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Jeffrey Veregge

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Jeffrey Veregge
BornMarch 1974
Little Boston, Washington, US
DiedApril 12, 2024(2024-04-12) (aged 50)
Seattle, Washington, US
Alma materThe Art Institute of Seattle
Known forDigital painting
Style
Websitewww.jeffreyveregge.com

Jeffrey Veregge (March 1974 – April 12, 2024) was a Native American (Port Gamble Band of S'Klallam Indians) artist. His work, which blended traditional Coast Salish aesthetics and pop culture references into what he called "Salish Geek" style, was featured in exhibitions at the George Gustav Heye Center, the Institute of American Indian Arts, and the Center on Contemporary Art. Veregge was also known for his work in the comic book industry including variant covers for Marvel Comics.

Life and career

Early life and education

Veregge was born in March 1974 in Little Boston, Washington.[1][2] His mother was a member of the Port Gamble Band of S'Klallam Indians and also had Suquamish and Duwamish heritage.[3][4] His extended family contained several artists, including a great-grandmother who painted several covers for the magazine Liberty.[5] He had four sisters.[1] Veregge graduated from North Kitsap High School in 1992, later attending The Art Institute of Seattle.[3] He graduated from The Art Institute with honors in 2000.[6][1]

Veregge worked as a designer for a marketing agency in Poulsbo, Washington after graduating from The Art Institute of Seattle.[3][2] He interned with Tsimshian artist David A. Boxley in 2001, where he learned how to draw formline art.[6] After the internship, Veregge began working as a freelance artist, contributing work to Fast Company and Io9.[7] He had his first exhibition in 2009 at the In The Spirit Art Festival in Tacoma, Washington.[8]

Comics work

In 2012, his print of the DC Comics character Batman in style heavily inspired by traditional Coast Salish art won several awards at the In The Spirit Art Festival.[9] Veregge described his intention with the piece as moving beyond efforts to be "the Native Picasso."[10] He was subsequently recognized by IDW Publishing, Marvel Comics, and Valiant Comics, who commissioned him to create cover art.[3][11] His first comic book cover was for an issue of Judge Dredd.[6]

In 2015, Veregge worked on Marvel's relaunch of Red Wolf, a Native American superhero.[1] The character, created by Roy Thomas and John Buscema in 1970, had only appeared in comics sporadically since his original appearance.[4] Veregge described the project as a "chance for Natives and non-Natives to see a hero."[4] Veregge also collaborated on several comic book projects with Taboo and B. Earl.[11] In 2017, Veregge launched a creator-owned comic series named Demicon featuring a S'Klallam protagonist. It was published by Native Realities Press.[12][13]

In 2020, Veregge led development of an issue of Marvel's Voices, titled Indigenous Voices #1, with a team of Indigenous artists and writers.[11][14] The issue featured contributions from Veregge along with Rebecca Roanhorse, Darcie Little Badger, Stephen Graham Jones, and others.[15] Following the issue's publication, Marvel published a series of eight variant covers featuring Veregge's interpretation of Marvel characters, including Thor, Spider-Man, and Captain America.[15][16]

Other work

Veregge created a poster to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.[17] In 2016, Veregge donated a mural to Kingston High School in Washington.[18] Also in 2016, his work was featured in an exhibit on cultural appropriation at Seattle's Center on Contemporary Art.[19] In 2018, two 50-foot murals by Veregge, featuring Marvel superheroes battling aliens in New York City, were displayed at the Smithsonian's George Gustav Heye Center.[20] The exhibit, titled "Of Gods and Heroes," ran for two years before closing in February 2020.[21]

He ran a virtual exhibit at the Stonington Gallery in Seattle, titled "Bold Americans: Above and Beyond," in 2019. He ran a second virtual exhibit for the gallery, titled "A Better Tomorrow," in 2020.[22] Also in 2020, Veregge was contracted to create a mural for the Climate Pledge Arena.[23] The mural, titled "Legacy," features evergreen trees and Salish iconography.[1] Veregge's art was featured in an exhibit at the Institute of American Indian Arts later in the year.[24]

Two of Veregge's paintings, inspired by the Apollo 11 mission and the Space Shuttle program, were featured in the "Art + Flight" exhibit at the Museum of Flight in Tukwila, Washington.[25] The exhibit ran from June 2023 to January 2024.[26]

Artistry, personal life and death

Veregge described his artistic style as being "Salish geek" because of how he combined traditional Coast Salish aesthetics with pop-culture characters and references.[22] He also described his style using a Lushootseed word, "taʔčaʔx̣ʷéʔtəŋ," which translates to "get into trouble."[1][27] Veregge was an enrolled member of the Port Gamble Band of S'Klallam Indians.[9] He married Christina Godbolt in 1996.[28] The two had three children.[9][6] He was a personal friend of Washington State Senator Drew Hansen.[9] In 2021, Veregge was diagnosed with lupus and was forced to mostly retire from art.[6][29] He died on April 12, 2024 from a heart attack.[9][30]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Constant, Paul (April 23, 2024). "Jeffrey Veregge, who blended Native art traditions, pop culture, dies at 50". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Rios, Michael (April 17, 2024). "Legends never die: Jeffrey Veregge's legacy lives on in his formline superheroes". Tulalip News. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Seymour, Rachel Anne (February 10, 2014). "S'Klallam artist, comic fan gains attention". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Brodeur, Nicole (October 2, 2015). "S'Klallam artist helps revive Native comic book hero Red Wolf". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  5. ^ Gomez, Adrian (November 11, 2016). "Animated Talent". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. p. V016. Retrieved May 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b c d e Alverson, Brigid (April 15, 2024). "R.I.P. Jeffrey Veregge". ICv2. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  7. ^ Palmer, Alex (November 26, 2018). "This Artist Reenvisioned Marvel Superheroes in a Traditional Native American Style". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  8. ^ Pemberton, Lisa (July 19, 2009). "Native Arts Show: Artists let their creativity show". The Olympian. Olympia, Washington. p. C4. Retrieved May 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b c d e Uyehara, Kai (May 3, 2024). "Late S'Klallam artist leaves legacy of far-reaching and celebrated 'Geek Salish' style". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  10. ^ Sailor, Craig (June 22, 2012). "Traditional, modern life collide". The News Tribune. Tacoma, Washington. p. 5. Retrieved May 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b c Bartoo-Smith, Nika (April 19, 2024). "In memoriam: Native comic artist Jeffrey Veregge". Indian Country Today. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  12. ^ Pilling, Nathan (April 22, 2017). "S'Klallam artist works on new comic series". The Desert Sun. Palm Springs, California. p. A19. Retrieved May 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Francis, Lee (February 15, 2017). "Veregge's Demicon Coming to Native Realities". A Tribe Called Geek. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  14. ^ "New Marvel comic book aims to improve Native American representation". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. August 31, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Cassidy, Eve (August 20, 2020). "Indigenous Voices Artist Jeffrey Veregge Draws Native American Variants for Marvel Heroes". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  16. ^ Johnston, Rich (August 20, 2020). "Jeffrey Veregge Creates Native American Heritage Variants for Marvel". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  17. ^ "Museum event to mark St. Helens eruption". The Olympian. Olympia, Washington. May 5, 2015. p. A3. Retrieved May 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Bonomi, Sophie (June 7, 2016). "S'Klallam artist Jeffery Veregge gifts mural to Kingston High School". Kitsap Daily News. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  19. ^ "CoCA presents "What You See is What You Sweat"". Seattle Gay News. Seattle, Washington. August 5, 2016. p. 27. Retrieved May 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ Pilling, Nathan (November 16, 2018). "S'Klallam artist Jeffrey Veregge's work on display at Smithsonian museum". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  21. ^ "Jeffrey Veregge: Of Gods and Heroes". National Museum of the American Indian. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  22. ^ a b Flores, Agueda Pacheco (May 12, 2020). "Seattle World's Fair meets 'Salish geek' in new (virtual) art show". Crosscut. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  23. ^ Pilling, Nathan (May 12, 2020). "Mural by S'Klallam artist Jeffrey Veregge to go in at the new Seattle Center arena". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  24. ^ "Indigenous Futurisms: Transcending Past/Present/Future". The Santa Fe New Mexican. Santa Fe, New Mexico. April 17, 2020. p. Z12. Retrieved May 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Jeffrey Veregge". Museum of Flight. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  26. ^ Davis, Brangien (June 8, 2023). "ArtSEA: First visual arts show lifts off at Museum of Flight". Crosscut. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  27. ^ "Legacy". Climate Pledge Arena. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  28. ^ "Marriage Licenses - Kitsap County". Kitsap Sun. Bremerton, Washington. September 11, 1996. p. 9. Retrieved May 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ Bryan, Saint (March 1, 2023). "Famed comic book artist Jeffrey Veregge is in a battle for his life". King5. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  30. ^ Johnston, Rich (April 13, 2024). "Marvel, Valiant & IDW Comics Artist Jeffrey Veregge Dies, Aged 50". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
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