Mia McEldowney died at her home on Vashon Island, WA on February 1, 2013.

She was 62.

Mia was born and raised in Oklahoma City and is predeceased by her parents, James and Priscilla McEldowney. She is survived by her sister, Ann McEldowney of Austin, TX and her husband, Bill Mitchell.

Mia attended Casady School in Oklahoma City. She then received her undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado in Boulder where she studied ceramics and art history.

She earned Master’s Degrees in museum studies and art history of textiles from the University of Washington. Her love of the outdoors led her to Seattle in the late 1970’s where she lived for many years before moving to Vashon Island in 2004 with her husband Bill.

Mia was well known in the Seattle area for her active involvement and support of the arts. She opened Mia Gallery in Seattle in 1983 where she specialized in self-taught artists also known as folk art or “outsider” art and represented more than 50 artists over 14 years.

She was instrumental in the founding of Artist Trust, an organization that directly supports individual artists through grants. She served as its President and then Vice-President for many years. She was honored with their Creative Catalyst Award in 2012. Mia was a founding member of both the Seattle Art Dealer’s Association and the Seattle Gallery Exhibitions Guide. Mia also had a special interest in contemporary jewelry and metal arts and was the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Seattle Metals Guild in 2010.

There will be a Celebration of Mia’s life on Sunday, March 3rd at 2:00p.m. at Camp Burton on Vashon Island.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Artist Trust, www.artisttrust.org, or call Pat Bako at 206-467-8734, ext. 18.

Paid Obituary.