Rie Muñoz Biography
A Journey of Joy and Artistic Beginnings
Sometimes a decision, seemingly based on a whim, can be a pivoting factor in a person's career and life. It was such a decision that brought artist Rie Muñoz to Juneau, where she became one of Alaska's most recognized artists.
"My artwork can best be described as expressionism. The term applies to work that rejects camera snapshot realism, and instead, expresses emotion by distortion and strong colors. My paintings reflect an interest in the day-to-day activities of Alaskans such as fishing, berry picking, children at play, crabbing, and whaling. I am also fascinated with the legends of Alaska's Native people. While I find much to paint around Juneau, most of my material comes from sketching trips taken to the far corners of Alaska. I've taught school on King Island in the Bering Sea, traveled and sketched almost every community in Alaska."
- Rie Munoz
In 1951 Muñoz was planning a vacation. Looking at a map, she randomly drew a line from her home in California to the farthest point she could visit on her limited budget. She opted to go to Alaska, traveling up the Inside Passage by steamship, and fell in love with Juneau.
She gave herself one day-until the boat was scheduled to depart-to find a job and a place to live. She landed a newspaper job and Alaska has been home to Muñoz ever since.
During her years in Alaska, Muñoz has lived in a variety of small Alaska communities and has held many jobs. Among them were journalist, teacher, museum curator, artist, and raising her son.
One of her most memorable positions was teaching school on King Island in 1951, where she taught 25 Eskimo children. The island was a 13-hour umiak (a walrus-skin boat) voyage from Nome, an experience she remembers vividly.
Muñoz studied art at Washington and Lee University in Virginia, and at the University of Alaska-Juneau. She received the University of Alaska's Honorary Doctorate of Humanities Degree in May of 1999.
Her paintings, prints and reproductions are carried by galleries throughout the U.S. and Canada. She has had many solo watercolor exhibits in Alaska, Oregon and Washington State. She has devoted herself full time to her art since 1972.
Rie Munoz passed away suddenly on April 6, 2015 in Juneau after 93 years of a very adventurous life. She lived independently until the end and left us all with a marvelous legacy and memories of her view of the world through her artwork.
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Rie's Memoirs
Alaskan Canvas: The Life and Art of Rie Muñoz
"I was born in Van Nuys, California on August 17, 1921, of Holland Dutch parents. My father, Pierre Jean Jacques Mounier, and my mother, Maria Engelina Christina Reynders Mounier, were both born in Holland. My dad worked for a Dutch magazine and traveled often to the U.S. for extended periods of time. My mother told me that when I was six weeks old they carried me to Holland in a wicker basket. She also mentioned that around that time sanitary napkins had been invented in America. So, along with me, she brought back several boxes of Kotex. When she went through customs in Rotterdam, the official asked her, “What are these?” She blushed so intensely that he asked no further. "
Experience the full spectrum of Rie Muñoz's work, from her early work to her most celebrated pieces
Each artwork tells a unique story of Alaska's landscapes, its people, and the myriad of adventures that await in the northern wilds.
Discover the work that resonates with you and bring a piece of Alaska into your home.
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Inside Rie's Sketchbooks
Rie Muñoz’s sketchbooks were among her most cherished possessions.
With the eye of a cartoonist, Rie captured emotion in a few spare lines. In the margins of the sketch, she noted details such as color, which she usually ignored, as well as shopping lists, phone numbers and notes to self.
Muñoz carried a sketchbook at all times, drawing whatever caught her eye, fishermen repairing nets, children playing, village life, and cannery workers - the latter, at times, thinking she might be a safety inspector jotting notes of possible infractions. When shown the sketches they would soon relax and all would share a good laugh.
The field sketches were used as references for composite sketches, more detailed renditions of the scene that she would paint. After several, or many, composition sketches, Munoz would take the best one and project the image onto 300 lb. arches watercolor paper using an overhead projector.
Rie would then spend the next 4 to 5 days finalizing the work in vibrant watercolor expression.
On the last pdf there is a partial index collated by subject or location, year, and sketchbook. These fun sketches and notes show some of the process of Rie’s creativity and give a glimpse into her world.
Enjoy!
Rie Muñoz’s sketchbooks were donated to the Juneau Douglas City Museum in 2022.