2017 Year in Review


summer

2017 Year in Review

Thank you to everyone who helped make 2017 a successful year for the artists and clients we work with at Michael Gibson Gallery. We are passionate about what we do.

 

2017 Exhibition Highlights

 

Clark McDougall

March featured early paintings from 1944-1954 by Clark McDougall. The exhibition followed Clark’s journey from carefree watercolours done in his early 20s, through to his discovery of the French “Fauve” painters and the influence of critic Clement Greenberg.

 

Ashleigh BartlettApril was a celebration of colour with Ashleigh Bartlett’s solo exhibition that combined collage and painting, creating interesting dialogues between the shapes and the painted surfaces.

 

May was Will Gorlitz’s long awaited solo exhibition at the gallery that explored the landscape in its varying forms: shorelines, dense forests, farmland and states of the moon. Watch our video interview with Will Gorlitz HERE and read the Border Crossings Magazine review HERE.

 

June was our 5th solo exhibition with Montreal painter Michael Smith. His lush landscape paintings explored different seasons, shifting light, atmospheres and spirit. Watch our video interview with Smith HERE.

 

Jonathan Forrest

In July we celebrated with our 19th Annual Sizzling Summer Soiree and solo exhibitions for both Jonathan Forrest and Colin Muir Dorward. Forrest dazzled us with a luminous exhibition of new, layered abstract paintings. Watch a studio tour and interview with Jonathan Forrest HERE.

 

Colin Muir Dorward

Colin Muir Dorward’s middle gallery exhibition included en-plein-air paintings of the Thames River: tightly packed landscapes of jumbles of detritus, sticks, earth and sky.

 

James KirkpatrickMid July, in collaboration with Accents on Richmond St., we had a pop-up exhibition for James Kirkpatrick where he exhibited new paintings, t-shirts and custom surfboards. View pictures from the event HERE.

 

Three plus three
Our September show, “Three + 3”, included 6 artists who came of age as artists in London, ON: Greg Curnoe, Murray Favro, Ron Martin, James Kirkpatrick, Jason McLean and Billy Bert Young. View install shots HERE and party pictures HERE.

 

Gathie Falk

October was our third solo exhibition for Gathie Falk. In “Mostly Small Paintings”, Gathie painted for us intimate still-life inspired paintings that celebrated everyday objects from her life.

 

Art Toronto

At the end of October, we attended, for the 18th consecutive time, Art Toronto 2017. We curated our booth around the theme of colour and the female figure. Greg Curnoe’s early rare 1962 “Woman and Mirror” painting and Gordon Rayner’s 1962 construction of “Two Women” both sold opening night. Erik Olson’s portrait paintings sold well and Susan Dobson’s photographs of a Canadian art slide collection sold to a Calgary corporate collection.

Jonathan Forrest’s crisp abstract paintings were a hit and Hans Wendt’s vibrant watercolours balanced nicely with Jason McLean’s diaristic drawings, which also found new homes. We are very proud of our booth and are already working on next year! View 2017 booth images HERE

 

Hans Wendt
November was our 1st solo exhibition for PEI artist Hans Wendt. Our exhibition featured nine large-scale watercolour paintings of carefully composed cut, ripped, folded and torn paint samples. We are pleased that Wendt’s watercolours are now in private collections in Vancouver, Toronto and London as well as the permanent collection of Global Affairs. Watch our video for Wendt’s show HERE.

 

Ron Martin

Our December exhibition featured rare Ron Martin paintings dating between 1970–1987. We chose well known examples from Martin’s diverse body of work: from an early “World Painting”, sumptuous late 1970s “Black Paintings”, geometric works from his “2, 8, 32, 128” series and gestural work from 1987. Read online catalogue for the exhibition HERE.

 

2017 Secondary Market Highlights

This past year we actively helped our collectors add unique and rare works to their art collections. We also assisted them in selling quality paintings as needed.

A highlight of the secondary market purchases and sales from the past year include: Jack Bush, Jack Chambers, Alex Colville, Roly Fenwick, Jean McEwen, Ron Martin, Guido Molinari, Gordon Rayner and Michael Snow.

Are you are looking for specific paintings to add to your collection? Would you like to sell and start acquiring younger artists? Do you need to edit your collection? Provide us with your needs or wishes and we will work hard for you. We are discreet, professional, and take the time to properly research your transaction.

We look forward to helping you with your next acquisition or de-accession. Please contact me directly at michael@gibsongallery.com or 519.857.4505.  Michael Gibson