"Waterfall V" by Eva Kolacz
Painting is the poetry of sight—at least that’s true for Eva Kolacz, whose love affair with words and music inspired her collection of expressive artworks. Kolacz, originally a puppeteer, uses light and shadow on canvas to create a window to a magical universe, much like the stages of her puppet shows past (“Waterfall V,” pictured). Explore Kolacz’s textured world at Kurbatoff Gallery (May 10 to 24).—Caitlin Dawson
"Janie Jones" by Alex Couwenberg
Less is more. That statement perfectly describes the minimalist work of Alex Couwenberg, whose visually arresting paintings strike a balance between emotion-evoking expressionism and hard-edged abstraction. The LA-based artist crafts unusual layered pieces with visible underpainting, using bold lines and graphic shapes that hark back to the mid-century modern school of design (“Janie Jones,” pictured). Jennifer Kostuik Gallery mounts the first exhibition of Couwenberg’s work in Canada (to May 13).—Kristina Urquhart
"Holy Man" by Robert Stonier. Photo by Tim Bonham courtesy Vancouver Art Gallery
To April 29
Take a trip back in time with the Vancouver Art Gallery’s Lights Out! Canadian Painting from the Sixties collection. The psychedelic 1960s weren’t only about mod fashion and flower power—the world was undergoing massive cultural changes, which were reflected in the political and social commentary made by Canadian modernist art at the time. This time-capsule exhibition mounts figurative and abstract pieces by artists including Greg Curnoe, Michael Morris and Ronald Stonier (“Holy Man,” pictured), with a focus on both expressionistic and geometric works that explore colour and optical illusion. Groovy, baby!—Kristina Urquhart
"Nest Mandala II" by Suzanne Northcott
Check out the contemporary paintings and drawings in New Work by Suzanne Northcott, a local mixed-media artist who favours the themes of transformation and migration (“Nest Mandala II,” pictured). At Granville Fine Art (Mar. 24 to 30).—Kristina Urquhart
"Cloud, North Pender Island, BC" by Toni Onley
The late great contemporary artist Toni Onley used to take his daughter Lynn on trips to remote Canadian locations in his floatplane so they could study and paint the scenery. Toni’s delicately tinted works (“Cloud, North Pender Island, BC,” pictured) live on, paired alongside his protégé’s richly coloured pieces in Connected Landscapes: Watercolours by Lynn & Toni Onley at Art Beatus (Mar. 2 to Apr. 27).—Kristina Urquhart
"The Grand Canal by Midnight" by Felix Francois G.P. Ziem, courtesy Uno Langmann Limited
It is said that every artist has a muse. Spellbound by the beauty of Italy, pre-Impressionist painter Felix Francois G. P. Ziem depicts Venice in spectacular landscapes, using light and colour to capture its otherworldly atmosphere. His oil paintings (pictured) embody the dream-like evocations of reality often present in his work. See this, and other visions of the beautiful country by artists such as Antoine Bouvard, in Italy Observed: Views and Souvenirs at Uno Langmann Limited (to Mar. 31).—Caitlin Dawson
"Aqueous" by Anda Kubis
Canadian artist Anda Kubis wants to grab your attention. Her abstract oil paintings (“Aqueous,” pictured in detail) use fleeting movement so the viewer must pause and focus to fully absorb the piece in its entirety. In Full Spectrum at Elissa Cristall Gallery (to Mar. 31), Kubis explores illusion and light, her work often mimicking the hazy, pulsating dots we see when we close our eyes. Colour us impressed.—Kristina Urquhart
"Waterline" by Maegan Harbridge, at Port Moody Arts Centre
Seek and you shall find. Some of our city’s coolest art galleries aren’t in Vancouver proper, but in our neighbouring cities. At Port Moody Arts Centre (to Feb. 19), student Maegan Harbridge’s soft abstracts and drawings in Goodnight Goodluck explore the destruction caused by the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan (“Waterline,” pictured). Also worth a drive to the ‘burbs: Burnaby Art Gallery and Richmond Art Gallery.—Kristina Urquhart
"Halo #4" by Gordon Wiens
Nothing beats a December walk down South Granville’s Gallery Row. Warm up by checking out hot new contemporary artworks in Gallery Artists at Bau-Xi Gallery (Dec. 3 to 23). Inside, you’ll find acrylics by abstract artist Gordon Wiens (“Halo #4,” pictured), as well as pieces by other painters such as Cori Creed and Joseph Plaskett. After, if you’re still feeling frosty, there are over 20 cool galleries on this strip to warm both your body and your mind.—Kristina Urquhart
More information:
BAU-XI GALLERY 3045 Granville St. 604-733-7011. www.bau-xi.com
"Gothic" by William Allister
High Impact
Looking for drama? You won’t be disappointed by the kaleidoscopic pieces from the estate of Canadian painter William Allister (“Gothic,” pictured) at Kurbatoff Art Gallery during its Holiday Season Group Show (to Dec. 31).—Kristina Urquhart
More information:
KURBATOFF ART GALLERY 2435 Granville St. 604-736-5444. www.kurbatoffgallery.com
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