A Beautiful Life: Still Life Exhibition Summer & Grace Gallery

Pleased to share I will be exhibiting work in the upcoming still life exhibition with Summer & Grace Gallery. After a North American call out, a unique opportunity to show my work alongside a talented group of North American painters in Oakville, Ontario. This exhibition, touted as the ‘artistry of everyday’ brings together artworks offering a unique perspective on the beauty found in the ordinary.

Tulip as Still Life – About the Painting

CHARITY – acrylic on canvas painting of Canada150 tulip, 36×36, Brandy Saturley

My expression of the Canada150 tulip. The most common meaning for tulips is perfect or deep love. Because tulips are one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring, they can mean rebirth. Victorians often associated tulips with charity, and the Dutch associate tulips with “Thanks” to Canadian soldiers that liberated The Netherlands in World War II.

With my painting of this iconic and graceful tulip I chose to depict it frozen in time, somehow preserving it for generations to come. With my signature pop art style rendering of a tulip against a backdrop of blue sky and ocean, I sought to capture the elegance and simplicity of the subject.

Beautiful Everyday: History of Still Life Painting in Canada

Still life painting, a genre dating back to antiquity, gained prominence in Western art during the Renaissance. Depicting inanimate objects such as fruit, flowers, and everyday items, still life compositions often symbolize themes of mortality, wealth, and the passage of time. In Canada, notable still life painters include Newfoundland’s Pratt family. Mary Pratt, celebrated for her hyper-realistic renderings of domestic scenes, and Christopher Pratt, known for his minimalist approach and use of light and shadow. Their works capture the essence of Canadian life and landscape while exploring the subtleties of color, form, and texture. These artists, among others, have contributed significantly to the rich tapestry of Canadian art, infusing the tradition of still life painting with a distinctively Canadian perspective.

Mary Pratt, Jelly Shelf, 1999. Oil on canvas, 55.9 x 71.1. cm. Collection of Equinox Gallery. Photo: Ned Pratt.

If you are in Oakville, Ontario you are invited to pop in and see the show.

Hosted at the enchanting Summer & Grace Gallery, nestled at 350 Lakeshore Road East, this event promises to be an evening of unparalleled beauty and inspiration.

Date: Thursday, May 30th, 4-8 PM
Location: Summer & Grace Gallery, 350 Lakeshore Road East

Show runs May 30th to July 14, 2024

More on the Summer & Grace Gallery website.