James LaVigne (1948-2019)

Prolific Spokane artist James LaVigne, a self described artistic archivist whose artwork of architecture – most of it steeped in realism, some dipping into the fantastical – died May 22. He was 71.

Section:Gallery

Thu., May 30, 2019

Artist James LaVigne is seen at work on a large oil painting of the Spokane County Courthouse around 1990. The image hangs in the courthouse.

Lavigne Family Courtesy
Michelle LaVigne-Silva talks about her father, artist James LaVigne, while standing in front of one of his drawings, a panoramic rendering of the Monroe Street Bridge, as she and other clear out his apartment in Browne’s Addition, Thursday, May 30, 2019. The lifelong artist loved to draw images of Spokane and left behind thousands of drawings and paintings when he died May 22nd at age 71.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Michelle LaVigne-Silva shared this photo from the studio of her father, artist James LaVigne, taken before she and others cleared out his apartment in Browne’s Addition recently. The lifelong artist loved to draw images of Spokane and left behind thousands of drawings and paintings when he died May 22nd at age 71.

Michelle Lavig Courtesy
This is the most recent photograph of artist James LaVigne of Spokane, who died May 22nd, 2019 at home in Browne’s Addition. He spent his life creating drawings and paintings of Spokane.

Michelle Lavig Courtesy
Michelle LaVigne-Silva talks on the phone and is reflected in a mirror while standing in front of one of his drawings, a panoramic rendering of the Monroe Street Bridge, as she and others clear out his apartment in Browne’s Addition, Thursday, May 30, 2019. The lifelong artist loved to draw images of Spokane and left behind thousands of drawings and paintings when he died May 22nd at age 71.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
James LaVigne in 1979.

The Spokesman-Review Photo Archive Sr
James LaVigne in 1979.

The Spokesman-Review Photo Archive Sr
James Francis LaVigne's studio in downtown Spokane burned in June 1996, destroying or damaging all of his art work.

The Spokesman-Review Photo Archive Sr
James Francis Lavigne plans to donate the rights to his drawing of the Lewis and Clark High School Annex to raise money to save the building from demolition in 2002.

The Spokesman-Review Photo Archive Sr