About:
Anne Marie Grgich (b. 1961) is an acclaimed self-taught artist whose work has garnered international recognition in the Outsider and visionary art communities. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, she began creating art at the age of fifteen, often using the inside pages of books and found objects as her canvas. Her artistic journey took a transformative turn in 1981 following a severe car accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury. During her recovery, she found solace and expression through drawing and writing, solidifying her commitment to art as a central aspect of her life.
In 1987, Grgich was awarded a full scholarship to attend senior classes at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. However, the responsibilities of single parenthood led her to decline the offer. Undeterred, she continued to develop her artistic practice independently, gaining recognition as a self-taught artist. Her work was first exhibited at Jamison/Thomas Gallery in Portland in 1995, and she soon became known as an Outsider artist. In 1998, Grgich's art was featured as the cover story in Raw Vision Magazine, a significant milestone that led to representation by numerous galleries.
By 2006, Grgich expanded her role in the art community by curating traveling exhibitions. She also began exhibiting internationally, with shows in Australia, France, and Canada. In 2018, her art was featured on clothing by the fashion house Comme des Garçons, further elevating her profile. She has been a regular participant in the Outsider Art Fair in New York and has curated exhibitions such as "The Museum of UnNatural History" at Shoreline City Hall in Washington in 2019.
Grgich's work is included in several prestigious collections, including the Cynthia Sears Book Collection at Bainbridge Island Museum of Art in Washington, and the Smithsonian Folk Art Collection. She has received grants from the Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation and the NY Artists’ Fellowship Inc. Her art has been featured in numerous publications, including Raw Vision Magazine and World of Art Outsider Art by Colin Rhodes.
Currently based in Tacoma, Washington, Anne Marie Grgich continues to create art that explores themes of transformation, memory, and the human experience. She remains an active curator and collaborator, working both in the United States and abroad, and is dedicated to supporting and mentoring fellow artists.
CV
Solo Exhibitions 2025, "The Chronicle", Springfield, OR 2024, "Solo Exhibition", Emerald Art Center, Springfield, OR 2024, "Art Representation", Van Der Plas Gallery, NYC, NY 2015, "Two Month Solo Exhibition", North Plains Library, North Plains, OR 2014, "Solo Exhibition and Residency", La Galerie des Nanas, Danville, QC 2012, "Solo Exhibit and Art Workshops", Winslow Art Center, Bainbridge Island, WA 2012, "Abstractions: 20 Works on Paper", Providence Hospital, OR 2012, "Solo Exhibition", Barristers Gallery, New Orleans, LA 2010, "Artist Residency and Exhibition", Pottery Northwest, Seattle, WA 2005, "Two-Person Exhibition with Thornton Dial", Harmony Gallery, West Hollywood, CA 2000, "Solo Exhibition", Yard Dog Gallery, Austin, TX 1998, "Solo Exhibition", Grover Thurston Gallery, Seattle, WA 2001, "Method of Annie: 12 Years of Anne Grgich", Garde Rail Gallery, Seattle, WA 1995, "Tough Love", Jamison/Thomas Gallery, Portland, OR 1989, "Female Figures of the Ages", Gallery 163, Seattle, WA Group Exhibitions 2025, "We Roar", Prison Creative Arts Project, UK & Ann Arbor, MI 2025, "The Marshmallow Hunters", Kate Altermatt Collaboration, UK & USA 2024, "Chance Bounty - A Found Object Show", Portland Arts Collective, Portland, OR 2024, "Criss/Cross", Portrait Society Gallery, Milwaukee, WI 2024, "Beautopia", Il Bosco, Milwaukee, WI 2024, "Doll Party", Fresh Mochi, Seattle, WA 2024, "NYC Outsider Art Fair", Portrait Society Gallery, Milwaukee, WI 2024, "Women's Work: New Additions to the NEHMA Collection", Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art, UT 2023, "Les Winterfest", Van Der Plas Gallery, NYC, NY 2023, "BHN Exhibition", Lumière Lyon II University, France 2023, "Public Display Art Gallery Exhibition", Seattle, WA 2023, "Reconciling Masculinity: Let the Better Man Win", Shift Gallery, Seattle, WA 2023, "Art That Dare Not Speak Its Name", The Stash Gallery at Vout-o-Reenee's, London, UK 2023, "ReNew Juried Exhibition of Recycled Clothing", Columbia City Art Gallery, WA 2023, "Seattle Recycled Arts Festival", Fogue Gallery, Seattle, WA 2022, "Horror Vacui", Galerie Polysémie, Marseille, FR 2022, "Boundless", Rachel Feferman & Sherry Grover Galleries, Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, WA 2020, "What’s to Come", Outsiders and Others Gallery, Vancouver, BC 2019, "Curated The Museum of UnNatural History", Shoreline City Hall, WA 2018-2019, "AMG Work in Museum Collection", Musée de la Création Franche, Bègles, FR 2014-2018, "Comme des Garçons Collaboration", Raw Vision Magazine / Runway Shows, UK & France 2014, "Du bon-Pasteur", Montreal Museum Chapelle Historique / Maison de la Culture de l’ar Rondissement, Montréal, QC 2017, "Archaeologies of the Everyday Extraordinary III", Black Lab Gallery, WA 2016, "Archaeologies of the Extraordinary Everyday II", Magnuson Park Gallery, Seattle, WA 2016, "Annual Woman Show", Peltz Gallery, Milwaukee, WI 2013, "Group Exhibition", Callan Park Gallery, Sydney, AU 2012, "Uncontrollable Urge", Portland Museum of Modern Art, Portland, OR 2010, "Brooklyn Sketchbook Project", Multiple Locations (Portland, ME / Brooklyn, NY / Austin, TX / Atlanta, GA / San Francisco, CA / Washington, DC / Winter Park, FL) 2010, "From Margin to Centre", Adelaide, AU 2009, "Boonbox in the Sky with Diamonds", Kandace Kala Gallery, Astoria, OR 2009, "Folk Magic and Curious Objects", Barristers Art Gallery, New Orleans, LA 2009, "Archaeologies of the Extraordinary Everyday", University Art Gallery, Sydney, AU 2008, "Snakes", University Art Gallery, Sydney, AU 2008, "Internal Guidance System Exhibition", Outsider Folk Gallery, Reading, PA 2008, "The Studio: Painting Workshop", Frye Art Museum, Seattle, WA 2008, "Arts Corps: Art Classes", Seahurst Elementary School, Burien, WA 2008, "Summer Mentor: Teen Book Arts", Seattle Center High School, WA 2008, "Lecture and Workshop", Green Bay University, Green Bay, WI 2008, "Art Classes: Landscapes of the Mind", American Visionary Art Museum, Baltimore, MD 2008, "Art Workshops", Pop Art Rose, Baltimore, MD 2008, "Weekend Art Workshop", Savage Gallery, Baltimore, MD 2006-2008, "Internal Guidance Systems", Various Galleries, WA 2004, "International Outsider Art Fair", Henry Boxer Gallery, Richmond, England, UK 2003, "Symptom & Symbol", Artesian Selected Gallery Artists, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK 2003, "The Outlaws", James Coleman / Pauline Flach Production, London, England, UK 2002-2005, "Revelations and Reflections of American Self-Taught Artists", Mid-Western Art Museum Tour, Multiple US Locations 2002, "HIGH on LIFE", American Visionary Art Museum, Baltimore, MD 2001, "Rental Sales Gallery", Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA 2000, "American Pie Art Gallery", Wilmington, NC 2000, "Self-Taught Masters", Elisa Pritzker Gallery, New Paltz, NY 2000, "Straight from the Heart", MIA Gallery, Seattle, WA 1999, "American Folk Artists, America, Oh Yes!", Washington, DC 1997, "Northwest Visions: 3 NW Artists", Fassbinder Gallery, Chicago, IL 1997, "So Long Salon", MIA Gallery, Seattle, WA 1996, "In Search of Absence", MIA Gallery, Seattle, WA 1995, "The Illustrious Art of Books", Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue, WA 1995, "Folie à Deux: Collaborative Teams", Center on Contemporary Art, Seattle, WA 1994, "Memories and Visions: Self-Taught and Outsider Artists West of the Rockies", University of Nevada, Reno, NV 1993, "Heads or Tails", MIA Gallery, Seattle, WA 1988, "Two-Person Exhibition", Alonso Sullivan Gallery, Seattle, WA 1987-1988, "NW Annual Art Competition", Whatcom County Art Museum, Bellingham, WA Awards / Grants 2023, Artist Grant Recipient, Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation, NY 2001, Emergency Assistance Grant, NY Artists’ Fellowship Inc., NYC 2001, Emergency Assistance Grant, Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation, NY Select Collections Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, Rachel Feferman & Sherry Grover Galleries, Bainbridge Island, WA – Grgich books purchased by Cynthia Sears for The 2nd Floor American Folk Art Museum, The Goddessa Book, New York, NY Callan Park Gallery, Self-Taught and Outsider Art Collection, curated by Colin Rhodes, Sydney, Australia London Art Museum, Outsider Archives, UK Milwaukee Art Museum, Anthony Petullo Collection, Milwaukee, WI Museum of International Folk Art, Gift of Gail M. & Robert A. Brown, Accession number A.2020.31.10 Musée de la Création Franche, Bègles, France University of Sydney, Art Collection, Sydney, Australia Henry Boxer Gallery, Richmond, England, UK Max Amann, Switzerland Jonathan Demme, Los Angeles, CA Katherine Dunn, Portland, OR Colin Rhodes, UK John and Maggie Maisel, UK Jose Zelaya, 70 works of Anne Grgich, Fish Town, PA
Publications / Catalogues
2024, "Raw Vision Issue 120 Raw Classics", Tender Bar, Colin Rhodes
2023-2024, "Carnival of Life", Brut Journal Annual #3, Edward M. Gomez
2019, "Women in Outsider Art", Raw Vision Magazine, Colin Rhodes
2009, "Hair", Boccalette PTD
2011, "Groundwaters: Century of Art by Self-Taught and Outsider Artists", Prestel
2018, "The Outsider Art Fair Confirms Art is Everywhere", The New York Times, Roberta Smith