2019 Year in Review
Thank you to everyone who made our 35th milestone year a rewarding and fun one at Michael Gibson Gallery. We are passionate about what we do.
Below are some exhibition, secondary market and artist highlights from the past year.
In January & February we celebrated the work of 10 Canadian artists who were born between 1931-1946. Our “A Generation” exhibition explored the relationships, regionalism and artistic influences of Iain Baxter, David Bolduc, Ian Carr-Harris, Greg Curnoe, Murray Favro, General Idea, Ron Martin, Royden Rabinowitch, Joyce Wieland and Ed Zelenak. Read Online Exhibition Catalogue HERE
In April we exhibited the incredible realist still-life paintings by PEI artist Hans Wendt. Wendt pays homage to the history of abstraction as well as adds to the conversation surrounding conceptual art.
Also in April, in our middle gallery, we exhibited the intricate drawings of Jenna Faye Powell. Her narrative drawings were based on a fictional group of optimists who lived within an imaginary apocalyptic landscape created by the ever-imaginative Powell.
For May we created vignettes of mid-century modern furniture paired with paintings, sculpture and photographs by gallery artists. Our “Power of Placement” exhibition inspired us to continue to feature rare pieces for sale, like the above Luigi Tiengo “High Back Blue Lounge Chair”, now in the gallery. Click HERE for pricing.
We were honoured in June to exhibit rare floral & still life paintings painted during the winters of 1983-1984 by Dorothy Knowles. These previously un-discovered paintings combined Knowles’ beloved prairie landscape with beautifully arranged cut flower arrangements. Read Online Exhibition Catalogue HERE
July was our 21st Annual Sizzling Summer Soiree and our first exhibition with Calgary painter Mark Dicey. His bold abstract paintings are an unrehearsed, instinctual performance where he uses layers of colour, shape and line to create his visually compelling and rhythmic abstract paintings.
In July we also exhibited new drawings by London-born, Brooklyn-based Jason McLean. His heavily researched drawings each focused on a specific theme and visually mapped out the subjects of hockey, baseball, celebrity and jazz.
Greg Curnoe’s “Richmond Street Studio Paintings” made between 1960-1962 were the focus of our September – October exhibition. The exciting figurative paintings and series of Day-Glo painted “walking women” works on paper revealed Curnoe’s creative energy and unbridled optimism of a young 26-year-old artist starting out. Read Online Exhibition Catalogue HERE
October marked our 20th consecutive year exhibiting at Art Toronto. Our booth this year featured the strong abstract paintings of Jack Bush, Charles Gagnon and Ron Martin. In direct relationship with the historical abstracts, we hung Jonathan Forrest’s luminous new paintings and Hans Wendt’s minimalist watercolours.
In juxtaposition to the abstracts, we hung a rare Graham Coughtry self portrait from 1963 and pre-“walking women” Michael Snow works on paper. Continuing with the figurative theme, we had a Betty Goodwin “Swimmer”, Day-Glo Greg Curnoe’s, sculptures by Aganetha Dyck and Liz Magor and a gritty photo assemblage by Steven Shearer.
In November we celebrated our 35 years in the art business with an exhibition called “A Few of My Favourite Things”. The show featured a small overview from Michael Gibson’s personal collection and told the story of collecting over time.
December’s “The HOCKEY SHOW” included 21 artists who all create hockey-inspired artwork. The diverse exhibition ranged from kitsch to contemporary and included vintage photographs, altered hockey equipment, paintings on hockey toys, naive pond-hockey paintings, drawings, sculpture and a print by Peter Doig.
2019 Secondary Market Highlights
This past year we actively helped collectors add unique and rare works to their art collections. We also assisted collectors who were in need to selling their fine artworks.
A highlight of the secondary market purchases and sales from the past year included sales by: Anne Meredith Barry, AJ Casson, Graham Coughtry, Greg Curnoe, Paterson Ewen, Gathie Falk, Betty Goodwin, Brian Jones, Wanda Koop, Clark McDougall, Ron Martin, Alfred Pellan, John Scott, Michael Snow and Takao Tanabe.
Since 1984, we have specialized in the acquisition and sale of artwork created by artists of significant Canadian cultural importance. If you are in possession of a painting of value, whether by your own purchase or through an inheritance, we encourage you to speak with us for a complimentary and confidential consultation.
Please contact me directly at michael@gibsongallery.com or 519 857 4505
Michael Gibson
2019 Artist Achievements
Judith Rodger’s book “Greg Curnoe: Life & Work” was published by the Art Canada Institute, one of their few online books now available in hard copy.
Susan Dobson was long listed for the Scotiabank Photography Award and installed a massive mural at the University of Toronto for Contact.
Colin Muir Dorward graduated with his PHD in visual art from Western University.
The Vancouver Art Gallery included Aganetha Dyck’s early shrunken sweaters in “Displacement”.
Gathie Falk was included in “A Curator’s View: Ian Thom Selects” at the Vancouver Art Gallery.
Murray Favro’s “Clunk” was purchased by the National Gallery of Canada.
Michael Gibson Gallery celebrated their 35th year in the art business and received articles in the London Free Press, Business London and London Inc.
James Kirkpatrick’s touring survey exhibition “To the Unseen Future” travelled to the Robert McLaughlin in March. In August he painted a 40 x 25 foot mural on the Dudas side of the building owned by the gallery. His painting “Thesis” was purchased by Museum London.
Jason McLean’s monumental drawing “Time Trigger” was purchased by Museum London.
Sage Szkabarnicki-Stuart was one of the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair’s juror’s picks and is currently featured on the cover of PhotoED magazine, a Canadian photography magazine featuring inspiring photo stories.
Diana Thorneycroft was included in the touring “Photography in Canada 1960-2000”, an exhibition organized by the Photography Institute of the National Gallery of Canada.
Hans Wendt’s watercolours from his April exhibition were purchased by the Bank of Montreal, Royal Bank of Canada and a Montreal Foundation.