Artist Information
Phil Darrah
1940 United Kingdom
1968 Emigrated to Canada
I am engaged with percept and to a much lesser extent, concept.
What is happening visually in the world around me, instances of light, seasonal change, particularly in a rural environment, and a constant fascination with the raw materials of painting, provide for me, a compulsive collection of imperatives.
I work intuitively with changing thematic boundaries. The themes, for example “Beach Scenes”, or more recently “Palettes” often have quite prosaic origins but may come assume importance as they open pictorial territory. The stuff I work with is paint, opacity, translucency, surface, shape, scale change, placement and visual weight, etc.
“Is this blob big enough and what about that open area?” is the mundane conversation of making something.
Hopefully, something that transcends the ordinary and becomes sublime. - Phil Darrah
Born: U.K. 1940.
Emigrated to Canada 1968.
Canadian Citizen 1974.
Professional: Department of Art & Design
U.of A. 1968 - 2003.
Resides in Mulhurst Bay, Alberta.
Education
Harrogate School of Art, Yorkshire, UK, 1957- 60.
The Slade School of Fine Art, University College, London.
1961 - 64. Awarded Honours.
Solo Exhibitions
2017 “Phil Darrah”. December 14 - January 13, Peter Robertson Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta.
2016 “Phil Darrah”. March 18 - April 5, Peter Robertson Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta.
2015 “Over The Edge”. Two person exhibit. Oct. 1 - Nov 3, Sopa Fine Arts, Kelowna, BC.
2014 “Phil Darrah / Recent Work”. Nov 22-Dec 9, Peter Robertson Galley, Edmonton, Alberta.
2014 “Phil Darrah / Painting and Drawing”. June 5 - July 1, Sopa Fine Arts, Kelowna, BC.
2011 “Songs and Anthems”. Oct. 15, Peter Robertson Gallery Edmonton, Alberta.
2009 “Full Circle”. Nov. 5 - Dec. 9, Sopa Fine Arts, Kelowna, BC.
2008 Philip Darrah “Excursions”. May 27, Peter Robertson Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta.
2007 “Songs of Love” March 1 - Apr 3, Sopa Fine Arts, Kelowna, BC.
2005 “Renewal”, Vanderleelie Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta.
2003 “Recollections”, The Exhibition House, Falatados, Tinos, Greece.
1997 Phil Darrah, Francis Winspear Commission. Preparatory Works, Vanderleelie Gallery, Edmonton.
1994 Phil Darrah, Recent Paintings. Vanderleelie Gallery.
1991 Phil Darrah, Recent Paintings. FAB Gallery. U of Alberta.
1985 Installation of Cineplex Odeon Corp. Commission, “Western Projections”, West Edmonton Mall Cineplex.
1982 Recent Abstract Works on Paper, Horizon Galleries, Edmonton.
1981 Phil Darrah, Recent Paintings, Edmonton Art Gallery, Recent Works on Paper, Phil Darrah, Horizon Art Galleries, Edmonton.
1977 Philip Darrah, An Exhibition of Recent Paintings, Curated by Lelde Muehlenbachs. EAG.
1976 Solo Painting Exhibition. Project Control Services, Edmonton.
Group Exhibitions
2014 Art on the Block. Art Gallery of Alberta. May 2014.
2013 Art on the Block. Art Gallery of Alberta. May 2013.
2012 7 Years in The City: Art from the AGA collection, June 2nd - Sept. 30.
2008 Seeing Through Modernism 1970 - 1985 (Part 2), The University of Alberta FAB Gallery, Curated by Dr. Anne Whitelaw.
Seeing Through Modernism (Part 1 ), Art Gallery of Alberta. Guest curator Dr. Anne Whitelaw.
2006 David Cantine and Phil Darrah, Vanderleelie Gallery. Sept, Abstraction - Peter Robertson Gallery. Edmonton.
2005 “Grand Opening”, Group Exhibition, Sopa Fine Arts, Kelowna, BC, December 8.
2004 “Edmonton Excels” Half a Century of Painters at the University of Alberta’s Department of Art & Design.
2002 “Flash Point”. Painting exhibit, FAB Gallery, U of A.
“Just Dessert”. Paintings at the U of A Faculty Club.
1999 Faculty Group Show. FAB Gallery, U of A.
1995 “Works on Paper”, group exhibit, Vanderleelie Gallery, Edmonton.
1994 Group Show, Vanderleelie Gallery, Edmonton
ECAS (Edmonton Contemporary Artists Society), Commerce Place, Edmonton.
Trimark Investments Corporate Collections, EAG.
1992 “Abstraction, Which Way From Here?” (From the collection of the Lethbridge University Art Gallery), Triangle Gallery, Calgary.
ECAS Inaugural Exhibition, Commerce Place, Edmonton.
1991 City Hall Acquisitions, City Hall, Edmonton.
1990 Staff Show, FAB Gallery, Dept. Art & Design, U of Alberta.
1989 Abstract Painting - Canadian & American, Virginia Christopher Gallery, Calgary.
Fall Show, Woltjen / Udell Gallery, Edmonton.
Alberta Drawing, Edmonton Art Gallery.
Acquisitions ’89, EAG.
Alberta Painting, Edmonton Art Gallery.
Faculty Show, FAB Gallery, U of Alberta.
Edmonton ’90 Studio Watch, EAG.
Art For All, fundraising exhibit. EAG.
In House Exhibit, Clinical Sciences Building, U oA.
1988 Art For All, fundraising exhibit, EAG.
Studio Watch, curated by Russel Bingham.
Department of Art & Design Staff Exhibition Part 2, FAB Gallery, U of A.
Wescan Fund Raising Exhibition, Edmonton.
1987 Collaboration in Clay, Bank of Montreal Building, Edmonton.
In Touch With Abstract Art, McMullen Gallery,
Walter C. Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre, Edmonton.
Faculty Exhibition, FAB Gallery, U of A. Edmonton.
Alberta Art Foundation, New Acquisitions, EAG.
Collaboration in Clay, travelling exhibit in conjunction with Calgary Ceramics.
Contemporary Edmonton Art, curated by Russel Bingham. EAG.
Art For All, fundraiser, EAG.
Abstract Art in Edmonton. EAG.
Studio Watch, selected by Ken Moffet, EAG.
1986 Art For All, fundraiser, EAG.
1985 Staff Exhibition, Dept. Art & Design, U of A.
1984 Drawings, Woltjen / Udell Gallery, Edmonton.
Alberta Invitational Art Show, CNIB, Edmonton.
60th Anniversary Exhibition, EAG.
1983 Selected Gallery Artists, Wotjen / Udell Gallery, Edmonton.
Alberta Invitational Art Show, CNIB, Edmonton.
Fall Show, Woltjen / Udell Gallery, Edmonton.
Grand Opening, Woltjen / Udell Gallery, Edmonton.
My Favourite Picture Show, EAG.
1982 Recent Accessions, EAG.
Emerging Canadian Artists, Evelyn Aimis Fine Art, Toronto.
The Threshold of Color, EAG.
A Selected Group Exhibition, Downstairs Gallery, Edmonton.
1981 Some Drawings by Some Albertans, EAG.
Recent Acquisitions, Glenbow Museum, Calgary.
1980 Group Show, Martin Gerard Gallery, Edmonton.
1979 Abstract Paper Works, EAG Extension.
Draw111, Students Union Gallery, U of A.
1978 Faculty Show, Department of Art & Design, U of A.
1977 U of A Staff Show, Ring House Gallery, U of A.
New Abstract Art, EAG.
1976 Drawing Exhibition, EAG Extension.
Circa ’76, Latitude 53, Edmonton.
1975 Alberta Contemporary Drawing, EAG.
1973 Two Man Drawing Exhibit, Latitude 53, Edmonton.
1972 Alberta Contemporary Drawings, EAG.
1962 Young Contemporaries 62, ICA Gallery, London, UK.
1961 Bradford Spring Exhibition, Walker Art Gallery, Bradford, UK.
International Exhibitions
2003 “Recollections”, solo exhibit, The Exhibition House, Falatados, Tinos, Greece.
Collections
Ministry of Public Buildings & Works, UK.
Glen bow Museum, Calgary.
Alberta Art Gallery. Edmonton.
Alberta Foundation For The Arts. Edmonton.
Bonderove & Co., Edmonton.
Fort McMurray Community College.
First City Trust, Edmonton.
Shoctor, Hill, Mousseau & Starkman. Edmonton.
Apple Computer Corp. Edmonton.
Canada Council Art Bank.
Cineplex Odeon Corp. West Edmonton Mall.Edmonton.
City Hall, City of Edmonton.
The Treasury Branch, Edmonton Centre.
Lethbridge University Art Gallery Collection.
Doreen Sulyma Professional Corp. Edmonton.
Canadian Airlines International.
Lombard Odier, Hong Kong.
The Fraser / Nag Partnership, Dubai, U.A.E.
Dr. Jerrold Diamond Professional Corp. Edmonton.
Dr. L. Russet Professional Corp. Edmonton.
UBC. Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, BC. “The White Piano”.
Commissions
1985 The Cineplex Odeon Corporation, “Western Projections”. WEM, Edmonton.
1996 The Francis Winspear Music Centre Foundation. “Calix”, Edmonton.
Selected Reviews and Publications
“Cineplex Odeon”. The First Ten Years. A Celebration of Contemporary Canadian Art. Written by David Burnett.
“Abstract Painting In Canada” Roald Nasgaard. Published by Douglas & McIntyre, 2007.
Awards & Workshops
1972, Research Grant, U of A.
1974, Travel Grant, U of A.
1982, Canada Council Travel Grant.
2003, SAS Travel Grant, U of A.
1983 The Emma Lake Workshop, U of Sask.
1986 Collaboration In Clay, The Works, Edmonton.
Darrah & Smith-Peck Exhibition e-Catalog 2022
Darrah & Smith-Peck Exhibition 2022: Works within a Continuum
Darrah & Smith-Peck come together in this two-person exhibition to celebrate the on-going growth and development of art. This exhibition is just a snap-shot of the growth of these two artists in their long-standing career and growth in their art. Always ever-changing, evolving, and experimentation is the core to each artist’s growth, as is illustrated in these works by both Darrah & Smith-Peck. Darrah & Smith-Peck come together in this two-person exhibition to celebrate the on-going growth and development of art. This exhibition is just a snap-shot of the growth of these two artists in their long-standing career and growth in their art. Always ever-changing, evolving, and experimentation is the core to each artist’s growth, as is illustrated in these works by both Darrah & Smith-Peck