IN MEMORIAM

Terry Toedtemeier
1947–2008
Terry Toedtemeier was a quintessential
Northwestern artist. He was born and raised in
Portland and studied geology at Oregon State
University. A self-taught photographer,
Toedtemeier played a vital role in the evolution
of photography in the Northwest. His images of
the Oregon desert, mountains, and coastline
reflect his deep love of the Northwest and his
rich understanding of the history of photography.
He was a co-founder of the Blue Sky Gallery in
1975, which developed into one of the leading
photography exhibition venues in the United
States. Among the many honors Toedtemeier
received were two National Endowment for the
Arts grants and a Flintridge Foundation Award for
Visual Arts. His work is in many collections,
including the Smithsonian American Art Museum
and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Toedtemeier was also the first Curator of

Photography at the Portland Art Museum.
Through his extensive connections across the
country and his easygoing personality, he built
the premier photography collection in the
Northwest. His exhibition projects were praised
for their engaging and insightful qualities. His
largest and most recent exhibition Wild Beauty:
Photographs of the Columbia Gorge, 1867–1957
will be on view at Portland Art Museum until
January 11, 2009. This exhibition and catalogue
occupied him for more than a decade, bringing
together his detailed research on the early
photographers and his refined connoisseur’s
aesthetic.