Jeffrey Veregge

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jeffrey Veregge
BornMarch 1970
Little Boston, Washington
Died(2024-04-12)April 12, 2024 (Age 50)
Seattle, Washington
Alma materThe Art Institute of Seattle
Known forDigital painting
Style"Salish Geek," Formline art, Coast Salish art
Websitewww.jeffreyveregge.com

Jeffrey Veregge (c. 1974 - April 12, 2024) was a S'Klallam artist known for his unique, "Salish Geek" style. His work, a blend of traditional Coast Salish aesthetics and pop culture references, 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 and his variant covers for Marvel Comics.

Early life and education[edit]

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]

Career[edit]

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[edit]

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 protaganist. 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[edit]

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]

Artistic style[edit]

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]

Personal life and death[edit]

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[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Constant, Paul (2024-04-23). "Jeffrey Veregge, who blended Native art traditions, pop culture, dies at 50". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  2. ^ a b Rios, Michael (2024-04-17). "Legends never die: Jeffrey Veregge's legacy lives on in his formline superheroes". Tulalip News. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  3. ^ a b c d Seymour, Rachel Anne (2014-02-10). "S'Klallam artist, comic fan gains attention". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  4. ^ a b c Brodeur, Nicole (2015-10-02). "S'Klallam artist helps revive Native comic book hero Red Wolf". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  5. ^ Gomez, Adrian (2016-11-11). "Animated Talent". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, New Mexico. p. V016. Retrieved 2024-05-06 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b c d e Alverson, Brigid (2024-04-15). "R.I.P. Jeffrey Veregge". ICv2. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  7. ^ Palmer, Alex (2018-11-26). "This Artist Reenvisioned Marvel Superheroes in a Traditional Native American Style". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  8. ^ Pemberton, Lisa (2009-07-19). "Native Arts Show: Artists let their creativity show". The Olympian. Olympia, Washington. p. C4. Retrieved 2024-05-06 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b c d e Uyehara, Kai (2024-05-03). "Late S'Klallam artist leaves legacy of far-reaching and celebrated 'Geek Salish' style". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  10. ^ Sailor, Craig (2012-06-22). "Traditional, modern life collide". The News Tribune. Tacoma, Washington. p. 5. Retrieved 2024-05-06 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b c Bartoo-Smith, Nika (2024-04-19). "In memoriam: Native comic artist Jeffrey Veregge". Indian Country Today. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  12. ^ Pilling, Nathan (2017-04-22). "S'Klallam artist works on new comic series". The Desert Sun. Palm Springs, California. p. A19. Retrieved 2024-05-06 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Francis, Lee (2017-02-15). "Veregge's Demicon Coming to Native Realities". A Tribe Called Geek. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
  14. ^ "New Marvel comic book aims to improve Native American representation". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. 2020-08-31. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  15. ^ a b Cassidy, Eve (2020-08-20). "Indigenous Voices Artist Jeffrey Veregge Draws Native American Variants for Marvel Heroes". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  16. ^ Johnston, Rich (2020-08-20). "Jeffrey Veregge Creates Native American Heritage Variants for Marvel". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  17. ^ "Museum event to mark St. Helens eruption". The Olympian. Olympia, Washington. 2015-05-05. p. A3. Retrieved 2024-05-06 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Bonomi, Sophie (2016-06-07). "S'Klallam artist Jeffery Veregge gifts mural to Kingston High School". Kitsap Daily News. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  19. ^ "CoCA presents "What You See is What You Sweat"". Seattle Gay News. Seattle, Washington. 2016-08-05. p. 27. Retrieved 2024-05-06 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ Pilling, Nathan (2018-11-16). "S'Klallam artist Jeffrey Veregge's work on display at Smithsonian museum". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  21. ^ "Jeffrey Veregge: Of Gods and Heroes". National Museum of the American Indian. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  22. ^ a b Flores, Agueda Pacheco (2020-05-12). "Seattle World's Fair meets 'Salish geek' in new (virtual) art show". Crosscut. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  23. ^ Pilling, Nathan (2020-05-12). "Mural by S'Klallam artist Jeffrey Veregge to go in at the new Seattle Center arena". Kitsap Sun. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  24. ^ "Indigenous Futurisms: Transcending Past/Present/Future". The Santa Fe New Mexican. Santa Fe, New Mexico. 2020-04-17. p. Z12. Retrieved 2024-05-06 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Jeffrey Veregge". Museum of Flight. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  26. ^ Davis, Brangien (2023-06-08). "ArtSEA: First visual arts show lifts off at Museum of Flight". Crosscut. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  27. ^ "Legacy". Climate Pledge Arena. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  28. ^ "Marriage Licenses - Kitsap County". Kitsap Sun. Bremerton, Washington. 1996-09-11. p. 9. Retrieved 2024-05-06 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ Bryan, Saint (2023-03-01). "Famed comic book artist Jeffrey Veregge is in a battle for his life". King5. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  30. ^ Johnston, Rich (2024-04-13). "Marvel, Valiant & IDW Comics Artist Jeffrey Veregge Dies, Aged 50". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved 2024-05-05.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jeffrey_Veregge&oldid=1222791349"