John Franklin Koenig

born Seattle, Washington, 1924; died Seattle, Washington, 2008

BiographyJohn Franklin Koenig came to know and love French culture while serving in the army during World War II. After the war he studied French language and literature as well as design and art at the University of Washington. During this period he also became involved in the Seattle art scene, coming to know artists such as Mark Tobey (1890–1976) and Morris Graves (1910–2001). In 1948 he moved to Paris, where he lived and worked for 30 years, also opening a gallery. He later began spending part of each year in Seattle. In 1986 he was made a Commander of the French Order of Arts and Letters. Koenig’s work has been exhibited and collected internationally, particularly in France and Japan. Several museums have held retrospectives of his work, including the Paris Art Center, Seattle Art Museum, and the Museum of Northwest Art in La Conner.

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