1970 Oil on Canvas Painting by Andrew William Vachon “Junipero Serra the Studio"

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Vintage 1970 Original Oil on Canvas Painting by Andrew William Vachon

Title: “Junipero Serra, The Studio”

Artist: Andrew William Vachon

… Read more Vintage 1970 Original Oil on Canvas Painting by Andrew William Vachon

Title: “Junipero Serra, The Studio”

Artist: Andrew William Vachon

Date: October 1970

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions:

Painting: 24"H x 12"W

Frame: 26.5"H x 14.5"W

The painting features a textured peach background with rich impasto brushwork, showcasing a single stem supporting a gray, abstract pod shape—symbolic and minimalistic. Signed by Andrew William Vachon (see close-up photo), the painting also bears the artist’s handwritten note on the back: “Junipero Serra, The Studio, Andrew Wm. Vachon, Oct. ’70.”

A rare find for collectors of mid-century modern art, minimalism, or Vachon’s work. Perfect for a gallery wall or an elegant, introspective space.

Artist Biography – Andrew William Vachon

Andrew William Vachon (1910–1979) was an American Jesuit priest, artist, and educator whose work bridged spirituality, philosophy, and visual art. He pursued his academic studies at Gonzaga University, earning both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in philosophy in the mid-1930s.

Vachon later returned to Gonzaga in 1965, where he taught photography and served as the university’s artist-in-residence. Over the course of his career, he produced a diverse body of work including paintings, drawings, and prints, often inspired by landscape, memory, and theological reflection.

His artistic style is characterized by a deeply personal and “visionary” approach, blending observed reality with imaginative interpretation. His works frequently explore themes of place, spirituality, and the presence of the divine in everyday environments.

Vachon remained active as both an artist and educator until his death on June 1, 1979, at Gonzaga University. His legacy includes decades of creative output and a lasting influence within the Jesuit and Pacific Northwest artistic communities.

Andrew William Vachon’s work was notably exhibited in the “Vivid in My Mind” show at the Jundt Art Museum at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, from September to December 2015. The exhibition featured about 70 paintings and drawings spanning four decades of his career. Additionally, some of his prints are held in the Whitman College and Northwest Archives in Walla Walla, Washington, and one of his oil paintings is in the collection of the Ketchikan Museums in Alaska. See less