• Untitled 2-19
  • 48" x 36" acrylic on canvas
  • David Newkirk

Artist Information

David Newkirk

Born: April 23, 1948
Price Range: $1900-$5000

In my paintings, I am interested in balancing the contradictions between orderly and expressive elements, methodical and intuitive processes, flat and implied three-dimensional space. Spontaneous/disorderly layers of shape and colour emerge from a largely intuitive process; the structured layers involve more deliberate planning. I enjoy both approaches in the overall process. Stated another way, the struggle for me is somehow to bring into balance the dichotomy of my own thinking and doing.

Rothko felt that large paintings allowed the artist to stay “inside” his/her work. I generally paint on fairly large canvasses that correspond roughly to the size of my body, and which will accommodate the arcs of gestures that are translated into lines and shapes in the paintings. The canvasses are large enough for me to stay “inside” the creative arena of each painting.

My work investigates the achievements of Modernism and its descendants. However, I remain skeptical of the many philosophical barriers that once may have seemed so important to each of the various schools of 20th century painting. I make no-holds-barred, wide-open paintings that dictate to me any stylistic restrictions, as they come to life in the studio. Within this permeable framework I try to create personally authentic paintings.

David Newkirk, winter 2013

Selected Exhibitions

2015, solo show The Reach Public Art Gallery, Abbotsford, BC.

2014, solo show (with supporting grant from the Ontario Arts Council), Thames Gallery, Chatham, Ont.

2013 Christmas Miniatures, Wallace Galleries, Calgary

2013, Group show, Wallace Galleries, Calgary, Alberta

2012, Group show, Oeno Gallery, Picton, Ontario

2012, The Affordable Art Fair, New York City, represented by Engine Gallery, Toronto

2011, Seeing Red & White Artists’ Exhibition, Kelowna Art Gallery, Kelowna, BC

2011, solo show, Vernon Public Art Gallery, Vernon, BC, curated by Lubos Culen

2011, Engine Gallery, Toronto, group show

2010, Engine Gallery, Toronto, group show

2010, Toronto International Art Fair, represented by Engine Gallery, Toronto

2009, December group show, SOPA Fine Arts, Kelowna, BC

2009, Spring group show, SOPA Fine Arts, Kelowna, BC

2008, This Just In, group show, SOPA Fine Arts, Kelowna, BC

2008, David Newkirk: Spare Parts, solo show, SOPA Fine Arts, Kelowna, BC

2006, Recent Work, Loop Gallery, Toronto

2005, Go Figure, Latcham Gallery, Stouffville, Ont., 10-artist exhibition curated by Maura Broadhurst

2004, Re-con-figuration, group exhibition curated by Director Joyce Millar at the Stewart Hall Art Gallery, Montreal

2003, I’m Thirsty, curated by Nicola Woods, Propeller Centre for the Visual Arts, Toronto.

Group exhibition included in the Ontario Society of Artists’ Water Project

1996 , Arts Etobicoke, Etobicoke Civic Centre, juried exhibition, (award of merit)

1988, Whitman Gallery, Toronto, two-artist show

1984, Idée Gallery, Toronto, group exhibition

1982, David Newkirk, Ten Years, solo show, Thames Cultural Centre, Chatham, Ontario

1980, New Talent in Canada, Prince Arthur Galleries, Toronto, three-artist exhibition

1980, Burlington Cultural Centre, Burlington, Ontario, juried exhibition

1980, Arts Etobicoke, Etobicoke Civic Centre, juried exhibition

1978, Mandeville Gallery (Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation), North York, solo show

1972, Rothmans Art Gallery, Stratford, Ontario, juried exhibition, (best in show)

1971, Rothmans Art Gallery, Stratford, Ontario, juried exhibition

Education

1976–8 Studies in art history, York University, Toronto

1974 Visual Arts Education Specialist, Ontario Ministry of Education

1973 Bachelor of Education, University of Toronto

1970–76 Part-time studies (studio) University of Western Ontario, Three Schools (Toronto), and the Ontario College of Art and Design University

1969–70 Ontario College of Art and Design University, Toronto

1969 Bachelor of Arts, University of Western Ontario

Bibliography

Broadhurst, M., Curator, Latcham Gallery, Stouffville, Ontario; Go Figure, Contemporary

Investigations into the Human Figure, exhibition publication, 2005

Culen, Lubos, Curator, Vernon Public Art Gallery; Fault Lines and Fantasies: David Newkirk,

exhibition publication, 2011

Chatham (Bureau), Artist Paints Life the Way He Sees It, The London Free Press, Nov. 1, 1982

Millar, J., (edited by, director/curator Stewart Hall Art Gallery, Pointe Claire, P.Q.)

Re-con-Figuration, (exhibition publication), 2004

Priegert, P., Artist Ventures Into Abstraction, Event Magazine, Kelowna Daily Courier, March 28, 2008

Shuebrook, R., History, Self, and Transformation: David Newkirk’s The Juicetrain Dialogues, joint Thames Art Gallery and The Reach (Abbotsford) publication, 2014 ISBN 978-1-894651-94-3

Wagner, V., At Least Two Artists Don’t Fit Stereotype Image, Chatham Daily News, Nov. 13, 1982

Teaching

1993 to 2000, Head of Creative Arts Department, (visual arts, music, drama, and dance),

North Albion Collegiate Institute, Toronto District School Board

1977 to 1993, Head of Visual Arts Department, North Albion Collegiate Institute

1973 to 2000, Art teacher, North Albion Collegiate Institute

1970–72, Art teacher, subject chair, Stratford Central Secondary School, Stratford, Ontario

(Perth County Board of Education)

Collections

 

BMO Financial Group, Corporate Art Collection

Rogers Broadcasting, Toronto

Municipality of Chatham Kent, Ontario

Lifetime Developments, Toronto

Vernon Public Art Gallery, Vernon, B.C.

The Thames Art Gallery, Chatham, ON

The Reach Gallery Museum, Abbotsford, B.C

The City of Pointe Claire, P.Q.

Private collections across Canada, and in the United States