John A. Knudsen

American, 1938 - 2014

John A. Knudsen was born in 1937 in Brooklyn, MI raised in Chicago, IL. The son of a Lutheran minister, Knudsen’s family frequently moved to different locales, providing Knudsen with life experiences in both urban and rural settings. These varied venues provided inspiration for his drawing and painting.

Knudsen won a scholarship to The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, but he decided to attend Luther College in Decorah, IA to study liberal arts. He also studied at the The University of Iowa, earning his BFA there in 1963. Knudsen developed a passionate interest in the process of engraving. He felt that though printmaking, the process informed his creative direction in painting.

Knudsen was ultimately inspired toward a teaching career. His first teaching position was as an art teacher at an elementary school. He became an adjunct faculty member at Silvermine College of Art in New Canaan, CT and then returned to the Chicago area to teach art at Mount Prospect High School, Mount Prospect, IL.

In 1967, Knudsen became the very first professor hired for the newly built Harper College in Palatine, IL. Knudsen was instrumental in developing the fine arts department, The National Juried Exhibition and the Foundation Art Collection. In 1974, Knudsen was a awarded a sabbatical to study with Stanley William Hayter at Atelier 17 in Paris. He had a profound impact on his students during his 31 years at the college. He retired in 1998.

After his retirement, he continued his painting, etching and woodcut mediums at his own studio, The John A. Knudsen Workshop/Gallery in Union Pier, MI, until his death in 2014.

In 2015, Harper College honored Knudsen with a retrospective of his work. He died in Stevensville, MI in 2014.

Read Less

Illuninated City, 1982

Oil on canvas

44 x 60 inches

Signed J. Knudsen and dated upper left; Titled on label on reverse

#20647
Illuninated City, 1982

Oil on canvas

44 x 60 inches

Signed J. Knudsen and dated upper left; Titled on label on reverse

#20647
Armitage-Ashland Junction, 2001

Oil on canvas, in artist’s original, hand-painted frame

20 x 38 inches

Signed and dated J. Knudsen lower right; signed, titled and dated on reverse.

#9434
Lips + Kisses, 2005

Oil and collage on canvas, in original frame

16 x 9 inches

Signed with initials and dated JK 05, along lower margin; signed and titled on reverse.

#14311
Curtain Call, 2010/2011

Oil on canvas board, in artist’s original, hand-painted frame

11 x 14 inches

Signed with initials J.K. lower right; signed, titled and dated on reverse.

#9430
Untitled (Cityscape), 1976

Oil on canvas

16 x 20 inches

Signed and dated J. Knudsen '76, upper left.

#8479
Wabash Scene, 1999

Oil on canvas, in original frame

43 x 72 1/2 inches

Signed and dated J. Knudsen 99 lower left;
Signed with initials, titled and dated on reverse

#9439
Untitled (Cityscape), 2002

Oil on panel, in original frame

26 x 32 inches

#9433
Untitled (Cityscape), 2010

Oil and collage on canvas, in artist’s original, hand-painted frame

14 x 18 inches

Signed and dated J. Knudsen '10 upper right.

#9427
Fantasy City, 2000

Oil on panel

14 1/2 x 22 1/4 inches

Signed and dated J. Knudsen, '00 lower right; signed and titled on reverse.

#8480
Dark Cityscape, 1979

Oil on canvas

18 x 24 inches

Signed with initials and dated JK '79 lower right; signed, titled and dated on reverse.

#8482
Untitled (Cityscape), 2002

Oil and sand on canvas board

14 x 18 inches

Signed with initials and dated J.K. '02 upper right.

#9428
Untitled (Cityscape & El Station), 1976

Oil on paper laid down on Masonite

6 1/2 x 17 1/2 inches

Signed John Knudsen lower center; signed with initials and dated lower right.

#9429
Untitled (Under the El), 1997

Oil on panel, in original frame

9 1/4 x 12 1/4 inches

Signed and dated J. Knudsen ‘97 lower left.

#9431
Uninhibited Forms, 1978

Oil on canvas

36 x 32 inches

Signed with initials and dated J.K. ‘78, lower right;
Titled on reverse

#13131
Agreeable Encounter, 1978

Oil on canvas

20 x 16 inches

Signed John Knudsen and titled on reverse.

#8488
Untitled (Abstraction), ca. 1970s

Oil on Masonite

12 x 22 inches

Signed with initials JK lower right.

#9435
Orange Mood, 1977

Oil on canvas

40 x 29 inches

Signed with initials and dated lower left and lower right; titled on reverse.

#9436
City Color, ca. 1981

Ink on paper

6 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches

Titled City Color on reverse.

#8489

After his retirement, he continued his painting, etching and woodcut mediums at his own studio, The John A. Knudsen Workshop/Gallery in Union Pier, MI, until his death in 2014.

In 2015, Harper College honored Knudsen with a retrospective of his work. He died in Stevensville, MI in 2014.

14-119 Merchandise Mart Plaza
Chicago, Illinois 60654

(312) 644-8855
info@richardnortongallery.com

Gallery Hours
Monday through Friday
9 am to 5 pm