Andrew McDuffie Vincent
Born in Hutchinson, Kansas, in 1898, Vincent’s family moved to Salem in 1910, and he stayed in the region until his death in Brookings, Oregon, in 1993. After graduating from Salem High School in 1917, Vincent fought in World War I. At the end of the war, he began to publish cartoons in the Boston Post in 1919 and eventually went to the Knapp Art Institute of Chicago from 1923-1928. In 1929 he was offered the Knapp memorial prize and was able to teach at the institute before getting a job at the University of Oregon to teach drawing and painting. There, he was head of the Department of Fine and Applied Arts from 1931-1968. He taught many well-known artists, such as Constance Fowler, and thus has had widespread influence over the region.
In the 1930s and 1940s, Vincent made murals for the WPA, including at the old Salem Post Office in 1942, which is now the State Executive Building. His murals were large, warm, and textured, and he was well known for his use of light and color to create warm, bold, and inviting canvases. The style of these works are inspired by Paul Cèzanne (1839-1906) a post-impressionist French artist famous for his geometric compositions, thick layers of paint, and a vivid color palette.
Ultimately, Vincent is remembered for his beautiful and multi-sensorial works that inspired the first generation of abstract artists in the Pacific Northwest in the mid-20th century as well as for his supportive teaching style.