Vitae

John August Swanson, 1938-2021
Printmaking: Serigraphs, Etchings, Lithographs, Giclees, and Paintings

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

1967-1968 Immaculate Heart College, Los Angeles, Evening classes
1965-1967 University of California, Los Angeles, Academic
1957-1959 Loyola University, Los Angeles, Academic

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2019

• Terrance L. Mahan, S.J. Gallery, LMU, Los Angeles, CA
• Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles, CA

2015

• Boston University Community Center, Boston, MA
• Bisignano Art Gallery, University of Dubuque, Dubuque, IA
• fINDings Art Center, San Pedro, CA

2014

• Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, New York, NY
• First United Methodist Church, Santa Monica, CA

2013

• American Martyrs Church, Manhattan Beach, CA
• St. James by-the-Sea Church, La Jolla, CA
• Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX

2012

• Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles, CA

2010

• Fuller Seminary Library, Pasadena, CA

2008

• Yale Divinity School, New Haven, CT

2002

• Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Phoenix, AZ

2000

• Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago, IL

1999

• St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, San Diego, CA

1998

• Art Center, Christian Theological Seminary, Journey of the Spirit, Indianapolis, IN
• Calvin College God is in the Details, Grand Rapids, MI
• Brauer Museum of Art, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN
• Concordia College, Ann Arbor, MI

1997

• First Congregational Church of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
• North Park College, Chicago, IL

1996

• California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, CA
  (Received Doctorate of Humane Letters, honoris causa)
• University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN
• Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN
• Judson Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

1995

• Hillcrest Festival of Fine Arts, La Habra Heights, CA (featured artist)
• Lutheran Center at O’Hare Plaza, Chicago, IL

1993

• Parables of Life
  International Marian Research Institute, Marian Library, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH

1992

• Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN

1990-91

• Gallerie Julian of Georgetown, Washington, DC

1990

• M. Coe Gallery, Portland, OR

1989

• Krasl Art Center, St. Joseph, MO

1988

• Center Art Gallery, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI
• Pontiac Art Center, Pontiac, MI
• Purdue University Galleries, West Lafayette, IN
• Arts Council Gallery, Holland, MI
• Biola University (two-person show), La Mirada, CA
• Palos Verdes Art Center, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

1987

• Midland Center for the Arts, Midland, MI
• Creative Arts Gallery, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI
• Jesse Besser Museum, Alpena, MI
• Museum of History and Art, Ontario, CA
• Graduate Theological Union Library, Berkeley, CA

1986

• Bazaar del Mundo, San Diego, CA
• Graffiti Gallery, Coven Garden, London, England

1985

• Bergsma Gallery, Director’s Show, Grand Rapids, MI

1984

• Bazaar del Mundo Gallery, San Diego, CA

1983

• Bazaar del Mundo Gallery, San Diego, CA
• Bergsma Gallery, Grand Rapids, MI
• Loyola Marymount University Library, Los Angeles, CA
• University Religious Center, USC, Los Angeles, CA

1982

• Hearst Art Gallery, St. Mary’s College, Moraga, CA
• Rio Hondo College Library, Whittier, CA

1980-1982

• Small World Gallery, Venice, CA

1979

• Gardiner Arts Center, University of Sussex, Brighton, England

1978

• Louis Newman Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

1977

• American Studies Resources Center of the Polytechnic of Central London, London, England
• Educational Art Gallery, Leeds, England
• Graves Gallery, Sheffield, England

1976

• Talisman Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA

1975

• Bazaar del Mundo Gallery, San Diego, CA

1974

• Loyola University, Los Angeles, CA
• Brooks Institute, Santa Barbara, CA
• Bazaar del Mundo Gallery, San Diego, CA
• Loyola University, Los Angeles, CA

1973

• Bazaar del Mundo Gallery, San Diego, CA

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2000

• Images of the Prodigal Son Traveling Exhibition (included 3 Swanson art works) at:
  • Rockford Art Museum, Rockford, IL
  • Oakland City University, Oakland City, IN
  • Wartburg College, Waverly, IA

1999

• 15th National Biennial Exhibition, Los Angeles Printmaking Society, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA

1998

• Images of the Prodigal Son Traveling Exhibition, Northfield, MN, Steensland Art Museum, St. Olaf College
• Humor in Art, Los Angeles Printmaking Society, Lankershim Center Art Gallery, North Hollywood, CA
• Investing in American Art, American Artists Registry, The National Arts Club, New York, NY

1997

• De Pree Art Center and Gallery, Hope College, Holland, MI
• Bergsma Gallery, Christmas Unwrapped, Grand Rapids, MI
• The Folk Tree Collection, Pasadena, CA
• Monoprints and Serigraphs

1995

• Art Inspired by the Prodigal Son, Travelling Exhibition, Bethel Lutheran Church, Madison, WI

1993

• Los Angeles Printmaking Society 12th National Exhibition, Los Angeles, CA
• Laband Art Gallery, Loyola Marymount University (won Arjo-Wiggins Purchase Award)
• Color and Spirit, Buckley Center Gallery, University of Portland, Portland, OR

1992

• Bibliothèque Nationale, From Bonnard to Baselitz, Paris, France

1990

• Bibliothèque Nationale, Recent Acquisitions, Paris, France
• Legend, Lore, and Myth, Art Center, Sioux City, IA
• Kirsten Gallery, Seattle, WA
• Gallerie Julian, Alexandria, VA

1989-1990

• Graphic Arts Display, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institute, Washington, DC

1989

• Boston Printmakers 41st North American Print Exhibition, The Art Institute of Boston, Boston, MA
• Narrative Imagery in PostModern Los Angeles, Mount St. Mary’s College, Los Angeles, CA
• U.S.U.K. Print Connection, London & other cities, U.K.
• Side by Side, U.S./Korea Prints, Los Angeles, Seoul, and Paris

1988

• Holiday Show, Blackman and Harry Gallery, London, England
• California North-South Prints, Mills College Art Gallery, Oakland, CA
• Venable Neslage Galleries, Washington, DC
• Hillcrest Festival of Fine Arts, La Habra Heights, CA
• Bergsma Gallery (featured artist), Grand Rapids, MI

1987-1988

• Blackman and Harvey Gallery, London, England

1987

• Cal Print ‘86, Irvine Fine Arts Center, Irvine, CA
• Five Weeks of Spring, Bergsma Gallery, Grand Rapids, MI

1986

• Artists at Advanced Graphics, Holden Gallery, Manchester Polytechnic Gallery, Manchester, England
• Fenwicks of Newcastle, NewcastleuponTyne, England
• Oak Room Gallery, Cambridge, England
• Brand XV, Los Angeles Printmakers Juried Exhibition, Brand Library Art Galleries, Glendale, CA
• Printed Page, Winchester Guildhall Gallery, Winchester, England
• Miniatures, Bergsma Galleries, Grand Rapids, MI
• Selections, Los Angeles Printmaking Society, University of Hawaii, Hilo, HI
• Los Angeles Printmaking Society, Mount St. Mary’s College, Los Angeles, CA

1985

• Bergsma Gallery (featured artist), Grand Rapids, MI
• Leicestershire Museum and Art Gallery, Leicester, England
• Hillcrest Festival of Fine Art (First Award, Graphics; First Award, Religious Art), La Habra Heights, CA
• Los Angeles Printmaking Society, Brand Library Gallery, Glendale, CA
• “Wall Works”, Los Angeles Artcore Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
• “Printworks in Camden”, Camden Arts Centre, London, England

1984

• Hillcrest Festival of Fine Arts (First Award, Graphics; First Award, Religious Art), La Habra Heights, CA
• Laguna Beach Museum of Art, “All California ‘84″, Laguna Beach, CA

1983

• International Exchange Exhibition of Prints, Los Angeles Printmaking Society (invitational), Seoul, Korea
• Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Art Rental Gallery, “Group Exhibition of Gallery Artists”, Los Angeles, CA
• Chaffey Community Art Association, Museum of History and Art, Ontario, CA
• “Annual Juried Show 3”, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Ana, CA
• Boston Printmakers 35th National Exhibition, Boston, MA
• Second Annual Print Juried Show, ARTLINK Gallery, Ft. Wayne, IN
• North Orange County Museum, Juried Show, Fullerton, CA
• Pacific States Print and Drawing Exhibition, University of Hawaii, Hilo, HI
• Second National Juried Show, Angels Gate Cultural Center, San Pedro, CA
• Los Angeles Printmaking Society Exhibit, Museum of History and Art, Ontario, CA
• Kansas Eight National Print and Drawing Exhibition, Ft. Hays State University, Hays, KS
• “Works on Paper”, Artcore Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
• National Drawing and Print Show (First Prize for Prints), AAO Gallery, Buffalo, NY
• Los Angeles Printmaking Society 20th Anniversary Exhibition, Brand Library Gallery, Glendale, CA
• Fourth Alabama Works on Paper International Invitational Exhibition, Auburn University, Auburn, AL
• Long Beach Art Association Open Juried Exhibition, Long Beach, CA
• Pacific Regional 1983, Old Cabrillo Beach Museum, San Pedro, CA
• Tempo Gallery Graphics Exhibition, Appleton, WI
• Untitled 1983, Museum of North Orange County, Fullerton, CA
• Wesleyan 2nd International Invitational Exhibition of Prints, Wesleyan College, Macon, GA

1982

• Bazaar del Mundo Gallery, San Diego, CA
• Los Angeles Printmaking Society, New Member Show, San Pedro, CA

1980

• Aberbach Fine Art, Invitational Group Exhibit, London, England
• Thumb Gallery, Invitational Group Exhibit of Works Printed at Coriander Studio (traveling show to Manchester and Bristol), London, England

1979:

• King Street Gallery, Bristol, England (Invitational Group Exhibition)
• Roder Beckett Gallery, Sheffield, England (Invitational Group Exhibition)
• Curwen Gallery, London, England (Invitational Group Exhibition)
• Serpentine Gallery, London, England (Invitational Group Exhibition, as one of ten selected artists for the Annual Summer Show)

1978

• Galerie Schloss Remseck, Neckarrems bei Stuttgart, Germany (Invitational Group Exhibition, 10th Anniversary Show)
• Graffiti Gallery, London, England (Invitational Group Exhibition of Portfolios)
• City Gallery, Vasteras, Stockholm, Sweden (Invitational Group Exhibition of Printmakers from Print Workshop, London)
• Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, France (Group Exhibition of four years of acquisitions)
• Joan Miro Foundation, Barcelona, Spain (International Drawing Competition and Traveling Exhibit)

1977

• Lawrence University, Appleton, WI (Invitational Group Exhibition of Printmakers from London, England)
• Arts Council Traveling Show, England (Invitational Group Exhibition)
• Galerie Schloss Remseck, Neckarrems bei Stuttgart, Germany (Three Person Exhibition)

1976

• Tate Gallery, London, England (Group Exhibition of Recent Graphic Acquisitions)
• Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, IL (Permanent Exhibition of Contemporary Acquisitions)

1975:

• India Ink Gallery, Chicago, IL (Invitational Group Exhibition)

1974

• Los Angeles National Printmakers Annual Exhibition, Otis Art Institute, Los Angeles, CA

1973

• Westwood Art Festival, Los Angeles, CA (Award)
• Bel Air Community Art Festival, Los Angeles, CA
• Crown Hall Center, Kansas City, MO

PERMANENT COLLECTIONS

PUBLICATIONS

Periodicals:

• Emerging Infectious Diseases, Byron Breedlove, April 2022
• Not So Far Afield, Hugh Menton and Cecilia González-Andrieu, November/December 2021
• The Christian Century, R. Guy Erwin, October 5, 2021
• Commonweal Magazine, Claudia Avila Cosnahan, September 30, 2021
• National Catholic Reporter, Cecilia González-Andrieu, September 24, 2021
• America Magazine, Cecilia González-Andrieu, September 23, 2021
• Angelus News, Tom Hoffarth, September 23, 2021
• South Pasadena Review, Andy Lippman, August 25, 2021
• America Magazine, Cecilia González-Andrieu, August 21, 2020
• LMU Magazine, Scott Timberg, Summer, 2018
• America Magazine, Cecilia González-Andrieu, October 16, 2016
• The Cresset, Special Issue Vol. 77, No. 5. 2014
• Basilica Magazine (pdf) J.T. Felton, Fall, 2011
• ARTS: The Arts in Religious and Theological Studies, 1st Quarter, 2010
• National Catholic Reporter (pdf), Dana Greene, May 11, 2009
• St. Anthony’s Messenger (pdf), Jack Wintz, O.F.M., October, 2002
• SUMMA Literatura Mexicana, special issue, 1998 (cover art reproduction)
• Los Angeles Times, November 26, 1995
• Life Magazine (pdf), December 1994 “Who Was Jesus?”
• The Cresset, a Review of Literature, Arts, and Public Affairs, Valparaiso University, 1992 (cover art)
• The Cresset, a Review of Literature, Arts, and Public Affairs, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso IN 1991 “Paradise Regained: The Art of John August Swanson (art reproduction and subject of article)
• The Mirror, Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau MO Dec. 1993 “John August Swanson: He Tells Biblical Stories with Pictures” (article with photo)
• Lutheran Woman Today, Apr. 1993 (cover art reproduction)
• Christmas: Annual of Christmas Literature and Art 1993 (article and art reproduction)
• The Tidings 1992 (cover art reproduction and article)
• The Sooner Catholic 1992
• The Sooner Catholic 1991 “John August Swanson—Today’s Narrative Artist”
• Today’s Liturgy, Planning Guide for Musicians and Liturgists 1991
• Grand Rapids Press Nov. 1988 “Self-taught artist’s love of color, detail shows in Calvin exhibition” (article with art reproduction)
• New York Times, Vivien Reynor, January 10, 1988
• The Forum, San Diego 1987 “Naïve yet Elaborate, Swanson’s Art Defies Classification”
• Grand Rapids Press May 1985 “Swanson Tells it with His Brush” (article with photo)
• Nouvelles de l’estampe, (periodical of Bibliothèque Nationale)1978 (art reproduction)
• Parabola Winter 1977 (art reproduction)
• River Styx, Winter 1977 (back cover)
• Prevention, September 1975 (cover)
• Davka, Winter 1974 (art reproduction)

Books:

• Disability Ethics and Preferential Justice: A Catholic Perspective, Mary Jo Iozzio, Georgetown University Press, 2023
• I’d Do It All Over Again and I’d Do It Better: A Caregiver’s Journey Through Alzheimer’s, Janaan Manternach, Acta Publications, 2020
• Bridge to Wonder: Art as a Gospel of Beauty, Cecilia González-Andrieu, Baylor University Press, 2012
• Die Botschaft der Engel die Weihnachtsgeschichte zum Lesen und Staunen (German), Margot Käßmann, Kreuz-Freiburg, 2012
• Saint Francis, Marie Dennis, Orbis Books, 2002
• The Story of Ruth: Twelve Moments in Every Woman’s Life, Joan Chittister, W.B. Eerdmans, 2000
• Practicing Our Faith: A Way of Life For a Searching People, Dorothy C. Bass, editor, Jossey-Bass, 1997 (cover)
• There is a Season, Joan Chittister, Orbis Books, 1995
• Gates to the New City: A Treasury of Modern Jewish Tales, Howard Schwartz, J. Aronson 1991
• The Liturgical Ensemble, Marty Haugen, GIA, 1991
• Clothed in Christ: The Sacraments and Christian Living, Michael Downey, Crossroads Publishing, 1987
• Voices Within the Ark: The Modern Jewish Poets, Howard Schwartz and Anthony Rudolph, editors, Avon Books, 1980
• Gates to The Old City: A Treasury of Jewish Myths and Legends, Raphael Patai and Howard Schwartz, editors, Avon Books, 1980
• The Captive Soul of the Messiah, Howard Schwartz, Cauldron Press, 1979
• Vessels: Poems, Howard Schwartz , Unicorn Press, 1977
• Travels of A Latter-day Benjamin of Tudelo: Poems, Yehuda Amichai, Western Review/The Menard Press/The Cauldron Press, 1977
• For A Few Hours Only: Selected Poems of Shlomo Vinner, The Cauldron Press/The Menard Press, 1976
• Midrashim: Collected Jewish Parables, Howard Schwartz, Menard Press, 1976
• Imperial Messages: One Hundred Modern Parables, Howard Schwartz, Avon Books, 1976
• Dream Journal, Howard Schwartz, Tree Books, 1975
• A Blessing Over Ashes, Howard Schwartz, Tree Books, 1974

MISCELLANEOUS:

• What Wondrous Love: Holy Week in Word and Art, DVD and Book, Morehouse Education Resources
• A Thrill of Hope: The Christmas Story in Word and Art, DVD and Book, Morehouse Education Resources
• Leon Levich: Quintet for Flute and Strings/Piano Works, Orion Records; Record Illustration
• Ross Bagdasarian: A Summer Day’s Delight, United Artists Records; Record Illustration. Presented as United Artists’ choice for the Art Director’s Show, New York, 1973, Special Award
• 1997 Liturgical Wall Calendar, Augsburg Fortress Publishers. Each month uses details from ECCLESIASTES.
• 1993 Liturgical Calendar, People of Faith, Augsburg Fortress Publishers
• 1992 Church Bulletin covers. Millions of bulletins have been distributed by Augsburg Fortress Publishers for Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), Moravian Church, and Episcopal Church.

AWARDS AND HONORS:

1. Hillcrest Festival of Fine Arts, La Habra Heights CA
   • First prize-serigraph
   • First prize- religious art
2. Association of Art Organizations of Western New York, Buffalo, NY
   • First Prize, prints
3. Los Angeles Printmaking Society “12th National Exhibition” Los Angeles, CA
   • Arjo-Wiggins USA Purchase Award 1993
4. Doctorate of Humane Letters (honoris causa). California Lutheran University 1996
5. Ink and Clay – President’s Award for Francis and the Wolf, Cal Poly Pomona, 2003
6. Ink and Clay – President’s Award for Good Samaritan, Cal Poly Pomona, 2004
7. Ink and Clay – President’s Award for Loaves and Fishes, Cal Poly Pomona, 2005
8. Mother Theresa Award, 2005
9. Mary Award, Immaculate Heart of Mary Community, 2012
10. Hearts on Fire Award, Loyola Institute for Spirituality, 2013
11. La Mancha Award, Casa Cornelia Law Center, 2015
12. Honorary Doctor of Letters, Lorus College, Dubuque 2018
13. Christus Rex, Valparaiso Institute of Liturgical Studies, 2018
14. President’s Award, Loyola Marymount University, 2021