
Al Sprague
Born: December 21, l938, Colon, Republic of Panama
Citizenship: U.S./Panamanian
Education: B.A. American University 1962
M.A. American University 1965
Thesis: Figurative Painting Organized with the Principle of
Shared Emphasis between Figure and Environment
Employment:
1962-1966, Art Instructor, Williamsburg Jr.High, Virginia
1966-1969, Art Instructor, Curundu Jr. High, Panama
1969-1980, Art Instructor, Balboa High, Panama
1980-1984, Instructor, Panama Canal College, Panama
1988-1989, Artist-In-Residence, D0DDS-Panama Region
Media: Watercolor, acrylic, oil, etching, dry point, bronze
Distinctions:
1976 Postage stamp created from painting, Canal Zone postal system
1978 Second postage stamp from painting, Canal Zone
1978 Invited to study bronze sculpture in Italy with Harry Jackson
1982-1987 Paintings presented as gifts of state to Mexico,
France, U.S. and Venezuela from Panama president
1983 Postage stamp created from painting, Panama postal system
1984 Painting reproduced and used as commemorative gift for
all employees of Panama Canal Commission
1985 Two postage stamps created from paintings, Panama postal system
1986 Designed cover of book The Gentle Infantryman by William Boyd,
published by St. Martin's Press
1988 Collection of "U.S. Army in Panama" paintings
commissioned by Secretary of the Army
1989 Commissioned for commemorative painting for 75th
anniversary of Panama Canal Commission
1989 U.S. Army Commander's Award for Public Service
1989 Panama Canal Commission's Honorary Public Service Award
1990 Commissioned by U.S. Army to execute combat paintings of U.S.
invasion of Panama, "Operation Just Cause"
1993 Five paintings included in book, "Portrait of an Army" published by U.S. Army
1994 Commemorative print, 80th anniversary of Panama Canal Commission
1999 Commissioned for commemorative print for Panama Week sponsored
by Panama/American Business Council, Washington, DC
1999 Commissioned for commemorative print for inauguration of President
Mireya Moscoso, Panama
2000 Inaugurated new Museo del Canal in Panama City, Panama
2004 & 2005 Painting used as central image for Panama national event, “Parade of 1000 Polleras”
2010 Condecoracion Award, hosted by the Governor of Panama Province
2010-11 Two paintings selected for inclusion in “Art of the American Soldier,”
Philadelphia, PA
2014 Selected as the featured artist in the “Memphis in May event honoring Panama.
EXHIBITIONS: Individual
1965 Eric Schindler Gallery; Richmond, Virginia.
1966 Eric Schindler Gallery, Richmond, Virginia
1968 Eric Schindler Gallery, Richmond, Virginia
1969 Eric Schindler Gallery, Richmond, Virginia
1970 Eric Schindler Gallery, Richmond, Virginia
1970 Governor's Mansion; Balboa, Panama Canal Zone
1971 Eric Schindler Gallery, Richmond, Virginia
1972 Eric Schindler Gallery, Richmond, Virginia
1973 Permanent Exhibit, Panama Canal Company Administration Building;
Balboa, Canal Zone
1976 Chase Manhattan Bank; Panama City, Panama
1977 Center for Binational Culture; Panama City, Panama
1978 Chase Manhattan Bank, Panama City, Panama
1978 Marco Mundial Gallery; Panama City, Panama
1979 Etcetera Gallery; Panama City, Panama
1981 Museum of Contemporary Art; Panama City, Panama
1981 Arteconsult Gallery; Panama City, Panama
1982 Arteconsult Gallery, Panama City, Panama
1983 Arteconsult Galley, Panama City, Panama
1983 Mayor's Mansion; Panama City, Panama
1984 Arteconsult Gallery, Panama City, Panama
1985 Lyford Cay Gallery; Nassau, Bahamas
1985 Arteconsult Gallery, Panama City, Panama
1986 Museum of Contemporary Art; Panama City, Panama
1986 Mary Bernal Galley, Marriott Hotel; Panama City, Panama
1987 Lyford Cay Gallery; Nassau, Bahamas
1988 Mary Bernal Gallery; Panama City, Panama
1988 Lyford Cay Gallery; Nassau, Bahamas
1989 Mary Bernal Gallery; Panama City, Panama
1990 Mary Bernal Gallery; Panama City, Panama
1991 Wyland Galleries; Maui, Hawaii
1991 Mary Bernal Gallery; Panama City, Panama
1992 Hilton El Panama Gallery; Panama City, Panama
1993 El Panama Gallery; Panama City, Panama
1994 El Panama Gallery; Panama City, Panama
1995 Remon and Jessy Gallery; Panama City, Panama
1995 Lyford Cay Gallery; Nassau, Bahamas
1996 Remon and Jessy Gallery; Panama City, Panama
1996 Lyford Cay Gallery; Nassau, Bahamas
1997 Remon and Jessy Gallery; Panama City, Panama
1997 Lyford Cay Gallery; Nassau, Bahamas
1998 Lyford Cay Gallery; Nassau, Bahamas
1998 Imagen Gallery; Panama City, Panama
1999 Museum of the Panama Canal, Inaugural Exhibit; Panama City, Panama
2000 Al Sprague Retrospective, Panama Canal Society; Tampa, Florida
2000 “Al Sprague, Ambiente Tropical,” Imagen Gallery and ANCON Association; Panama City, Panama
2002 “La Obra de Al Sprague”, Panama Embassy; Washington DC
2002 “The Work of Al Sprague”, Williamsburg Gallery; Williamsburg, Virginia
2002 “Al Sprague: Current Work”, Imagen Gallery; Panama City, Panama
2006 “The Work of Al Sprague,” Organization of American States, Washington, D.C.
2006 “Al Sprague: Current Work” Galeria Mery Palma, Panama City, Panama
2008 “Marinas, Al Sprague, 2008,” Galeria Mery Palma, Panama City, Panama
2011 “Al Sprague: Retrospectiva de 55 Anos en el Arte,” El Museo Del Canal Interoceanico de Panama, Panama City, Panama
2011 “By Invitation Only,” Arlene Lachman Galeria, Panama City, Panama
2014 “Panama in Color,” Joysmith Gallery, Memphis Tennessee
2016 “Yearning for Panama,” Carlos Weil Gallery, Panama City, Panama
2019 "Visiones de Panama," Galeria Mery Palma, Panama City, Panama
EXHIBITIONS: Collective
1965 Smithsonian Institute; Washington, D.C.
1979 "Plastic Arts in Panama," C.A.P.A.C.; Panama City, Panama
1981 "Themes in Panamanian Painting," Caja de Ahorros; Panama City, Panama
1981 "Graphics in America," ArteConsult; Panama City, Panama
1982 "Variety," Chase Manhattan Bank; Panama City, Panama
1983 "Latin American Graphics," Pro Arte; Madrid, Spain
1983 "Panamanian Painters," Gekosso Gallery; Tokyo, Japan
1984 "Contemporary Latin American Art," ArteConsult; Boston, Massachusetts
1985 "Important Latin American Paintings," Southeby's; New York City, New York
1987 Casa de Arte; La Jolla, California
1990 "Panamanian Paintings," Athenaeum Gallery, Washington, D.C.
1991 "International Collection," Lyford Cay Gallery, Nassau, Bahamas
1992 Collective, Grove Gallery, Naples, Florida
1994 Collective, Galerie Julian, Alexandria, Virginia
1997 Panamanian Art Exhibit, Smithsonian Galleries, Washington, D.C.
1999 Collective, Galerie Michele, Alexandria, Virginia
2000 Kit Chambers Memorial Show, Lyford Cay Gallery, Nassau, Bahamas
2000 Inaugural Show, Museo Del Canal, Panama City, Panama
2000 Jurried Show, “Bay Days”, Charles Taylor Art Center, Hampton, Virginia
2002 “Save the Bay” Show, Gallery on Merchants Square, Williamsburg, Virginia
2002 Collective, Arteconsult, Panama City, Panama
2002 Spring Collection, Lyford Cay Gallery, Nassau, Bahamas
2002 “Panama: Its People and Nature,” (two-man show) Mery Palma Gallery,
Panama City, Panama
2010-2011 “Art of the American Soldier,” National Constitution Center,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2012 Christmas Show, Mery Palma Gallery, Panama City, Panama
2014 “Panama Canal Expansion Paintings,” Panama City, Panama
2015 “Asi Pinta Panama” Miami, Florida
Included in public and private collections:
Bancomer
Chase Manhattan Bank
Bank of America Bank of Boston
Pribanco
Agrobank
Bank of Korea
Banco Nacional de Panama
Sheraton Hotel
Amherst College
National Defense University
Panama Canal Commission
Contemporary Museum of Panamanian Art
Panama Art-in-Embassy Program
United States Art-in-Embassy Program
President Mitterand (France)
President Aristides Royo (Panama)
William Boyd, author
U.S. Army Art Collection
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Jimmy Carter Presidential Library
Bacardi Collection
Books published:
The Mahogany Tree, Piggy Press, Panama City, Panama 2010
Windswept, Piggy Press, Panama City, Panama 2014
The Clear Blue Line, Bacon Press, Washington DC 2014