• Love Goddesses, 1982
  • 15" x 19.75" hand water-coloured woodcut 3/25
  • Herbert Siebner

Artist Information

Herbert Siebner
1925 - 2003

RCA
Price Range: $1200-$55,000

Siebner was born in 1925 in Germany. He studied fine arts under Dr. Ernst Schumacher (1935-37), at the Schiller Real Gymnasium, Stettin (1937-41), under Professor Atelier Max Richter, Stettin (1941-43), and finally at the College of Art in Berlin (1946-49).

He has had numerous one man shows and group exhibitions throughout Germany, France, the United States and Canada. In 1954 he immigrated to Canada.

Siebner was originally from Germany and immigrated to Canada in 1954.

He studied as a painter in Europe before he immigrated and had several exhibitions in Germany, Switzerland, Yugoslavia, and Italy. He also studied at the Berlin academy in the expressionist tradition. Of the 500 applicants that applied to the Academy only 50 were chosen, Siebner was one of those students. Later, only a selection of these students was chosen to enter a master-atelier. Here the students learnt from the basics as the great masters did (such as Monet), they learnt how to make their own paints, use texture and apply glazes and varnishes. This knowledge and discipline has all been but lost today. He was taught the traditional way and was apprentice for a number of years under some of histories most major expressionists, such as Max Kaus. His personal philosophy of creativity was to remain true regardless of the revolutionary stylistic changes of the times. His philosophy was to create and learn and become a master on his own. He was not one to copy or conform to the times; he learnt from other great painters and created what he felt. He was dedicated to work in the tradition that was true to a painter and that was to create and to live through his paintings. He wanted to express himself through art much like a musician does through his music, or a writer does through his words. In a way the art is Herbert Siebner’s words. He is telling a story. His work is not literal. He tells his stories through color, light, composition, and later symbolism. He stayed true to philosophy even throughout the war, and after the war when he was commissioned to paint officers for 12 cigarettes. On the death of his brother, he immigrated to Canada, and hence forth became an artist of own accord.

 

He taught several classes in Victoria and at the University of British Columbia. He was considered to live in his work and that art was his life. He has collections with: The City of Berlin, The Seattle Art Museum, The Victoria Art Gallery, The Royal Ontario Museum, the Princess Fernanda von Thurn and Taxis, amongst others. He has had several exhibitions in Canada, Europe, and the Untied States though out his painting career, totaling approximately 150 exhibitions. He was mentioned in Who’s who of Canada as one the west’s most important Canadian artists. He found his own in Canada and meeting with Lorne Harris in earlier years confirm his sense of belonging. This past September he was given a show (a retrospective) of 50 years of painting in Canada. He was the founder of the Limner group; a group to which Maxwell Bates was a member. He was a hallmark and very integral person in the arts community and was said to be “the defining moment of the city’s [Victoria] art history” by Classic scholar Peter L. Smith. He was and will remain to be for year to come one of Canada’s most important painters and printmakers.

 

There are a number of articles and books about Herbert Siebner. I have several here at the gallery. He was truly a master and an important painter. He is certainly not an easy read but a painter that will withstand time. His work will definitely define Canadian history for years to come.

 

PUBLICATIONS

Patricia E. Bovey. 1996. A Passion for Art: the Art and Dynamics of the Limners. Sono Nis Press, Victoria, British Colombia.

Creative Canada (Volume I). Who’s who in International Art. Who’s who in American Art.

Anthony Emery. 1958. Canadian Art, Spring. The Art of Herbert Siebner.

International Register of Profiles. Men of Achievement (Vol. 6). International Directory of Arts. Marquis: Who’s who in the West.

Dictionary of International Biography, Canadian who’s who. American Biographical Institute.

Herbert Siebner. 1974. Twelve Graphics. The Malahat Review, 31, July.

Herbert Siebner and Robin Skelton. 1967. Inscriptions.

Herbert Siebner and Robin Skelton. 1972. Muse book.

Herbert Siebner. 1970. Color Line and Form. Publishing House, Sidney, B.C.

Herbert Siebner and Robin Skelton. 1993. Herbert Siebner, RCA: A Celebration.

Robin Skelton. 1979. Herbert Siebner: A monograph. Sono Nis Press, Victoria, British Columbia.

Nicolas Tuele. 1984, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Dualities.

Don’t (Film). with Karl Spreitz

TV Victoria, B.C., H. Siebner: Artist After 70

AWARDS

1952 Olympic Committee Design, Berlin, Germany

1953 Heraldic Design Award, City of Berlin

1956 Reid Award for Graphics, Canadian Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers, Toronto

1957 B.C. sculpture award

1957 Seattle Art Museum

1959 Award for painting, Winnipeg Art Gallery

1960 Purchase award, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria

1961 Award for painting, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria

1961 Honorable Mention, Northwest Annual, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, Washington, USA

1962 Canada Council Senior Arts Fellowship

1973 Honorary Citizenship of Victoria, BC

MEMBER

1950 Berufsverband Bildender Kuenstler, Berlin, Germany.

1958 Canadian Group of Painters.

1973 Royal Canadian Academy.

MURALS

The University of Victoria, BC

The Crown House, Victoria, BC

The Provincial Museum, Victoria, BC

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

1950 Gallery Der Teekessel, Berlin Germany.

1954 Gallery Gerd Rosen, Berlin Germany.

1954 Norfolk Gallery, Victoria, BC

1955 Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria, BC

1956 Hart House, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON

1957 Seligman Gallery, Seattle, Washington, USA

1958 Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, BC

1958 Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria, BC

1958 New Design Gallery, Vancouver, BC

1959 Simone Gallery, Los Angeles, California, USA

1959 Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria, BC

1960 Seligman Gallery, Seattle, Washington, USA

1960 College of Education, Bellingham, Tennessee, USA

1960 Simone Gallery, Los Angeles, California, USA

1961 Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria, BC

1961 Seligman Gallery, Seattle, Washington, USA

1961 University of British Colombia, Vancouver, BC

1961 Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, BC

1961 Gallery 8, Sanata Barbara,

1962 The Point Group, Victoria, BC

1962 Museum of Art, University of Oregon, Eugene, USA

1963 The Hilton Gallery of the Senate of the Arts, Berlin, Germany

1963 Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria, BC

1964 Seligman Gallery, Seattle, Washington, USA

1964 Simone Gallery, Los Angeles, California, USA

1964 New Design Gallery, Seattle, Washington, USA

1965 Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal, Quebec

1965 Confederation Art Gallery and Museum, Charlottetown, PEI

1966 Pandoras Box Gallery, Victoria, BC

1966 Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria, BC

1967 Pandoras Box Gallery, Victoria, BC

1967 Blue Barn Gallery, Ottawa, Ontario

1967 Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC

1967 Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, Washington, BC

1968 Print Gallery, Victoria, BC

1968 Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC

1969 Print Gallery, Victoria, BC

1970 Retrospective Exhibition, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria, BC

1970 Gallery 1, Argritoglio, Milan

1970 Print Gallery, Victoria, BC

1970 Victoria Art Gallery, Retrospective Show

1971 Gallery Schubert, Lugano

1971 Gallery Schubert, Milan

1971 Print Gallery, Victoria, BC

1973 The Provincial Archives, British Colombia

1973 Emily Walter Gallery, Vancouver, BC

1974 Bau-Xi Gallery, Victoria, BC

1976 Windsor Utley Gallery, Victoria, BC

1979 University of Victoria

1980 Media Centre, Vancouver, BC

1983 Eroscape at the Backroom Gallery, Victoria, BC

1984 Dualities at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, 30 years in Canada, Victoria, BC

1986 Retrospective Exhibition, The City of West Berlin.

1989 Before Canada, Vancouver, B.C., Victoria, BC

1991 H. S. Museum of Expressionism

1991 Four Decades of Art, Calgary, AB

1992 Trends of Expressionism, Weisenstein Gallery, Victoria, BC

1993 Atelier Gallery, Victoria, BC

1993 Wincherster Gallery, Victoria, BC

1994 40 Years in B.C., Victoria, BC

1995 Siebner at 70 in B.C., retrospective exhibition, Victoria - Fort St. John.

1996 After 150 One-Man-Exhibitions, Stettin/Pomerania

2004 Celebration, Wallace Galleries Ltd, Calgary, AB

2004 Retrospect, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, BC

2004 Siebner, Winchester Gallery, Victoria, BC

2010 Siebner, Winchester Gallery, Victoria, BC

2012 Elements of Surprise, Winchester Gallery, Victoria, BC

2013 Wallace Galleries, Calgary, AB

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

1949 Freunde Der Bildenden Kunst, Berlin, Germany

1953 Junge Kuenstler, Relingerahausen; Kunst im Tiergarten, Germany

1953 Kunst im Tiergarten, Berlin, Germany

1958 Ruthermore Gallery, San Francisco, CA

1956 Canadian Group of Painters

1956 Quarterly group show: Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, BC

1956 Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria, BC

1957 Northwest Annual, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA

1957 Brussels World Fair

1958 Two Man Show with Tony Onley; Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, BC

1958 International Exhibition, Graphics, Lugano

1959 West Coast Painters, Portland Art Museum, Portland, OR

1959 Ontario Society of Artists

1959 Yugoslavia

1959 Canadian Biennial exhibition

1960 Western Painters, Stratford Festival, Stratford, ON

1960 The Canadian Group of Painters

1960 Ontario Society of Artists, ON

1960 British Colombia Society of Artists, Vancouver, BC

1960 The Point Group, Victoria, BC

1960 British Comobia Painters, San Francisco, CA

1961 Victoria Art Gallery, Victoria, BC

1961 Two Man Show: with Elza Mayhew, University of British Colombia, Vancouver, BC

1961 The Canadian Group of Painters

1961 Ontario Society of Artists

1961 The Point Group, Victoria, BC

1961 British Colombia Society of Artists

1962 The Point Group, Victoria, BC

1962 Canadian Bienniale Exhibition

1962 Seattle World Fair, Seattle, WA

1965 Canadian Group of Painters

1965 British Colombia Society of Artists

1967 The Canadian Group of Painters

1967 British Colombia Society of Artists

1967 Albert White Gallery, Toronto, ON

1968 Two Man Show (with Maxwell Bates), Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle, Washington, USA

1972 The Limners, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria, BC

1973 The Limners, Provincial Archives of British Colombia, Victoria, BC

1975 German Artists in Canada, the Goethe Institute of Montreal, Montreal, QC

1975 The Limners, Confederation Art Gallery and Museum, Charlottetown, PEI

1975 Universite de Moncton, Moncton, NB

1975 New Brunswick Museum, Saint John, NB

1975 Memorial University Art Gallery, Rochester, NY

1975 University of New Brunswick Art Centre, Fredericton, NB

1977 Two Man Show (with Karl Spreitz), Windsor Utley Gallery, Victoria, BC

1977 The Limners, Shaw Remmington Gallery, Toronto, ON

1978 The Limners, Windsor Utley Gallery, Victoria, BC

PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS

1957 Brussels World’s Fair Exhibition

1958 Canadian Biennial, Ottawa, Ontario.

1958 International Graphic Exposition Luegano, Switzerland

1959 Graphic Exhibition, Lublijana, Yugoslavia.

1959 Canadian Biennial, Ottawa, Ontario.

1962 Seattle Worlds Fair Exposition

1962 Canadian Biennial, Ottawa, Ontario.

1966 Allied Arts Catalogue of the Royal institute of Canada

1969 International Triennale of Xilography, Capri, Italy

1969 Canadian Printmakers, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario.

1969 Northwest Printmakers, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.

1972 Exposición Internacional de la Xilografia Contemporaranea, Museo Espanol de Arte Contemporaneo, Nadrid (during 1971-72 this exhibition was also seen in Ciudad Real, Jaen, Baeza, Ubeda, Cordoba, Merida, Serilla, Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz, Algecira and Melilla).

1979 25 years in B.C. Exhibition, Maltwood Museum, University of Victoria

1980 Retrospective exhibition, Herbert Siebner, Media Centre, Vancouver, B.C.

1981 German-Canadian Symposium, University of Montreal, Quebec.

1982 Limner Exhibition, Edmonton, Alberta.

1989 Graphic-Biennal, Lubljana

TEACHING APPOINTMENTS

1954-58 Open Studio for teaching art, Studio Group, Victoria, B.C.

1958-60 Instructor for painting and graphics, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria

1962 workshop in B.C.

1962 The University of B.C.

1963 Guest of Honour, Berlin Akedemie

Visiting Professor, The University of Washington

1964 Teaching Summer school, University of B.C.

1966 The University of Alberta

1967 The University of Victoria

1968 The University of Victoria

COLLECTIONS

The City of Berlin

The Seattle Art Museum

The Victoria Art Gallery

The City of Victoria

The University of Victoria

Edmonton Art Gallery

The Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto

The Confederation Art Museum, Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s

The Kleinburg Museum

The City of Carpi. Museum of Xylographia

Vancouver Art Gallery

B.C. Provincial Collection

Princess Fernanda von Thurn and Taxis

Ocelot International Inc.

 

and numerous private collections worldwide.