by Alec Clayton
An art professor this writer worked with said it never works when artists marry each other. Perhaps that art professor was joking; he was married to another artist, and surely he knew about artist couples such as Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg, Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollack, Elaine and Willem de Kooning. He didn’t know Tumwater painters David Noah Giles and C. J. Swanson, who, after 33 years as a married couple, are having their first two-person exhibition this month. The show is titled: Art Story: Reflection of an Artist Couple. It is in The Art Gallery at Tacoma Community College.
“This exhibition will give the viewer some insight into two artists’ lives together,” Swanson said. She and her husband view their experience to be similar to the experiences of other artist couples who came before them in art history.
Swanson and Giles met in Seattle “by chance or divine intervention.” Giles was teaching painting out of his studio and Swanson happened to see a small yellow poster advertising his art classes. They met and soon became a couple, and they dedicated their time to focusing on painting and finding places to show in Seattle. At the time, there was a vibrant and happening art scene in Seattle’s Pioneer Square. Swanson said, “There were small galleries and many cafes and bars in which to exhibit. There were independent curators, Art Access magazine (a grassroots gallery guide) had just begun. Plus there were a handful of arts writers who were working for local newspapers that helped support the arts.”
The couple have previously shown their paintings in the 21st Century Pop Art at South Puget Sound Community College, at Thomas Architecture Studio in the spring Arts Walk in Olympia, at the Department of Ecology and the Washington State Convention Center among others, and they previously owned and operated the Art On Center Gallery in Tacoma.
In all the places they have lived, they have painted in the same studio, but not at the same time to avoid influencing one another. (Giles said he sometimes likes that she influences him and sometimes doesn’t.) Currently they paint in a two-car garage. Visiting each other’s studio in the same space makes it easy to share observations and critiques of work in progress, the couple says. “Sometimes it was helpful and other times the advice would be put on the shelf.” Swanson said. In the end, each follows their own path regardless of the similarity of artistic purpose. They still find their collaboration in life and art to be enriching and enduring.
Both paint colorful abstractions consisting of geometric shapes scattered across the canvas surface. Swanson’s forms are rhythmical, carefully delineated and reminiscent of Robert and Sonya Delaunay, another famous artist couple, While Giles’ paintings are freer in an abstract expressionist style, often including collage elements. Their works complement each other. Rarely does the art public have such an opportunity to see them shown together.
WHAT
Art Story: Reflection of an Artist Couple, paintings by CJ Swanson and David Noah Giles
WHEN:
January 2-30, 2026: Tuesdays – Thursdays: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; third Thursday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Fridays: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Artist Reception: Thursday, January 8, 4-6 p.m.
Gallery Talk: Wednesday, January 14, noon – 1 p.m.
WHERE:
The Art Gallery at Tacoma Community College, building 4; 6501 S 19th St., Tacoma
LEARN MORE:
https://www.tacomacc.edu/tcc-life/arts-culture/the-art-gallery
253-460-4306