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Art 4 Life
From fine art to fun art, this group exhibition is geared to the young and the young at heart. Art 4 Life runs six-weeks and includes art, activities and events for the whole family. The goal is to cultivate artistic growth in our community by inspiring and engaging children, while raising opportunities for active participation and discussion. The benefits of an arts education affect every area of life and we hope it’s a lifelong journey.
Participating Artists
Diane Akey | Adriele Au
Clyde Richard Brittain | Nancy Cramer
Freya + Annika Dixon-Reusz and Jane Dixon-Warren
Julie Epp | Lynne Taylor Fahnestalk
Charlie Frenal | Fei Gao | Katie Green
James Groening | Eileen Harder
Ashlee Hick | Yoshi Kamei | Eunkyo Kim
Kai Liu | Lincey Liu | Leah McGraw | Crystal Noir
Emily Picard | Joshua Ralph | Sharon Reay
Erin Shakespeare | River Shirazian | Ivan So
Carolyn Sullivan | Clive Tucker | Max TS. Yang
Teodora Zamfirescu | Wei Zhang
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Diane Akey
Biography
Diane Akey is a "retired" Teacher of Education in South Surrey, BC with a B.Ed. from University of British Columbia. Diane was on the Board of Directors for Gateway, a non-profit association for Autistic Children + Adults until it merged with Sources Community Living in 2011. Currently, she is an active member in the arts community as an artist, and part of the South Delta Artists Guild and The Federation of Canadian Artists.
Artist Statement
Nobody is really ready to Retire! Although, I've always enjoyed making art, I have had many roles in my life so far- student, teacher, mother, wife, farmer, and now painter! I paint what I want and where ever my brush takes me! I usually paint in acrylics and oils. I like mark making, textures and patches of colours. These last two years I have been evolving into abstraction. As I have gradually changed from a Career-controlled pace of life to a life with a pace that I can control, I have spent more time just enjoying my experiences with my own art making. I have explored and played with different mediums and various techniques. Self-directed creativity isn’t easy! Everyday in my studio presents new challenges that move me forward on my way to a new learning Journey that has no boundaries!
My most recent body of work represents my practises with mark making, gestural strokes, texture making and plein air painting. While attempting to learn to be more loose and free, I have continued with my explorative learning of colour theory. I am constantly inspired by the wonders and beauty of nature. Environmental science has always been a focus of my education. Whether it’s the life cycle of frogs or the migratory patterns of the birds that fly the Pacific Flyway, an understanding of the Stewardship of our earth is a constant inspiration to me.
The support of family, friends and other artists have helped me through the joys and inevitable challenges of creating my art work. I belong to and volunteer at an Artist Guild. I visit art galleries and research artists and their works online. I take courses both online and life. I am passionate about Learning to make my Art. I am not retired, I am Retreaded and continually learning about making my art as wonderful as I can!
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Adriele Au
Biography
Adriele Au (she/her) is a second generation Canadian creator working and living on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish First Nations also known as Burnaby. Her work is a hybrid of painting, drawing, and sculpture using mixed media and repurposed objects which address the themes of emotions, home, time, and nostalgia. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Emily Carr University of Art and Design.
Artist Statement
Reinventing how one examines common everyday objects and using traditional art mediums in unconventional ways is a constant concern in my artistic practice.
My memories and curiosity are the reference points in my abstract or semi-representational work. Vibrant colors, textures, irregular shapes, and forms attract me most of all. Using party crepe paper streamers in an unusual manner creates wonder and curiosity in the viewer. At the same time, the playfulness and gentle questioning accompanies my approach allowing my work to be accessible with its layered intellectual and emotional meanings behind it. This allows audiences of all ages to appreciate visual art and its transformative power to change people’s ideas about the materiality of objects.
Although the crepe paper signifies celebration, the arrangement of the paper suggest ambiguity and the unknown with this ordinary household object. This leads to questioning our interactions we have with objects through my unexpected placement or handling; and presents a deeper dialogue of memory, significant events, time and home.
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Clyde Richard Brittain
Biography
I am an artist working and living in Vancouver, BC, on the unceded territories of the Squamish, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh nations. I was born in the Northern part of what is currently called British Columbia and spent my teenage years on Vancouver Island. I have trained in woodworking and commercial printing, both of which influence my artistic practice. I hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Emily Carr University of Art + Design with a focus on print media, although I am also interested in collage, illustration, sculpture and sound.
Artist Statement
Ruin Seed III: Harappan Water Palm is a short animation created from a series of linocut prints, accompanied by an original soundscape, depicting an imaginary and fantastical plant during various stages of its life. Like much of my work, this video explores the similarities and connections between ourselves and the natural world. I am often seeking out narratives that emphasize our interrelationship with the rest of nature and utilizing strange and wonderous imagery to pique the viewer's interest. One of my intentions with this work is to present print-based media in a way that is engaging and novel, to attract viewers who may not be interested in or aware of the medium. I believe the magical and other-worldly quality of Ruin Seed III will especially appeal to young viewers' sense of imagination and allow them to see that print media go beyond the printed image and can be fun, dynamic, and entertaining.
A primary focus of my practice is exploring the complex and often fraught relationship we, as a species, have with the Earth. I find inspiration in the shapes, textures and patterns that exist within nature. Drawing on these, I seek to imagine new narratives in which humans embrace our place as part of the natural world, just as the natural world is an integral part of ourselves. My work is highly influenced by historical zoological, anthropological and botanical illustrations, as I love the sense of wonder and the sublime found in early scientific prints and 16th-century woodcuts. I’m also drawn to the fantastic and other-worldly illustrations from 1960s and 1970s science fiction, with their ability to create a fascinating vehicle for speculation while merging the serious and observational with the absurd and speculative.
The tension between past, present and future is integral to my work. While looking to the past for inspiration, I am focused on the challenges we face in the present and our uncertain future. I draw upon surreal and fantastical imagery to explore issues we must address collectively as a species if we hope to survive. Organic forms merge, mutate, transform and evolve in my work as I explore what it is to be human in the Anthropocene and what the world might look like if we were at peace with our environment.
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Nancy Cramer
Biography
Nancy grew up in an artistic family; her father was a professional artist, her mother was a painter and her sister sculpts fantasy figures. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, she spent a year backpacking around Europe learning as much about herself as the world around her. Upon her return, she headed west and worked at the Emily Carr University of Art + Design until she started a family. A few years later, her passion for tactile arts led her to the Clay and Textile program at Capilano University where she studied weaving, clay, and textile surface design. She has always been drawn to prehistoric civilizations and their rustic forms. Her present work has evolved from her love of weaving and clay, nature and spirituality. Her goal is to express her inner soul through the messages found in her art. Nancy's work is in private collections throughout Canada, United States, Germany and The Netherlands.
Artist Statement
My soul is constantly drawn to organic, unique and natural substances. My ideas and thoughts can be expressed using the versatility of clay and the magic of hand-building. Each piece is a unique celebration of the natural world around us, just as a garden is a celebration of the natural world. Displaying my artwork in a garden setting is a perfect opportunity to demonstrate how one can work in unison with and create beauty from our nature.
With the intention to appeal to the imagination of children, this is an installment of a whimsical display in a café of sea creatures in having a get-together.
Artwork by Nancy Cramer can be purchased individually or the entire display as one unit for $295.00.
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Tara Devine
Biography
Tara Devine is an acrylic painter originally from West Vancouver, BC. Tara currently lives in Port Moody, BC, with her husband and two children. Tara enjoys spending leisure time with her family outdoors and draws inspiration from the mountains, wooded areas, and ocean shores of the West Coast. Tara is a diverse and eclectic artist whose work ranges from abstract and semi-abstract paintings to painting flora and fauna. Although a lot of her work is inspired by nature, she enjoys the creative freedom and spontaneity of experimenting with new materials, ideas, and themes. More information about Tara and her work can be found at https://devineartistry.ca.
Artist Statement
My name is Tara Devine and I am an artist living in Port Moody, BC, Canada. I have always had a love for art; however, my professional life took me elsewhere over the years. Now in my 40s, I have found more time and opportunities to reconnect with artistic endeavors and build on my own practice. I am primarily an acrylic painter and I am greatly inspired by natural elements from my coastal and mountainous surroundings. My artwork generally ranges from abstract to semi-abstract acrylic paintings. I also have an eclectic style with a diverse subject matter and love to explore new materials, themes, and ideas. For this artwork, I used bold attractive colours to engage others and take them to another time. Fluid art allows for an abundance of creativity and it is fun for all ages... Learning about pour painting is great way to increase awareness for a different style of painting and to build a general appreciation of the Arts in the community. I hope that my art can inspire others to try new things and create for the joy of creating!
My artwork is a pour painting that has been augmented to take the form of a marine fossil. The work is eye-catching and colorful and explores a playful theme that is interesting for all ages. Pour painting is a fun and engaging style of abstract painting that achieves unique results. I believe my artwork can cultivate artistic growth in our community by inspiring others to try something new that is fun and enjoyable for all ages and experience levels.
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Freya + Annika Dixon-Reusz
and Jane Dixon-Warren
Biographies
Annika Dixon-Reusz
I’m Annika, granddaughter, sister and one of the contributors to these pictures! I grew up in Rossland, BC and was introduced to the colours and imagination of art at a young age. I have since completed a degree at Emily Carr University in Industrial Design and recently started my Masters in Architecture at UBC. I come back to Rossland as often as I can. My Zooms with my sister and granny on weekend mornings have been a true highlight of the past 2 years, and these pictures are an absolute bonus! So proud that we have been able to keep meeting each week and making these drawings!
Jane Dixon-Warren
I’m Granny living on Saturna, Southern Gulf Islands. I was raised in a suburb of London, England with easy access to wonderful galleries and museums, encouraged to visit by my mother, school mistresses and friends, making Art part of who I am. I left England when I was 25. I consider myself a craft person, not an artist; using wood, broken china, mortar, power tools and generally messing about in my workshop. It was my father’s influence who set me on this path. The Zoom drawings are a Covid Silver Lining and have enabled me to get to know these 2 granddaughters better, especially as we live far apart.
Freya Dixon-Reusz
I am Freya, the granddaughter and Annika's sister drawing in Rossland, BC. Currently at JL Crowe in grade 12 and busy running around with extra curriculars. These zoom doodles give me time to relax, catch up with my grandma and sister as well as create something hilariously beautiful. During the covid lockdown I did school and started making bread and trying new types of exercise. However, the best thing to come out of covid are the zooms, whether it was with friends to continue to practice dance or to meet with family that are all over the world.
left to right: Jane, Freya and Annika
Artist Statement
Zoom Doodles
Morning of April 26th, 2020 we all sat on Zoom, one on Saturna Island BC, one in Vancouver, BC, and one in Rossland BC. We shared a whiteboard and started to doodle taking turns drawing. After 40 minutes, as the Zoom clock ran out we had a picture.
We did not know at this time that this picture would be the first of 100+ drawings. Over the past 2 years the three of us have made a routine to meet on Sunday mornings on Zoom to collectively draw a picture, using the featured whiteboard. Through these drawings we have been more connected than ever before, and meeting more often than before. We sometimes start with a theme and other times we just build off of a squiggle. These drawings have been beyond fun to create, and a real silver lining to COVID times, and hence we call our collection of drawings our “Covid gallery.”
These doodles represent how an accessible application, such as Zoom, can be used for much more than meetings; instead for encouraging creativity and connection between people of a variety of different ages living long distances away from each other.
We are happy, and thank you for letting us share our silver lining with you! - J, A, F
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Julie Epp
Biography
Julie Epp is a contemporary oil painter and sculptor who lives and works in Surrey BC, Canada. Her colourful paintings offer a sense of peace and bliss, expressing the vibrancy of the ordinary but miraculous world that surrounds us. Julie is an award-winning artist and holds a BFA from the University of the Fraser Valley. Her artwork has been exhibited throughout the Fraser Valley and Tri-Cities and she is a member of New West Artists and the Federation of Canadian Artists. Throughout her career she has explored a multitude of mediums and themes, finding her way to her vibrant depictions of the forgotten marvel that is our world. Julie also specializes in teaching art to children and adults, emphasizing the importance of exploration, experimentation, and passion for creating in her lessons.
Artist Statement
I grew up in a place where the clouds were always grey and acted as a signal it was time to go inside, but for more than a few short hours. Days, weeks, and months would pass, and the skies remained grey and the clouds stormy and dreary. I would (and still do) dread the change of seasons from summer to fall, reminding me of the long months of grey clouds ahead.
In these paintings I aim to bring life to the clouds. It is surreal and unlikely to imagine Canada without clouds at all, so instead I paint skies that are full of fluffy clouds, heavy with pigment and saturation, reminding the viewer of a dreamier sky and a world of colour that exists in nature. I am inspired by the shapes and appearance of weight in the clouds throughout the year here in BC, Canada, as well as the colours that make an appearance close to sunset and spill out over the valley. My personal obsession with saturation and colour vibrancy allows me to exaggerate what I see in nature and turn the sky into a that of a dream.
My sunset paintings are created with vibrant exaggerated colours that remind the viewer of a dreamy world where the skies are brighter and clouds don't mean grey skies. My work is intended to transport the viewer to a peaceful place and create a moment of joy for them.
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Lynne Taylor Fahnestalk
Biography
Lynne spent most of her childhood drawing dinosaurs and purple bunnies and during kindergarten she was admired by her peers for her unusual finger-painting skills. In the 7th grade she won her first prize for artistic achievement—a basketball. Lynne's first professional job as an artist was in the early 1970s illustrating an Ichthyology textbook for which she was paid $1.75/hour.
Since that time Lynne has created a cartoon strip for cows, A Science Fiction Colouring Book and The Really Silly Cartoon Book, was staff artist for a major outboard motor company, served as art director for three national magazines, art director for a printing company, and was co-founder of Northwest Fine Art Press which specialized in producing prints for artists. (She is most proud of repairing the printing press with a bobby pin). During the 1980s she began illustrating and cartooning professionally and continues both pursuits to the present day.
Lynne's current passion is creating one-of-a-kind robot sculptures from upcycled metal objects. Her sculptures have been described as 3D cartoons, and she likes that comparison.
Lynne is a two-time recipient of the national Canadian Prix Aurora Award for Artistic Achievement and she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic Design.
Artist Statement
I have been a professional illustrator and cartoonist for over 40 years but in 2012 I started making robot sculptures from upcycled metal objects. This came about because I wanted to make a science fiction Christmas wreath and needed robots to complete the project. The Bots were so much fun to make that I never did finish the wreath and my artwork took an entirely new direction. I had never worked in metal or three-dimensional art so this was a monumental change. Some have called my Bots 3-D cartoons and I like that comparison.
The Bots are a wonderful obsession. In the beginning I sketched my ideas but now I tend to grab an object first and start adding parts from there. Sometimes a Bot will sit for weeks or months before I find the right parts to finish it, others are done in a matter of days. I try to create a definite, individual character for each Bot and as the construction continues the personality starts to solidify. I hope that my cartooning background adds a certain amount of humour and/or edginess to them.
There is great freedom working with metal in this way – if the sculpture does not feel right I can easily take it apart and start over or recycle it. Also, discovering how to take things apart to use the various bits has also taught me how to build. Each Bot is one-of-a-kind and is securely constructed using screws and nuts and washers (I never solder or weld). The metal in my finished sculptures is exactly as I found it, I do not paint, polish or form the metal in any way.
I especially enjoy the ‘treasure hunt’ search for parts -- garage sales and flea markets are my friends. There is great delight in happening upon a piece that sparks an entirely new sculpture. Plus, people often give me metal items. I think that they like to participate in, or help with, the creative process in this way and that’s a nice feeling.
The question I am asked most often about the Bots is, “Do they move?”
And my answer is, “Not when I’ve been looking.”
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Charlie Frenal
Biography
Charlie Frenel is a multi-award-winning Filipino-Canadian artist whose artworks are inspired by the beauty of nature and culture. He is an architect by profession in the Philippines. In 2021, he won First Prize in Annual International Mail-In Art Exhibition with his Filipino-inspired painting “New Day” (Bagong Umaga) at Federation of Canadian Artists. He also received Honourable Mention Award in FCA’s Water Exhibition with his work “My Cup Runneth Over”. In 2009, he finished in Top 10 Finalists at GSIS Nationwide Painting Competition in Manila. In 2019, he exhibited his work “Malakas at Maganda” (Strong and Beautiful) at Kamloops Museum and in 2021, “Mariang Makiling” (Philippine Mountain Goddess) at Filipino Canadian Art Museum.
He and his family emigrated to Canada in 2012. He studied Engineering Design Technology in SAIT, Calgary. He took up Watercolour course at New York Academy of Art. He is currently studying in BCIT and pursuing his Architectural career in British Columbia.
This iconic flower is one of the national symbols of my Philippine cultural heritage. As a national flower, it symbolizes purity, simplicity, humility, and strength.
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Fei Gao
Biography
Fei Gao is a Vancouver-based artist who originated in Beijing, China. She received the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Alberta in 2012. Her studies included the mediums of painting, printmaking, sculpture, and illustration. Working primarily in stone lithography Gao's inspiration came from the rich and beautiful natural environment of BC. The root of her work lies within observation and personal feelings in reacting to mundane life. Using stone lithography, Gao is able to reproduce the finest marks from her original drawings.
Left - detail image of Linear Cycle
Artist Statement
The works in this series are related to the various changes that occur in the flow of time through the observation of things that are often seen around us. By recording the changes in these things, I am trying to express the passage of time from different angles. Based on my own understanding that time has different effects on each living thing, I would like to try to realize this in the form of my works.
Due to the worldwide outbreak of the Coronavirus, people are unable to work and live as they used to, and the familiar rhythm of daily life has collapsed. In such a situation, each individual has a different way of keeping track of time. People who are very conscious of time can clearly remember the year, month, day, and what happened at that time. I, however, determine the date of an event by the relevance of daily events. Now that I spend most of my days at home in intermittent isolation, and the events that happen are almost constant, my time is a little fuzzy.
One day, as I was observing the changes in the fruit I had bought, I noticed that it had gone from fresh to rotten. In the process of observation, I once again felt the passage of time, which became a hint for the creation of this series.
Everspring and One Day are about the strength and vitality of life.
Linear Cycle shows the whole lifecycle of the Coho Salmon, one of the five salmon species that live in BC.
Many of my creations also originate from a sense of empathy for things, and are based on 'Mono no aware' [Japanese transl.] - the sadness or pathos of things
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Katie Green
Biography
I am an illustrator in Vancouver, BC, and I specialize in drawing caricatures. I started drawing as soon as I could hold a pencil, and dreamed of becoming an animator when I grew up. After receiving my B.F.A in Film and Animation from Savannah College of Art and Design, I started my career creating visual effects for movies in Los Angeles before continuing on in Vancouver. My passion for Illustration led me to switch careers and now I draw awesome things for awesome people full time!
My illustration style is unique; I like to combine cool technology in my art to create a modern twist on traditional techniques. I'm especially fond Of saturation and love to make the colors in my work really pop.
Artist Statement
My work is a blend of vectors and computer generated patterns with scans or photos of splashes, strokes, and scratches made with traditional art materials. I choose subjects that have unique features (in either appearance and/or heart) that I can exaggerate and simplify into fun and interesting shapes. My work is guided by my feelings, as I build playful worlds and explore funny scenarios within my pieces.
I'm motivated by humour, and my intent is to bring out creative and positive thinking in the viewer.
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James Groening
Biography
James Groening, or Blue Sky, is a Burnaby-based Cree artist from Kahkewistahaw Band, Turtle Island. Adopted by his white grandparents during the Sixties Scoop, Groening was raised in a farm community in Plains Cree Territory (otherwise known as Manitoba). Although disconnected from his Kahkewistahaw roots, he retained part of his Indian name, Blue Sky, given by mushom, or grandfather, as a child. After meeting his maternal mother and learning of his heritage, he attributes discovering Coast Salish art forms, specifically, drawing a Haida-style hummingbird that inspired him to pursue a journey of reclaiming his Indigeneity.
After learning of the Woodland Art style, Groening did a brief apprenticeship with Ojibway artist Mark Anthony Jacobson to learn how to paint. He continues an ongoing mentorship by one of Norval Morrisseau’s friends and Anishinaabe artist Saul Williams, where he explores painting and drum making in his whimsical, vibrant designs. Led by artistic intuition and native legends, Groening works with the physical nuances and spirit of each canvas and elk skin to begin his creation process. His artwork documents his journey of healing and growth, as he attempts to revitalize his cultural identity through art making and teaching among others.
As an emerging artist, James Groening has graciously received a grant from The First Peoples Cultural Council BC and completed a residency at Artscape’s FACES Collective in Toronto. He has exhibited at the Arts Council of New Westminster, Skwachàys Lodge Aboriginal Hotel + Gallery, and the Massey Arts Society. In addition, he has led various Turtle Legend Workshops with the City of New Westminster and United Way BC. Currently, James is actively creating and learning on Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Qayqayt, Tsleil-Waututh, Stó:lō, and šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmaɁɬ təməxʷ (Musqueam) territories.
Artist Statement
My art is a journey of healing and growth where I attempt to regain a sense of cultural understanding that was lost. I was born in the 60s and raised in a farm community, far removed from any Native art, but interested in learning about my heritage. At age 24, I met my maternal mother and told her I knew my Indian name, Blue Sky. She was surprised but said that Blue Sky was only the first part of my name and the second was lost in time. This is fitting for my life. Lost in a time when things were hard for natives, and now, I am searching for my shadow, as the story goes.
I began learning about Native art and found that I liked the west coast style, and I bought a few prints. I loved the hummingbird I bought and started drawing it and other things I have seen. After purchasing an original painting set by Mark Anthony Jacobson, I found that the Woodland School of Art was a whole new area of art closer to my ancestors.
Today, I make Woodland-style native art where I paint legends and whimsical wildlife on things I make like drums and an eagle head staff. It is very important to convey what I learn about my culture through legends and teachings because generations have lost so much information and a sense of cultural identity. It is also easier to learn a complex truth through a cheerful medium like painting. For example, my work, Turtle Legend, teaches children where they live on Turtle Island in a way they can comprehend.
I seem to find a peaceful balance when doing art, which brings some relief in these hectic times. I hope to learn more and contribute to the art world by creating and teaching those who want to learn. I think this is the way forward for our cultural heritage to heal and grow.
Meegwetch
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Eileen Harder
Biography
Eileen was born in Penticton B.C and lived there for 24 years enjoying the bright sunny Okanagan. Eileen is a self-taught artist with additional studies at night school and through various art association workshops. She has been artistic since childhood which can be demonstrated through her win at a BC Tel drawing contest at the young age of 11 years old and her many years of making fun of her family in comedic drawings. Traveling extensively in Europe after High School and living there for four months, she discovered masterpieces in museums painted by famous artists.
After this she lived in Alberta for six years, working and going to College and then resettled back to B.C continuing undergraduate studies in Criminology and the Humanities. Eileen however never forgot what she saw in Europe in all the galleries and museums and her love of art and expression became a dominant presence in her life. Eileen enjoys experimenting in different artistic mediums and techniques but currently enjoys the freedom in loose realism.
In 2002, she was featured in the “NOW” newspaper and the Tri-City News in 2010 and more recently profiled in "Alternative Trends" Magazine for a collection of her work. Eileen is an Active member of the Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA), and the Port Moody Arts Association where she exhibits her work in annual and spring shows. Her work can be found in private collections in New Zealand, Cuba, the USA and across Canada. Presently Eileen teaches painting privately and also teaches art for the City of Coquitlam at Glen Pine Pavilion, Dogwood Pavilion and Cameron Centre.
Artist Statement
I love the play on light and dark in a painting which creates drama. I use contrasts deeply in my work to portray a sense of forced interest on the subject matter. I strive to be original in my work, ever seeking new subjects and compositions to capture interest in the viewer and I teach this concept to my students frequently. I want to “say” something and it should be meaningful and maybe creating questions and creating discussion.
Presently in my career as an Artist, I have forced a change, to be looser in style , that is my current goal to engage loose realism more frequently instead of the restriction of realism. I find this had taken pressure off expectations and it also adds to a different sort of freeing energy to the work. I am still evolving as an artist and the journey has been without a doubt a creative one.
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Ashlee Hick
Biography
Ashlee Hick is an interdisciplinary visual artist working across mediums such as Drawing, Textiles, Print Media, Painting and Photography. Her work is greatly influenced by personal experiences with body dysmorphia, insecurity and bullying. Ashlee highlights adversity and finds ways to normalize having interior and exterior differences so that everyone can feel represented in media and art no matter their appearance or mental health.
Ashlee’s artistic career began in highschool, where she was often found selling small commissions of drawings or homemade stickers to her classmates. From there she began expanding into different mediums, and by her graduation year was winning awards and scholarships because of her art and community involvement. She began post secondary at Emily Carr University in 2019, and has been working towards her BFA since then. Moving forward Ashlee hopes to pursue a career in creative directing or marketing, where she can work on projects to further influence and support young minds and mental health.
Artist Statement
Our bodies are ever changing, and with change comes acceptance and adaptation. It's become critical to our mental health and physical survival to allow ourselves to grow and become different from one another. Experiencing fluctuations in weight, appearance, mood, and confidence pose as difficult adversities to cope with and overcome. My practice takes the form of healing processes to aid in dealing with such issues. It is an exploration into what makes our society so reluctant to accept the visual aspects of our bodies that differ from our neighbors.
Through different mediums such as graphite, ink and textiles, I illustrate portraits which bring visual insecurities to the foreground, and highlight what people are ashamed of. By doing this, I'm attempting to have diverse representation in media and art, and break away from traditional idealistic beauty standards. I work primarily with acne, scars, weight, pigmentation and dysmorphic conceptualizations of the body to create my works. I work mostly in monochromatic black and gray as a reference to the isolation or detriment one may experience internally if faced with these (deemed) “ issues”.
By emphasizing insecurities, I hope to destigmatize and normalize having an ever changing body. Because I grew up ashamed of what I looked like, my goal is to create a space where other people experiencing the same thing can feel less vulnerable. To further my own understanding on these topics, I spend time examining psychological writings which touch on the make up of body dysmorphia, insecurities etc. It is crucial for me to gain knowledge of others' experiences, to be able to show more sides of what certain bodily features and disorders can do to one's mental health.
Moving into the future, I aim to work on larger scales, which hopefully can reach greater audiences and create a healthy impact on those struggling within their own minds.
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Yoshi Kamei
Biography
Yoshi took water color class in elementary school for 6 years, and occasionally went outside and enjoyed painting landscapes, and also he took an oil painting course at the high school for 4 years to learn fundamental painting techniques and concept of drawing and painting and art in general.
Yoshi moved to Canada from Japan in 1982, lived in Edmonton for 25 years. He re-started oil painting about 30 years ago as an weekend artist until he retired 15 years ago and moved to Port Coquitlam. To become more dedicated artist Yoshi joined Suite E Life Drawing Group to further develop his drawing and painting skills and concepts, and at the same time joined Glen Pine Drawing Group to meet some fellow artists to enjoy art conversations. He had been also a member of Port Moody Art Association, and Port Moody Art Centre Association for several years.
His paintings have been exhibited at Place des Arts, Glen Pine Pavilion, Maple Ridge Art Gallery and Port Moody Art Centre through these associations and groups, and also individually participating events and show at the facilities.
Oil painting is his main medium and subjects are wide spread from landscapes to still life and figures, but figures are his favorite subjects. He started painting lady figures in Kimono (Japanese traditional costume) about 10 years ago, and currently this figure painting is one of his main subjects.
Artist Statement
Although oil painting is his main medium, Yoshi does watercolour painting, color pencil, soft and oil pastels when he is drawing or painting from live models at the Glen Pine Pavilion Group and Suite E Group to study the colors and light and shade. He has painted landscapes impressed by the beautiful scenery around Pitts River and tug-boats and Mt. Baker, also some still life such as potted flowers, but his main interest is in human figures as he has been drawing and painting from live models every week for more than 10 years attending to these two art groups' sessions.
While thinking about the Art 4 Life event at the Port Moody Art Centre, one day an idea came to my mind: why not paint a session of Glen Pine Group where volunteers model for the group? This shows how art enthusiasts are working every week to polish their skill and at the same time enjoying conversations with fellow members. Right before the pandemic started we had a very attractive model, and soon after that, the group closed due to the pandemic, so it was a memorable session and motivated me to paint the scene of the session. Also, I included the sketch I had done during the session.
A painting of a young lady enjoying sketching outside in a sunny day of life, which is also fit to the Art 4 Life theme. And other paintings are the examples of paintings have figures as part of the paintings, which shows possibility of expanding painting outside the classroom.
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Eunkyo Kim
Biography
A self-developed and classically trained artist, Eunkyo studied visual design back in South Korea. She has spent her artistic career in Canada blending that disciplined study with a funky west-coast nuance. As is typical of Southeastern Asian art schools’ entrance exams at the time, she was trained in pencil detail and colour theory for a year. After graduating from design school, she has worked as a designer and in freelance illustration. She found her passion for painting a few years ago. Currently, she actively paints in oil, acrylic and digital. Her artwork runs the gamut from the darkly humorous and sometimes creepy.
Artist Statement
Inspirations for my artworks come from anywhere and everywhere. Walking through the trees I might see the lovely little face of a fairy peaking through the beautiful colours of autumn leaves – urging me to heal the sadness in my soul that is caused by tragic events happening in the world.
Sometimes a mystical creature will pop into my dreams at night, then leaving, with a full analysis of the dream yet to be discovered. My Artistic process tends to be joyful and healing. Although the inspirations are always more complex. My artworks document moments that are important to me. Moments which consciously and unconsciously leave long lasting impressions in my mind.
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Kai Lui
Biography
Kai Liu is a painter and printmaker living in Vancouver who pursues the formal aesthetics of art in his practice. His work is a visual representation of his interest in nature, landscape, sites and the humanities. In his work, he interweaves human-made and natural elements. His paintings and prints were exhibited in British Columbia and Ontario. After immersing himself in the art for more than a decade in China, Liu immigrated to Canada and studied graphic design in Hamilton, Ontario. After that, driven by his passion for art, he moved to Vancouver to study advanced printmaking at Langara College, where he received a diploma in Fine Arts. Following that, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Emily Carr University Art + Design where he is now enrolled as a student in its MFA program.
Artist Statement
My subject matter comes from my interest in the form, light, shadow, colour, and space around me. Most of my work presents physical and emotional interpretations of landscapes and sites, which explore the interwoven layers in the environment and the relationship between natural and human-made elements.
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Lincey Liu
Biography
Lincey is an artist and designer living primarily in Vancouver and Beijing. Lincey studied Decorative Arts and Design at the Academy of Arts and Design at Tsinghua University. Her paintings have been exhibited in galleries in North America and China, including Vancouver, San Francisco, Hong Kong and Beijing, as well as collected by art institutions and private collectors globally. The “Inside and Outside No.3” series was featured in the June 2015 edition of the renowned “Art in America” magazine.
Lincey’s artworks depict a spiritual space beyond the impetuous world, mapping the past and the present, and inviting the audience to associate, imagine, experience and reflect on the struggles and conflicts in life, with a view to ultimately conveying the aspiration and pursuit of the harmony and humanity.
Artist Statement
To me painting is an ongoing journey in the pursuit of fantastic effect and unique style of expression. I attempt to portray surreal feelings and concepts with a realistic approach. I enjoy exploit abstract forms and figures that blend virtual and real, objects and people, and shadow and shapes, utilizing unconventional techniques to fuse different space and dimensions, irrational, yet striking.
My recent works are primarily oil on canvas, with inspiration from my life experiences, emotions, nature, people and architecture. I also created a collection of watercolour pieces that bring together traditional Chinese culture elements and modern Western flavour. I am fascinated by vivid colours and striking images irrespective of medium or style.
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Leah McGraw
Biography
Leah McGraw is an artist, educator, and outdoor enthusiast. With a background in Applied Theatre, Education, and Arts Leadership, Leah strives to bring people together through art. Leah has worked in multiple museums and art centres throughout Canada as an Interpreter and Educator, and she takes inspiration for her work from the places she’s traveled and lived.
Artist Statement
This children’s storybook is a result of the reflection and retrospection that I and many others experienced at the beginning of the pandemic. Sparked by a song lyric and inspired by my personal reflection on what it means to love and be loved, this book was a doorway into community connection during a time when we were all being asked to stay apart. I wrote and illustrated this book throughout the first several months of pandemic isolation when I took the unexpected downtime to learn watercolour techniques, reflect on the importance of community, and think about the infinite definitions and presentations of love across cultures and time.
This unpublished storybook is geared toward young readers, while also asking older readers to reflect on how they define and feel love. In a time when the world could use more acts of love and kindness, this storybook invites us to appreciate the little things, from the feeling of warm sun on your skin or the soft fur of a puppy to spending time with loved ones.
As a beginner watercolour artist and children’s author, I hope my first storybook will inspire others to pick up a pen or paintbrush and discover the wonderful things that come from letting creativity flow without expectations or boundaries. We’re never too young or too old to engage in creative practice!
To purchase copies of the "What is Love?" storybook, please contact the artist, Leah McGraw through her Artist Directory Profile.
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Crystal Noir
Biography
Crystal Noir is an emerging artist of Jamaican and Ukrainian descent from Vancouver, B.C. Her oil paintings combine surrealism with portraiture - using bold colour, imagery, and symbolism to tell distinct narratives. Passionate about depicting the multitude of stories related to Black culture, Crystal does so in a way that is accessible to a broad audience. Her current explorations display her muses without the upper parts of their heads, and in place the message behind the work is presented. Both her figures and accompanying metaphors invite the audience to find themselves within the context and themes of the individual and collective work.
Coming from the corporate fashion world with a professional background in branding - Crystal spent years executing large cohesive bodies of work for major retail brands and brings this knowledge into her daily artistic practice. Through visual art Crystal is now able to portray her vision, her way.
Artist Statement
My series titled The Four Elements are dedicated to the Four Elements of Life - Earth, Fire, Air and Water this oeuvre acts as an awareness capsule for our planet and supporting elements which are all currently at risk due to climate change. The intention behind the work is to serve as an educational tool, as it can be accompanied by the research I have gathered speaking to the risk of each element - and what we as a community can do to maintain the longevity of our planet in respect to each one. It is imperative that our young generation understands the severity of climate change in order to facilitate interest in preventative actions they can take to sustain our planet - and this series enables this dialogue in a gentle and digestible way.
The paintings themselves serve a dual meaning as they can be used as a teaching tool demonstrating color theory and surrealism and to a young artist and art lover. The series is created using only complementary colors in both the backgrounds and subjects - and features other noteworthy elements such as monochromatic and triadic skin tones as well as the usage of color inversion. The figures within all the paintings have been crafted using complementary hues to develop their skin tones, making them accessible to all children as they are non-racial and universal in their projection. Using a surrealist approach I have deconstructed each subject to make their appearance more accessible to a broader audience. This enables the message of the series to be the focal point, allowing the viewer to seamlessly place themselves within the subject matter of the individual and collective work.
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Emily Picard
Biography
I am a resident of Sechelt, the Sunshine Coast, BC. I currently work as the Design and Communications Assistant at the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre. As a multimedia artist, I work in several different mediums including acrylic paint, ink, spray painting and Copic Markers. I discovered my formal interest in creating art in secondary school when we were given the freedom to create, pursuing it further at the University of British Columbia; graduating with my bachelors this past May. Sechelt has the highest artists per capita and growing up in such an environment greatly inspired me as an artist and I strive to do so for others. I am interested in every opportunity that comes my way and am grateful for any feedback and opportunity to grow.
Left - Lionfish detail image
Artist Statement
I have a series of Chimeric Myths, Dragons and Dinosaurs in my calligraphy ink style, as well as my rainbow pet portraits (acrylic paint on canvas) that I have seen appeal to youth. I also have prints of my ink work, which is set at a lower price point but are individualized with various hand done foil colours to make every piece unique. I also play with many otherworldly scenes and space scenes when I do Spray Paintings. This whimsical nature of my work often sparks interest in the younger generation and it is a dream come true to be able to contribute to others’ childhood through my art.
My work allows me to interact with both alternate realities and our own; bringing a part of these worlds into form on our side of existence. I am a mixed media artist, working in both dry and wet mediums, often using found objects. I work with realism from this and other worlds. These “worlds” can be a certain time or location or even an entire plane of existence. The concepts stemming from this interest of worlds include; dystopian futures, alternate realities, and mythologies as fiction and non-fiction. Drawing from the worlds I’ve learned about through a multitude of forms, I bring narratives into my body of work to span these different planes: a link between worlds.
Living in a multicultural family, I strive to investigate the backgrounds and aspects of different cultures. I find interest in these cultures as they form different worlds with their own context, histories, and mythologies; passing down that knowledge through various forms.
As an artist, I aspire to give my work entrances to alternate worlds and meanings when perceived in different situations, both theoretically and physically. As my means to create evidence and authenticate my ideas, my work explores the connections we see in our world to others, engaging with the universes collectively built throughout our timeline.
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Joshua Ralph
Biography
Joshua Ralph is a digital compositor and 2D animator by trade, with films having competed in Ottawa International Animation Festival and Innsbruck Nature Film Festival. A graduate of Emily Carr University of Art + Design, in his personal practice he intersects artmaking and ecology. Throughout the Summer + Fall of 2022, Joshua has been engaging in a series of public workshops within Southwest BC, rendering invasive plant material from local restoration sites to art supplies, aiming to provide sustainable and accessible drawing material to youth and community members. He can often be spotted biking around Richmond and looking at birds.
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Sharon Reay
Biography
Sharon Reay’s hands have been immersed in clay and the creative process most of her life. In the early 1970’s, she attended the Vancouver School of Art (now Emily Carr University), before marrying and starting a family with her husband, Rod in Burnaby.
Rediscovering a passion for clay in the late 70’s, by the 80’s, she was selling work from her home studio, teaching classes to all ages in ceramics at what was the Burnaby Arts Centre (which later became the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts). By the 1990’s she had moved into arts administration, eventually becoming the Ceramic Arts Programmer for the Shadbolt Centre, for 27 years. There, she organized classes, workshops, special events and international ceramic symposiums (featuring some of the world’s top clay artists). Throughout her career, she continued to learn new techniques and to produce, show and sell her own work and has been involved in approximately 40 group and solo exhibitions - both in BC and internationally.
Retiring from her administrative position in 2017, Sharon has ‘re-emerged’ back into the studio.
From April until December, 2019, Sharon was the Ceramic Artist in Residence at Vancouver’s Museum of Anthropology. Of the 4 pieces she produced during the residency, 2 were purchased by MOA, to be displayed in the Koerner Collection of European Ceramics, near the pieces that inspired them.
Artist Statement
I was raised in a large family, on a rural farm outside of Nanaimo. My Father was a lover of books and his nightly bedtime stories filled my head with images of make believe. My Mother who believed ‘busy hands are happy hands’ provided a constant array of art materials, from paper and crayons, to a play doh made from salt and cornstarch. I was practically destined for a career in the arts. In the late 70’s, I began to focus on ceramics, creating whimsical characters from clay, who seem to have crawled out from between the pages of a child’s storybook. However, also possessing a practical side, I liked my work to have a function. So I developed skills in wheel throwing and extruding and ended up producing functional objects, but with elements of sculpture or illustration. I work in high fire stoneware, mostly finishing pieces in atmospheric firings, such as wood, soda or gas and always reflective of my love of nature and children’s literature.
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Erin Shakespeare
Biography
Born in North Vancouver, B.C., Erin’s artwork has been greatly impacted by her love of nature, and time spent making up fairytales in the forest. Her work today always has an element of nature, whether it’s a modern landscape painting, or a figure painting that celebrates the human form and its relationship to plants and food from the earth.
After attending Simon Fraser University for 3 years, studying Visual Arts, Erin felt disconnected from the why behind her creativity. While her education provided her with new concepts and ideas, along with a thorough modern art history education, she fell out of love with the creative process.
At that point in time, she took a 5 year hiatus from artwork to pursue a career in fitness as a personal trainer and yoga teacher. This time reconnected her to her body, and took her personal reflections to a deeper level through her spiritual journey.
In 2018, she realized that something was missing from her life, and picked up her artistic practice once more. She has since shown her work at the RAW artist showcase in Vancouver, Hunter and Hare boutique, and Melanie Auld jewelry. While she has taken many classes over her lifetime, Erin’s artistic style is greatly based in experimentation and self-direction. At one point during one of those classes, her art instructor told her that she broke every rule that he had told her to do but that it always seemed to work out.
Her landscapes are abstract and leave the viewer with more of a feeling of being in nature, rather than a clear depiction of where they are, and her figurative works blend body and nature until the viewer is no longer sure where one begins and the other ends. This process of painting gives Erin the opportunity to deepen her personal reflections, and offer them up to her audience.
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River Shirazian
Artist Statement
My art has always been a big part of my life as a creative outlet and a way for me to express myself. I have always been fascinated by natural and imaginary worlds. I make art to create something new and to share that creation with others. My art is inspired by my dreams and life experiences as well as emotions. Nature and animals play a very important part in my creative process, as they continuously inspire me and teach me new things. I hope my art can speak to people of all ages and spark creativity in the minds of young and old artists alike, of all identities and life experiences.
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Ivan So
Biography
Ivan is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and graphic designer who believes that art can be used as a tool for empowerment, fun, and creativity. As an education assistant in a high school, he has extensive experience working with youth of all abilities. His interests in education, art, and design have helped him develop a passion for good pedagogy and inclusive education. Growing up, Ivan has always found an interest in manipulating materials and exploring new mediums in his own work. However, with the progression of technology in this day and age, he has been fascinated with digital mediums such as illustrations, animation, and photography. He has exhibited work at the Audain Gallery, Arts Club, Vancouver Playhouse, The Cultch, Gateway Theatre, and more. Ivan studied at Simon Fraser University and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts. He also studied Graphic Design and UX/UI design at British Columbia Institute of Technology.
Protect my mother
She gives generously, desiring nothing in return
Her only request
Respect
Progression like seeds
Some may fail to mature
And some may thrive
Armed for battle, my mother is eternal
A home for the past, present, and future
My mother is sensitive
Delicate to touch
And fragile as glass
Artist Statement
The goal of the Specimen Series is to challenge viewers to consider the benefits and consequences of having mutations within nature, specifically addressing the production of genetically modified organisms (GMO) and the attempts to perfect nature through human interventions. In this series, six fictional organisms are depicted in white against a black background, representing images produced through x-rays. Each organism may evoke discomfort through its uncanny and functionless anatomy. However, I wanted to ensure that they are also portrayed as idealistic shapes that are also beautiful and intriguing.
I believe that galleries are a place for education, healing, and enjoyment. As a queer Chinese artist, I am committed to utilizing art to evoke conversations that are difficult to address such as homophobia, racism, and environmental justice. For myself, I believe that these types of conversations should be approached through two qualities, aesthetics and ambiguity. Aesthetics attract the viewers, encouraging them to learn more about the artwork while ambiguity allows the viewers to interpret an artwork that does not feel invasive or confrontational. To avoid misleading interpretations, I often include repetitive imagery that can help direct the viewer toward the intended topic.
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Carolyn Sullivan
Biography
Carolyn is a passionate photographer with talent in a wide array of photography and image processing. Technically minded with a wide set of modern artistic skills, for digital manipulation and layered composition. Her post education covered many aspects of the arts: photography, video, painting, florals, and dance. She enjoys the mingling of those fields with the use of older analog techniques in photography, to produce collages, multimedia presentations and short digital videos.
Carolyn worked in the photographic field all of her career; from commercial photography, creating content to portfolio studies, to curriculum development of new media to photographic and digital media instructions an artist in residence.
Left - High on Florals
Artist Statement
My photographs radiate of simplicity by means of the use of the elements of art: colour, line, and texture, to the playfulness of story telling with result of the use of the special effects, filters and layering , in computer soft ware. The teasing of abstraction on basic items like pets leave the child to imagine what they can do to their photographs.
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Clive Tucker
Biography
In 2000, Port Moody Arts Centre invited me to be one of the Ceramic Artists in Residence. I was offered a studio space over four times the size of my art school studio at Emily Carr.
I spent eight years at the arts centre as one of the ceramic artists in residence. I had 24/7 access, and I used it all. I made friends with the ghosts. Sometimes spending seven days a week there, I worked in my studio, taught classes, fired class work, mixed glazes, built tables and repaired the kilns.
Port Moody welcomed me into their community. I liked it so much, I moved here.
In 2008, I established my own studio on Murray street where I create new ceramic art.
I enjoy a playful, yet poignant approach to art and focus on keeping elements of play and whimsy in my work with a light sprinkling of irony.
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Max TS. Yang
PoMoArts Ceramic Artist in Residence 2022 - 2023
Biography
Max TS. Yang is a dedicated ceramic artist with a keen interest in sculpture and mold making. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Majoring in Ceramics, from NSCAD University and a Diploma of Fine Arts from Langara College. Receiving the BMO 1st Art Award and Kevin and Karen Lynch Scholarships for Ceramics, Max’s ceramic works examine the complex dynamics between human relationships.
Artist Statement
Clay is both the material I represent myself with and the vessel I tell my stories through, it is this passion for the earth and fire; rigidity and flexibility; heritage and innovation that fuels my creative soul. Working with sculptural ceramics, my studio practice captures the interactions of the human figure with mundane articles to illustrate a narrative. My storytelling focus on the intimate and personal, utilizing humour, I seek to strike a resonance with the audience through my sculptures.
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Teodora Zamfirescu
Biography
Born in Transylvania and since relocating various times around the globe, Teodora Zamfirescu has moved between East and West. This informs how she views the world in terms of philosophical as well as aesthetic questions. She points to the everyday moments, relationships and correlations as her source of inspiration, and describes her work as a playful response to existential thoughts. Her work is sometimes humorous and others deeply serious, anchored in contradictions of philosophical pessimism which is equally romantic and life-affirming. She remains a big supporter of collaborations, public space installations and ad-hoc processes.
Left - Braintrain 15" x 15" x 8" Mixed media NFS (detail image)
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Wei Zhang
Biography
Wei Zhang was born in Beijing in 1957. Graduated from Central Institute of Arts and Crafts (now Tsinghua Academy of Art). Engaged in teaching in art college, product design, interior, and landscape design. One of the famous and influential contemporary artists in China. Wei Zhang has traveled and studied in the United States, Canada, Europe, and other countries. Institutions and individuals mostly collect their artwork. Now living in Vancouver and keep working on the exploration of international contemporary art.
Left - Untitled 2 detail image
Artist Statement
The construction of an artwork comes from the continuous accumulation of joyous life, and the beautiful balance of love, security, pleasure, belonging, control, and achievement. This is what I hope children can detect in my artwork.
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Art 4 Life
This show is presented as a a hybrid digital and live exhibition installed in the gallery from September 15 - October 30, 2022. PoMoArts Gallery is open daily for in-person visits. See the PoMoArts website for Gallery hours.
Support our Local Arts Community
When you purchase artwork from PoMoArts (Port Moody Arts Centre Society) you are supporting local artists. A small portion will also go towards our gallery and programming initiatives. For more information about the artists please see their profiles on the Artist Directory.
For artwork inquiries or purchases, please call PoMoArts Customer Service staff at 604-931-2008 or email Janice Cotter, Gallery Manager, at gallery@pomoarts.ca.