ORIG ‘77 MIKE KOPRIVA PAINTING-GRAND TETON RANGE-RARE,SIGNED,FRAMED, 1ofaKIND For Sale

GRAND TETON CATHEDRAL GROUP

BY MIKE KOPRIVA

PAINTED IN 1977. MEDIUM: ACRYLIC.

ONE OF A KIND, ORIGINAL PAINTING.

ORIGINALLY PURCHASED FROM TRAILSIDE GALLERIES IN JACKSON HOLE, WY.

ONLY ONE OWNER.

ARTWORK HAS BEEN DISPLAYED IN NON SMOKING, NO PET ENVIRONS.

ACRYLIC ON BOARD MEASURES 17.5” x 23.5”

TOTAL FRAMED ARTWORK MEASURES 25” x 31”

PAINTING FRAME: SOLID WOOD FRAME- MEDIUM BROWN W/ GOLD ACCENT

COMBINED WITH LINEN TEXTILE STRIPE

FULLY STRUNG FOR HANGING

AN INCREDIBLE PIECE OF JACKSON HOLE, BY A WYOMING ORIGINAL !!

ARTWORK PACKED PROFESSIONALLY,

SHIPPED SAFELY, WITH CARE!

“GOD BLESS WYOMING AND FOREVER

KEEP HER WILD!!!”

ABOUT THE ARTIST……

Mike Kopriva, Artist

Mike Kopriva was born in Powell, Wyoming in 1952 and took an early interest in art with his families' encouragement. At age 11 his father Bill Kopriva gave Mike his oil painting set and instructed him on some basics of painting. In High School he studied under Bill McRann and knew then, he wanted to be an artist. He took two trips to Europe at age 17 and 19 and studied the great works of the old masters.

At Northwest College, he received his

Associates of Art, and at the University of Wyoming, he attained his BFA and MFA in

1976. While going to school he helped support himself by selling paintings and playing drums in various country and jazz bands. Mike has always loved astronomy and airplanes. In 1973 at age 23 he got his private pilot's license. While at the University of Wyoming, Mike learned how to carve stone. For a semester he was a studio assistant to the famous sculptor Robert Russin.

At the University of Wyoming, Mike met his long-time friend Tom Brinkerhoff through his first wife, Suzy Noldan, who was a geology student. They climbed, skied, dived, and caught big fish together. Tom also commissioned several paintings from Mike including a 20' mural of the Grand Canyon and his 16-foot teepee on Flathead Lake. In the Brinkerhoff Geology Library at UW hangs a portrait of Tom and his father Zach Brinkerhoff painted by Mike.

In 1981 Mike won the mural competition for the Wyoming State Capitol. He painted an 8 foot by 22-foot mural which is in the Legislative Hearing Room on the 3rd floor.

First National bank of Powell headed by Dick Nelson, commissioned many paintings from Mike and a life-size steel farmer called Desert

Redeemer. Later Pinnacle Bank of Powell commissioned three lifesize steel figures for their bank.

In 1987 He met the renowned artist Harry Jackson and they became close friends. He was a great influence on Mike and they had many wonderful discussions together about art.

In 1996 his painting the Spirit of Wyoming" was selected to go on the USS Wyoming ballistic nuclear submarine. It still travels after over 25 years in the officer's wardroom on the sub.

Mike has always had an interest in geology ever since his dad took him and brother Ron

fossil hunting as a child. Later he was married to Suzy, his first wife, who graduated from UW with a Masters in Geophysics. Many of his climbing and caving friends at the time were also geologists. In 2008 Kiby Siber commissioned Mike to do a large painting of the Howe Quarry dinosaur dig near Shell, WY. The How Quarry painting hangs in the Sauriermuseum, Aathal near Zurich, Switzerland.

In 2003, Mike was presented with the Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Achievement.

In 2017 Mike was commissioned to paint a 35 foot mural of a Jurassic scene for good friends Cliff and Row Manuel for the Geoscience Center in Greybull, WY.

In February of 2025, Mike was awarded the Governor's Art Award in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Currently, Mike continues to paint both in the studio and Plein air. He has taken five trips so far to Talkeetna, AK to visit friends and to paint Plein air paintings of the Alaska scenery. His favorite painting medium is acrylic, but he does watercolors and the occasional steel project. His studio is in his home south of Powell, WY. His mother and sister live nearby in Powell. Mike is grateful for all of the support individuals have given his work over the 55 plus years as an artist.

credit to Kopriva.org