, Helena, MT
1997 1997 Neddy Artist Fellowship Exhibit, Seafirst Gallery, Seattle, WA; Port Angeles, Fine Arts Center, Port Angeles, WA
1996 The Neddy Inaugural Art Exhibit, Galleria of Art, Washington State Convention and Trade Center, Seattle, WA
1995 Purchase Exhibition, American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, New York, NY
1995 Northwest Art: Shaped by the Spirit, Shaped by the Hand, Museum of Northwest Art, La Conner, WA
1995 Curatorial Eye of James Archer, Archer Gallery, Clark College-Gaiser Hall, Vancouver, WA
1995 Folie a Deux, Center on Contemporary Art, Seattle, WA
1995 Carved and Incised: Contemporary Block Prints, Whatcom Museum of History and Art, Bellingham, WA
1995 Wings, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
1995 Art Works for Aids, Seattle Center Pavilion, Seattle, WA
1995 Washington: 100 Years, 100 Paintings, Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue, WA
1993-94 Time Away, Selected Prints From the Artist Residency Program, Centrum Foundation, Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, WA
1993-94 The Art of Microsoft, Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
1994 Sarah Spurgeon Gallery, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA
1994 Eyes on Public Art, 21st Year Retrospective Exhibition: Telling Stories, Newmark Building, Seattle, WA
1993 Art Works for Aids, Seattle Center Pavilion, Seattle, WA
1993 The Northwest Art Collection, Junior League of Seattle, Kinsey Gallery, Seattle University, Seattle, WA
1992 Water Works, US West New Vector Group, Bellevue, WA
1992 Northwest Artists’ Wood Cuts, Kirkland, WA
1992 Seattle Invitational, Security Pacific Gallery, Seattle, WA
1992 It Figures, The Human Image in Art, Index Gallery, Clark College, Vancouver, WA
1992 Water Works, US West New Vector Group, Bellevue, WA
1992 Northwest Artists’ Wood Cuts, Kirkland Arts Center, Kirkland, WA
1992 Seattle Invitational, Security Pacific Gallery, Seattle, WA
1992 It Figures: The Human Image in Art, Index Gallery, Clark College, Vancouver, WA,
1991 Purchase Exhibition, American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, New York, NY
1991 1991 National Governors’ Association Annual Meeting Exhibition, Washington State Convention Center, Seattle, WA
1991 25th Anniversary Exhibitions: The Early Years 1966-1972, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA,
1991 War in the Gulf: From an Artists Perspective, William Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA
1991 Northwest Focus: Incisive Expressions, Museum of Art, WA State University, Pullman, WA,
1991 Sixth Annual Works of Heart Exhibition, Cheney Cowles Museum, Spokane, WA,
1990 Art Works for Aids, Seattle Center Pavilion, Seattle, WA
1990 Views and Visions in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
1989 Printmaking at Centrum, Port Angeles Fine Art Center, Port Angeles, WA
1989 Purchase Exhibition, American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, New York, NY
1988 Editions: East and West, Cheney Cowles Museum, Spokane, WA
1988 Northwest Printmakers, the Arts Center, Everett, WA
1988 The Bird: Five Interpretations, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA,
1988 Contemporary Survey: A Visible Presence in the Northwest, Cheney Cowles Memorial Museum, Spokane, WA
1988 Pomona College Alumni Artists: A Centennial Exhibition, Claremont, California
1988 Centrum Prints, Italia, Seattle, WA
1987 Masks: A Contemporary Perspective, Whatcom Museum of History and Art, Bellingham, WA
1987 Printmaking Northwest: First Impressions, Index Gallery, Clark College, Vancouver, WA
1987 Fur, Feathers and Scales, Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue, WA
1987 After Images, Sarah Spurgeon Gallery, Central WA University, Ellensburg, WA
1987 Focus: Seattle, San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose, CA
1987 Sensualists, Linda Hodges Gallery, Seattle, WA
1987 Private Visions/Public Places, Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue, WA
1987 Invitational Drawing Show, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA
1986 Northwest Impressions, Works on Paper, Henry Art Gallery, University of WA, Seattle, WA
1986 Studies for Murals and Sculpture, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
1986 Seattle Printmakers/A Selected Review, Stone Press Gallery, Seattle, WA
1986 Centrum Northwest Artist Print Project, Davidson Galleries, Seattle, WA,
1986 Poncho Preview, Seattle Art Museum, Poncho Gallery, Seattle, WA, 1986
1986 Pacific Northwest Arts Council Annual Meeting and Benefit Exhibition, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
1986 Myth and Technology, NBBJ Gallery, Seattle, WA
1986 10/40 Anniversary Celebration, Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue, WA
1986 Northwest Image: Lucinda Parker and Michael Spafford, WA State University, Pullman, WA
1985 Myth in Primitive and Contemporary Art Part II, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
1985 Bank of California Center, Organized by Margery Aronson, Seattle, WA
1984 The City as Collector, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
1984 Size, Bumbershoot Festival, curated by Matthew Kangas, Seattle Center, Seattle, WA
1984 Northwest Art from Corporate Collections, curated by J.F. Koenig, Waterfront Park, Pier 57, Seattle, WA
1984 Contemporary Traditions, Kittredge Gallery, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA
1983 Paintings and Sculpture by Candidates for Art Awards, American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, New York, NY
1983 Contemporary Seattle Art of the 1980’s, Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue, WA
1983 Purchase Exhibition, American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, New York, NY
1983 Bumberbianniale – Art Since Century 21, Bumbershoot Festival, Seattle Center, Seattle, WA
1982 Works on Paper, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
1982 Pacific Northwest Drawing Invitational, organized by Eastern WA University, Cheney, WA, traveled Kent State University, University of Wisconsin, Lawrence University, University of Maine, Atlanta College of Art, and University of Tennessee
1982 Contemporary WA State Artists, Cranberry Gallery, Plymouth, MA
1982 An Urban Vernacular: Narrative American Art, Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 1982
1982 Purchase Exhibition, American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, New York, NY
1981 Governor’s Invitational, State Capitol Museum, Olympia, WA
1981 Portopia ’81, Port Kobe, Japan, 1981
1980 Raconteur: Private Views, Washington Year Exhibition, Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
1980 Northwest Artists: A Review, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
1980 Purchase Exhibition, American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, New York, NY
1979 Governor’s Invitational, State Capitol Museum, Olympia, WA
1978 Selections of Northwest Artists, Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, WA
1978 Purchase Exhibition, American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, New York, NY
1977 Figurative Work, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
1977 Faculty Exhibition, Henry Art Gallery, University of WA, Seattle, WA
1977 Northwest ’77, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
1977 37th Annual Exhibition of Watercolor Paintings, Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue, WA
1977 Figures in Motion: Narrative works by Joan Brown, Jacob Lawrence and Michael Spafford, Wilcox Gallery, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA
1977 Masters of the Northwest, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
1976 Annual Watercolor Exhibition, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
1976 Invitational Drawing Exhibition, MacMurray College, Jacksonville, Illinois and Eastern Montana College, Billings, MT
1976 10 Labors of Hercules, Museum of Art, WA State University, Pullman, WA
1976 First National Drawing Competition, Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue, WA
1975 Smith Family Collects, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
1975 Birds, Beasts, and Monsters, Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, WA
1975 Governor’s Invitational, State Capitol Museum, Olympia, WA
1975 Northwest Collectors, Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue, WA
1975 Northwest Painters’ Invitational, Museum of Art, WA State University, Pullman, WA
1975 Annual National Grand Galleria, Seattle, WA
1975 Annual Watercolor Exhibition, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA, 1975
1974 Art of the Pacific Northwest from the 1930’s to the Present, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, Traveling Exhibition
1974 Annual Exhibition of Northwest Artists, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
1974 Annual National Grand Galleria, Seattle, WA
1974 Annual Watercolor Exhibition, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
1974 Governor’s Invitational, State Capitol Museum, Olympia, WA
1973 Michael Spafford, Francine Seder’s Gallery, Seattle, WA
1973 Governor’s Invitational, State Capitol Museum, Olympia, WA
1972 Tacoma Art Museum Invitational, Tacoma, WA
1972 Alaska State Museum Invitational, Juneau and Anchorage, AK
1972 Twentieth Century Drawing, Henry Art Gallery, University of WA, Seattle, WA
1972 Governor’s Invitational, State Capitol Museum, Olympia, WA
1972 The Drawing Society National Exhibition, American Federation of Arts, New York, NY
1971 Group Exhibition, Gallery 217, Bellingham, WA
1971 73rd Western Annual, Denver Art Museum, Denver, Colorado
1971 Annual Watercolor Exhibition, Seattle Kart Museum, Seattle, WA
1970 Second Annual Invitational Exhibition, Department of Art Olympia College, Bremerton, WA
1970 The Drawing Society National Exhibition, American Federation of Arts, Traveling Exhibition
1969 Group Exhibition, Nordness Galleries, New York, NY
1969 State Capitol Museum Invitational, Olympia, WA
1969 Annual Exhibition, American Academy in Rome, Italy, 1969
1968 Group Exhibition, Winn Galleries, Austin, TX
1968 Group Exhibition, Nordness Galleries, New York, NY
1968 Annual Exhibition, American Academy in Rome, Italy
1967 Group Exhibition, Jason Gallery, New York, NY
1967 Governor’s Invitational, State Capitol Museum, Olympia, WA
1967 Group Exhibition, Nordness Galleries, New York, NY
1967 Annual Watercolor Exhibition, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
1967 Faculty Exhibition, Henry Art Gallery, University of WA, Seattle, WA
1966 Thirty-Five Seattle Artists: An Exchange Exhibition Between the Sister Cities, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
1966 Gallery NW Invitational, Museum of Art, University of OR, Eugene, OR
1966 Governor’s Invitational, State Capitol Museum, Olympia, WA
1966 Art Across America, San Francisco Museum of Art, San Francisco, CA
1966 Mercyhurst Annual Exhibition, Mercyhurst College, Erie, PA
1966 Group Exhibition, Zora’s Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1966 Tenth Annual National Exhibition of Art-Paintings, University of ND
1965 Art Across America: National Selection, Knoedler Galleries, New York, NY, Traveling Exhibition
1965 Group Exhibitions, Galeria Turok-Wasserman, Mexico City, Mexico
1965 Annual Exhibition of Northwest Artists, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
1965 Group Exhibition, Zora’s Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1965 Annual Watercolor Exhibition, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
1964 Annual Exhibition of Northwest Artists, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
1964 Group Exhibition, Zora’s Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1964 Group Exhibition, Jason Gallery, New York, NY
1963 Annual Exhibition of Northwest Artists, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
1963 Group Exhibition, Zora’s Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1963 Faculty Exhibition, Henry Art Gallery, University of WA, Seattle, WA
1962 4th Annual San Miguel Allende Exhibition, San Miguel Allende, Mexico
1961 Group Exhibition, Galeria de Arte Mexicano, Mexico City, Mexico
1958 Group Exhibition, Exodus Gallery, San Pedro, CA
Selected Public And Corporate Collections:
Corr Cronin, Seattle, WA
Cheney Cowles Museum, Spokane, WA
Davis, Wright and Tremaine, Seattle, WA
Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Willamette University, Salem, OR
Jundt Art Museum, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA
Junior League of Seattle, WA
King County Arts Commission, Seattle, WA
Kirkland Art Association, Kirkland, WA
Lower Columbia College, Longview, WA
Mexican-North American Cultural Institute, Mexico, D.F.
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA
Mundt, MacGregor, Falconer, Zulauf, and Hall, Seattle, WA
Museum of Modern Art, Dallas, TX
Museum of Art, WA State University, Pullman, WA
Odegaard Undergraduate Library, University of WA, Seattle, WA
PACCAR Collection, Seattle, WA
Pacific National Bank of WA, Tacoma, WA
Pacific Northwest Bell, Seattle, WA
Pacific Recreational Association, Bellevue, WA
The Polyclinic, Seattle, WA
Portable Works Collection, City of Seattle, Seattle, WA
Safeco Corporation, Seattle, WA
Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA
Swedish Hospital, Seattle, WA
Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, WA
University of WA, Seattle, WA
US WEST New Vector-Group, Bellevue, WA
Verizon Wireless, Bellevue, WA
WA State’s Art in Public Places Program, Voctional/Art Facility, Shoreline College, Seattle, WA
WA State University Museum of Art, Pullman, WA
WA State Collection, Olympia, WA
WA State Convention Center, Seattle, WA
Site-specific Commissions:
1984 Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird, Seattle Opera House, Seattle, WA
1981 Twelve Labors of Hercules, House of Representatives Chamber, Olympia, WA
1979 Tumbling Figure – 5 Stages, Kingdome (relocated in 2005 to King Co. Admin. Parking Facility) Seattle, WA