Michael Dailey
For the month of February, Russo Lee Gallery presents Landscape Journey by Michael Dailey. Featuring works from the estate, this exhibition includes a rich variety of mixed media on paper, as well as acrylic paintings on canvas. Dailey was known for his abstract interpretations of land, sea, and sky. Inspired by the light and atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest, the artist created glowing images by building up layers of translucent color. His works evoke tranquil and meditative qualities through an expert use of central open space, often framed or held in place by both horizontal and vertical structures.
Originally from Iowa, Michael Dailey made Seattle, Washington his home from 1963 until his death in 2009. Dailey received both his BFA (1960) and MFA (1963) at the University of Iowa, where he studied Chinese art and philosophy with acclaimed professor Chu-tsing Li. In 1963, Dailey became a professor of painting and drawing at the University of Washington, where he taught for over thirty years. Solo exhibitions include those at the State University of New York; the University of Wisconsin, Madison; and the Tacoma Art Museum, Washington. Dailey's work is in numerous public collections including the Museum of Modern Art, New York; the Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.; the Seattle Art Museum, Washington; the Portland Art Museum, OR; and the Municipal Gallery of Modern Art, Dublin, Ireland. Corporate collections include the Bank of America Collection, San Francisco, California; Hilton Hotel Corporation, Portland, Oregon; Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon; and Safeco Insurance Company, Seattle, Washington. He was honored in 2008 with a retrospective exhibition at the respected Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Salem, OR.