The gallery is proud to present a new body of work by Canadian artist, Erik Olson. For the past year, Olson has been painting at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf as a guest student of internationally renowned artist/professor, Peter Doig. This exhibition features large portraits of fellow peers and painters that the artist became well acquainted with during his time at the school. Variations in approach with each portrait draw from each subject’s own artwork, their personalities, and Olson’s unique relationship with both.
Olson’s painting practice is recognized for a fragmented combination of figurative and abstract elements and bold application of vivid color. His works explore a variety of content, but the human figure and portraiture continue to be a central theme in his practice.
Calgary raised, Olson graduated with a BFA from Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Vancouver in 2007. In 2014/2015, he attended the critically acclaimed art academy, Kunstakademie Düsseldorf. Olson has been the subject of solo exhibitions in major cities across Canada and internationally in Europe and the United States. He currently lives and works in Düsseldorf, Germany.
