Ed Zelenak “Selected Works 1970-2010”

Ed Zelenak “Selected Works 1970-2010” – September 4-25, 2010

This was Ed Zelenak’s first exhibition with the Michael Gibson Gallery. We selected important works spanning from the 1970s through to 2010. The sculptures are minimally delicate and refined as well as complex and physically rendered. The exhibition showed Zelenak’s consistency as an artist and his love of materials.

Ed Zelenak is recognized as one of Canada’s senior sculptors. His artwork incorporates a variety of materials such as metals, wood, paper and canvas and focuses on the familiar iconography of trees, crosses, stairs, arrows and circles which permeate our daily experience. Zelenak’s art has an innate spirituality and often refers to ancient myths and modern philosophies.

Born in St. Thomas, ON in 1940, Zelenak studied at the Ontario College of Art and Design from 1957-1959 and then resumed his art studies in 1960-1961 at the Fort Worth Art Centre and Barsch Kelly Atelier in Dallas, Texas. He began exhibiting in 1963 and was represented by Carmen Lamanna Gallery, Toronto from 1969-1978.

Significant public exhibitions include solo shows at the Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon in 1981 (curated by Phillip Monk) and “Ed Zelenak: Finding a Place” at the London Regional Art and Historical Museum in 1989 (Curated by Marnie Fleming).

Zelenak’s work is included in the collections of the National Gallery of Canada, Art Gallery of Ontario, Musee cantonal des Beaux-Arts, Lausanne, Switzerland, Czech Museum of Fine Arts, Prague and the Chicago Athenaeum, Chicago.

Link to Ed Zelenak’s Artist Page HERE