was born in Calgary in 1982, and graduated from the Emily Carr University of Art and Design in 2007. The following years after university, Olson travelled extensively, studying painting at artist residencies in Canada, Italy and India. Olson self-curated his first solo show in an abandoned gas station in 2008.
Since then, his paintings have been recognized by curators and galleries which has led to exhibitions at the Glenbow Museum, MOCA Calgary, Art Gallery of Calgary and the University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee Union Gallery. In 2012, his painting, “The Skateboarder”, was included in the BP Portrait Award exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in London, UK, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland and the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter, UK.
In 2014 Olson moved to Düsseldorf, Germany to study at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf as Peter Doig’s guest student. He currently lives and maintains a studio in Dusseldorf, Germany.
His artwork is in the permanent collections of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, McCarthy Tetrault LLP, Richard Ivey School of Business, RBC and TD Bank.
Andrew Gunn has interviewed Erik Olson about his October show “Hold The Line”.
Art with Heart 25th annual art auction takes place on Tuesday, October 16 at the AGO
Gathie Falk and Erik Olson are included in a 3 person exhibition at the Glenbow Museum, Calgary.
The 24th Annual Art With Heart Auction, a Fundraiser for Casey House, is on October 17 at the AGO.
Erik Olson is included in BEERS London’s summer exhibition celebrating 11 Canadian artists.
Erik Olson is in LA for the month of April & May to attend the LA Brea Studio Artist Residency.
Online catalogue of Erik Olson’s new hand-coloured etchings now available
Erik Olson in annual curated exhibit that features artists that show distinct promise.
Watch a quick trailer introducing Erik Olson’s Portraits exhibit – Opens Saturday 2-4pm.
Erik Olson included in “Various Artists: KING KONG CRISIS” at Contemporary Pop Ups in Dusseldorf
View party pics from our 16th annual sizzling summer soiree 2014
Erik Olson is moving to Dusseldorf Germany to be Peter Doig’s guest student at the Kunstakademie.
born 1982 in Calgary
2014/2015 – Kunstakademie, Dusseldorf, Germany, Guest Student of Professor Peter Doig
2007 – Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Bachelor’s Degree
2018 – Hold the Line, Michael Gibson Gallery, London, ON
– In the Trees, VivianeArt, Calgary, AB
2017 – L.A. Paintings, Luis De Jesus Los Angeles, California, USA
-New Paintings, The Cabin LA, Los Angeles, California, USA
2016 – Portraits, Michael Gibson Gallery, London, ON
-Untitled Miami Beach, Presented by BravinLee Programs, New York, USA
– Erik Olson, Barbara Edwards Contemporary, Calgary, AB
2015 – Düsseldorfer, BravinLee Programs, New York
– The Painter’s Studio, Michael Gibson Gallery, London, ON
2014 – The Mountains, Michael Gibson Gallery, London, ON
– Figures, Douglas Udell Gallery, Edmonton, AB
2013 – New Portraits, BravinLee Programs, New York
– The Dance, Michael Gibson Gallery, London, ON
– Architecture of the Face, Douglas Udell Gallery, Vancouver
2012 – Space, Skew Gallery, Calgary, Canada
2011 – Out of India, Skew Gallery, Calgary, Canada
2008 – IDEAL Art Space, Calgary, Canada
2018 – Cosmos: Gathie Falk, Margaret Nazon and Erik Olson, Glenbow Museum, Calgary, AB
2017 – Art Toronto, Michael Gibson Gallery, London, ON & Luis De Jesus Los Angeles, California
O Canada, Beers Contemporary, London, UK
Paper Works, 2 Person Exhibition, Viviane Art Gallery, Calgary, Canada
Papier, Presented by Viviane Art Gallery, Montreal, Canada
Contemporary Visions VII, Beers Contemporary, London, UK
Text, Michael Gibson Gallery, London, Canada
2016 – Art Toronto, Michael Gibson Gallery, London, ON
-Papier 16, Barbara Edwards Contemporary, Montreal, QC
-Introspective, BravinLee Programs, New York, NY
-Launchpad, Viviane Art Gallery, Calgary, AB
2015 – Art Toronto, Michael Gibson Gallery, London, ON
– Sought After, Jarvis Hall Gallery, Calgary, AB
– King Kong Crisis, Contemporary Pop Ups, Dusseldorf, Germany
– Art with Heart Auction, Toronto, ON
– Rundgang, Class of Peter Doig, Kunstakademie Dusseldorf, Germany
2014 – Voted Most Likely, Curated by Kim Dorland, Contemporary Gallery, Calgary, AB
– Hey Stranger, Plug Projects, Kansas City, USA
– The White Room, Michael Gibson Gallery, London, ON
– Art Toronto, Michael Gibson Gallery, London, ON
– Fall, Douglas Udell Gallery, Edmonton, AB
– Portraiture, Whyte Museum, Banff, AB
– Spring, group exhibition at Douglas Udell Gallery, Edmonton, AB
– Art and Value II, Michael Gibson Gallery, London, ON
2013 – Art Toronto, Michael Gibson Gallery, London, ON
– Winter, Douglas Udell Gallery, Edmonton
– Fall, Douglas Udell Gallery, Edmonton
– Olympian Heights, group exhibition at MOCA Calgary, Alberta
– Floater, BravinLee Programs, New York, New York
– Faces, Douglas Udell Gallery, Vancouver, BC
– Garage Montage, Art Gallery of Calgary, Calgary, AB
– Collecting from the Michael Gibson Gallery, Thames Art Gallery, Chatham, ON
– BP Portrait Award 2012, at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter, UK
– Art & Value, Michael Gibson Gallery, London, ON
– Made in Alberta, MOCA, Calgary, AB (curated by Jeffrey Spalding)
– BP Portrait Award 2012, at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland
2012 – Art Toronto, Michael Gibson Gallery, Toronto, Canada
– BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London, UK
– Art Park, Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Canada
2011 – Askew: New Directions in Painting (curated by Andrea Avery), Union Gallery, University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee, USA
– Calgary Collects (curated by Jeffrey Spalding) Art Gallery of Calgary, Calgary, AB
– The Cheaper Show (curated by Jessica Delorme), Vancouver, BC
– NEXT, Chicago’s Invitational Art Fair, Chicago, IL
2010 – Fresh Paint, Alberta Foundation for the Arts Travelling Exhibition, Canada
2009 – Merge, Skew Gallery, Calgary, AB
– Fresh Paint, Alberta Foundation for the Arts Travelling Exhibition
2008 – Redshift: Witnessing Landscape Change, Two person show, Art Gallery of Calgary, Calgary, AB
2018 – La Brea Artist Residency, Los Angeles, California
2017 – La Brea Artist Residency, Los Angeles, California
2010 – Sanskriti Artist Residency, New Delhi, India
2009 – Emma Lake Artist Residency, Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
2007 – The Banff Centre, Banff, Alberta, Canada
2015 – Canada Council for the Arts Travel Grant
2014 – Alberta Foundation for the Arts Project Grant
2013 – Canada Council for the Arts Travel Grant
2013 – Alberta Foundation for the Arts Visual Arts Project Grant
2012 – Alberta Foundation for the Arts Travel Grant
2009 – Alberta Foundation for the Arts Visual Arts Project Grant
2006 – Alberta Foundation for the Arts Visual Arts Project Grant
2003 – Friends of Emily Carr Scholarship
2003 – Bill Crosby Scholarship
“Erik Olson experiments with vibrant non traditional portraiture”, Juxtapose, April 2017
“Erik Olson” Art Scene LA, June 2017″Previews: Erik Olson LA Paintings”, Arrested Motion, July 2017
“Erik Olson Paints his Peers”, by Charles Shafaieh, Blouin Art Info, March 2016
“Studio Visit: Erik Olson”, Need Supply Co. January 2016
“Erik Olson – The Painter’s Studio”, London Yodeller, October 2015
“Erik Olson”, Numero Magazine China, October 2015
“Following Curiosity with Erik Olson”, Style No Chaser, 2015
“Erik Olson”, FREQ Magazine, Dec 2014
“On the Landscape”, Canadian Interviews, July 2014
“Famed Artist puts distinctive touch on Rockies”, London Free Press, July 2014
“Erik Olson on Architecture of the Face”, Echo Canyon, 2014
“Slices of Moving Art”, Lancia, November 2013
“Interview with Erik Olson”, The Fox is Black, September 2013
“Notable Artist Profile”, Notable, October 2013
“A Talk with Erik Olson”, Sir Magazine, August 2013
OPCION Magazine (Mexico) November 2012
“Erik Olson”, by Maureen Latta, Galleries West Magazine, November 27, 2012
LOLA Magazine (Brazil), October 2012
JWRNL (Mexico), September 2012
“BP Portrait Award: in pictures”, London Telegraph
“An other-worldly perspective”, by Vanessa Gillard, The Reflector, February, 2012
“Calgary Collects”, by Jeffrey Spalding, Exhibition Catalogue, 2012
“Painting a New Era: the artwork of Min Hyung, Wil Murray & Erik Olson”, by Jason Altobelli, September 2011
“Wanderlust: Painter Erik Olson colours his world”, by Katie Addleman, Elle Canada, 2011
“Merging Artists”, by Andrea Williamson, Visual Arts, 2009
“How a ramshackle shack became IDEAL Artspace”, by Anthea Black, Visual Arts, 2008
Alberta Foundation for the Arts
McCarthy Tetrault LLP
Richard Ivey School of Business
TD Bank
March 6 - March 28 - 2020
“Environmental Land” – March 6 – 28, 2020 Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we are open by appointment only. Please call 519.857.4505 or email michael@gibsongallery.com to make an appointment to see the exhibition. Our March exhibition explores diverse representations of the environment, land and nature. Not all of the artists are characterized as “landscape […]
November 30 - January 4 - 2020
“Small Gems II” – November 30, 2019 – January 4, 2020 For the month of December in our middle gallery, we have hung salon-style “Small Gems” by gallery artists. Often small works of art are overlooked during exhibitions. The artwork included in our show represents new additions to the gallery as well as gems […]
September 20 - October 27 - 2018
Erik Olson “Hold The Line” September 20 – October 27, 2018 We are pleased to present Erik Olson’s fifth solo exhibition, “Hold The Line”, new paintings capturing the people and places from his epic motorcycle journey across America. Two years ago when Calgary-born-Dusseldorf-based Erik Olson was in London for his last solo exhibition, […]
April 6 - April 28 - 2018
“The Power of Placement” April 6-28, 2018 For the month of April we have created vignettes of mid-century modern furniture paired with select artworks by gallery artists. The seating areas, dining room and living room are all complimented by bold works of art that are enhanced by the furniture. Through the exhibition we show how […]
December 2 - December 30 - 2017
Small Gems – December 2 – 30, 2017 For the month of December in the middle gallery, we have hung salon-style “Small Gems” by gallery artists. Will Gorlitz’ compassionate painting of a “Gorilla” looks over the west wall which includes a rare watercolour by Jack Chambers, a 1965 abstract print by Jack Bush and […]
October 27 - October 30 - 2017
ART TORONTO 2017 – Booth #A57 October 27-30 Thank you to everyone who attended Art Toronto and made our 18th consecutive year exhibiting a rewarding experience. We curated our booth around the theme of colour and the female figure. Greg Curnoe set the mood with the early rare 1962 “Woman and Mirror” painting, which […]
January 6 - February 19 - 2017
Text – January 6 – February 26, 2017 When I was selecting artwork for our January group show, I wanted to focus on art that contained the written word, specifically, in order to explore the use and purpose of the text. Each of these artists have chosen to add text to their work. The […]
December 3 - December 31 - 2016
Erik Olson “Portraits” – December 3 – 31, 2016 For his fourth solo exhibition at the Michael Gibson Gallery, Erik Olson presents a deeply personal group of portrait paintings that depict his peers, close friends, and the artist himself. Through expansive vivid color, fragmented line, and diversity in scale, these paintings portray the self in […]
October 28 - October 31 - 2016
October 28 – 31, 2016 at Metro Toronto Convention Centre We will be exhibiting the following artists: Greg Curnoe‘s rare self portrait from the 1980s, text-based watercolours and late stamped self-portraits. Susan Dobson‘s newest series of photographs that capture from a birds-eye view, slide drawers from a de-commissioned slide library. Lush new paintings of […]
October 23 - October 26 - 2015
Art Toronto — October 23-26, 2015 From October 23 – 26, Michael Gibson Gallery exhibited at Art Toronto for the 16th consecutive year. The dynamic new floor-plan, new marketing and enthusiastic collectors produced a very successful fair. Our booth featured a balance of young emerging artists – Ufuk Gueray (who we sold out), Mark Mullin, […]
October 1 - October 24 - 2015
Erik Olson “The Painter’s Studio” – October 1-24, 2015 “The Painter’s Studio” features new paintings by Erik Olson completed at the Kunstakademie in Dusseldorf, Germany. The paintings are related to the theme of ‘The Painter’s Studio’ and are influenced by Olson’s experience of being in the vast painting studios at the famed art akademie. […]
September 4 - September 26 - 2015
The School Show — September 4 – 26, 2015 For the month of September we are featuring a selection of abstract works by Ashleigh Bartlett, Greg Curnoe, James Kirkpatrick, John Kissick, Wanda Koop, Jason McLean, Ron Moppett, Mark Mullin and Erik Olson. With back to school in mind, I began curating our September […]
October 24 - October 27 - 2014
Toronto International Art Fair — October 24-27, 2014 Last weekend we enjoyed a successful 15th Annual Toronto International Art Fair. Opening night was full of energy which continued throughout the entire weekend. We were successful in selling a selection of Gathie Falk’s paintings that will be included in our November exhibition as well as […]
July 4 - July 26 - 2014
Erik Olson “The Mountains” — July 4 – 26, 2014 Erik Olson finds his inspiration from life: from his friends, the surrounding landscape, the city and clear skies at night. He continually follows his curiosity. Beginning with a simple interest in a subject, Olson researches and collects extensive source material before he sets out […]
October 25 - October 28 - 2013
Join us at Booth #802 for the 14th Annual Toronto International Art Fair — October 25-28, 2013 METRO TORONTO CONVENTION CENTRE North Building, Exhibit Hall A & B 255 Front Street West OPENING NIGHT PREVIEW Thursday, October 24, 2012 A Benefit for the Art Gallery of Ontario Special Collectors’ Preview 4:30-6:30pm Tickets: $300.00 Opening Night […]
July 5 - August 2 - 2013
Erik Olson “The Dance” — July 5 – August 2, 2013 We are thrilled to present Erik Olson’s first solo exhibition with the Michael Gibson Gallery. Olson’s new paintings included in “The Dance” are inspired by late classical and early modern dance imagery. Olson used 1950’s black and white ballet textbooks as his source […]
October 26 - October 29 - 2012
Michael Gibson Gallery Booth #802 ART TORONTO October 26-29, 2012 METRO TORONTO CONVENTION CENTRE North Building, Exhibit Hall A & B 255 Front Street West OPENING NIGHT PREVIEW Thursday, October 25, 2012 A Benefit for the Art Gallery of Ontario. Special Collectors’ Preview 4:30-6:30pm Tickets: $300.00 Opening Night Preview 6:30-10pm Tickets: $200.00 PUBLIC HOURS: Friday […]
A quick sneak peek at Erik Olson’s December 2016 “Portraits” exhibition
Janice Zolf interviews Erik Olson at his Michael Gibson Gallery exhibition “The Dance” in 2013.