Ray Swanson (October 4, 1937 – December 17, 2004) was an American painter of the American West, especially Native Americans.

Early life

Swanson was born on October 4, 1937, in Alcester, South Dakota. ^{[1] [2]} His grandfather was an "amateur painter," ^[3] and his brother Gary was also a painter. ^[4] Swanson graduated from the Northrop Aeronautical Institute in 1960. ^{[1] [3]}

Career

Swanson began his career as an engineer in California, and he opened a gallery in Oak Glen, San Bernardino County, California, in the 1960s. ^[3] In 1973, he left California to establish the Christian Academy of Prescott in Prescott, Arizona, in 1973. ^[2] He later moved to Carefree, Arizona, where he opened a studio. ^[1]

Swanson became a professional painter of the American West, especially Native Americans. His paintings depicted the lives of the Hopi, Zuni and Navajo tribes. ^[2] He often painted on the Navajo Nation reservation. ^[2] Swanson's paintings were not caricatures of Native Americans but realistic depictions, and they were thus "positively received by the Indian community." ^[5]

Swanson was a member of the Cowboy Artists of America from 1986 to 2004. ^[1] He won a gold medal from the National Academy of Western Art in 1975. ^[6] His work was added to the collection of the Phippen Museum in Prescott. ^[3]

Personal life and death

Swanson married Beverly Anderton; they had a son, Steven, and a daughter, Pamela. ^[2] He died on December 17, 2004. ^[2] His funeral was held at the Desert Springs Bible Church in Phoenix, Arizona. ^[2]

References