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Joseph Goldberg Obituary
Joseph Goldberg (70), highly regarded and well loved Northwest painter, expert marksman, avid rockhound, poet, and lover of the arts, died December 8, 2017 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane from injuries sustained after a car accident near his home in Harrington, WA. Goldberg was born in Seattle, April 27, 1947 and grew up in Spokane. He attended the University of Washington from 1965 - 1967, and began showing his work at Francine Seders Gallery in 1970 until 1976. He later exhibited with Foster/White Gallery from 1979-1992, with Woodside/Braseth Gallery from 1995-2002, and finally at Greg Kucera Gallery, from 2005 until the present time. Goldberg was awarded the Betty Bowen Prize by the Seattle Art Museum in 1980. Seattle Art Museum also presented his work in a one-person Documents Northwest exhibition in 1982. The Museum of Northwest Art curated an expansive retrospective of Goldberg's paintings and sculpture in 2007. His work has also been exhibited in numerous exhibitions around the United States and abroad. Notably, his work has been collected by the Brooklyn Art Museum; Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington, Seattle; Long Beach Museum of Art, CA; Museum of Northwest Art, La Conner, WA; Portland Art Museum, OR; Seattle Art Museum; Tacoma Art Museum; and Wichita Art Museum among others. Goldberg's parents were Pauline Elizabeth Kerr and Peter Edwin Goldberg. He is survived by his brother Peter Goldberg from Spokane and his life-partner Susan Skilling in Seattle.
Remembrances may be directed to the University of Washington Press to support publications on painting and poetry. A memorial event will be announced later by friends and family.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Joseph Goldberg
Sponsored by The Family.
August 10, 2019
I am so sorry for your loss of Mr. Joseph Goldberg May you receive strength from God. He will make you firm, he will make you strong, he will firmly ground you. 1Peter 5:10.
EO
James Winchell
January 3, 2018
Joe turned beeswax into luminescence in an electric frying pan, admonished me against ever again using the word "beyond" in writing essays about art, and proved that (verbatim) "if one monkey can focus with single-pointed intensity on his own task, sooner or later the other monkeys will come around to find out why it's so important." A subtle, muted, evanescent, encaustic--and organic--light has gone out of this world.
Lesley Airth
December 29, 2017
I love you darling cousin. We think of you so often and deeply admire your passionate, articulate, study of the landscape around you. I so wish we'd been nearby to absorb more of your inner beauty. Thank you for sharing your vision with the world. We've all been so lucky to know you.
Matthew Kangas
December 26, 2017
joseph, your art had nothing to do with reductive abstraction: it was based upon the beauties and mysteries of nature. though you changed and adjusted as your career developed, you remained true to your sources in nature. matthew
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Jack Mackie
December 25, 2017
Many thanks Joe for dropping off your sense of wonder, beauty and seeing for so many to find.
Bob & Carol Mead
December 23, 2017
In 2006 Bob and I moved to Harrington. We became Joe's neighbors. We soon met him and started a quiet relationship. Bob & Joe had a lot of interests in common and spoke on the phone often. Joe loved his arugula and I was glad to supply him with fresh vegetables in the summer from my garden. Our hearts are broken for the loss of Joe and we have and will miss him. Bob & Carol Mead
John Glassco
December 22, 2017
He touched many lives in Soap Lake where he lived and worked quietly, weaving himself into the fabric of the place. A deep loss.
dyana crummett
December 21, 2017
a soul brother, mystic painter, musician, poetry lover- greatly missed. i send you love on your next adventure.
Ryan Hardesty
December 20, 2017
Please except my sincere condolences for the loss of Joseph; he was true visionary and constant touchstone in thinking about artists' interactions with the land. It gave comfort knowing Joseph was our interpreter of this subtle yet mysterious region and I'm grateful for his extraordinary sharing over the years.
Greg Kucera
December 19, 2017
We are greatly saddened by Joe's death. He was a unique and brilliant artist who truly saw our Northwest in his own subtle way. His paintings are refined abstract statements about the land, the mood, the atmosphere and the weather of our area.
When he approached my gallery about representing his work, I said I would only do so if he would paint only what he felt like painting without pressure from the art world.
That's exactly what he did for the last 13 years of his life.
It was a great pleasure to work with him and watch his progress. His sweet spirit, quiet intelligence, and gentle presence will be sorely missed.
Catherine and David Skinner
December 15, 2017
We are so sad to hear of Joes passing. From early years together at Woodside Braseth Gallery, to talks about painting and life. He will be missed and live on in our home with his wonderful thoughtful work. Catherine and David Skinner
Madchen Sen
December 14, 2017
Joseph was a dear friend when we both lived in Soap Lake in the 80's and 90's. We both enjoyed privacy and solitude and shared a love of nature and art. We spent endless hours, jazzed up with his great espresso making skills, talking about anything and everything. We explored Eastern Washington in all it's glory. He lived his life like a true artist; he lived life his way. I admired him for that and he is a constant reminder to stay true to who I am and live a simple authentic life!
Madchen Sen
Matthew Kangas
December 13, 2017
Please accept my deepest sympathy for the death of Joseph. He was a wonderful person, richly talented artist, and visionary person who looked into northwest nature and found miraculous images to share with us. matthew kangas
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