Artist Information
Richard Gorenko
Richard Gorenko was born in Saskatchewan in 1954. He holds degrees from the University of Saskatchewan (BFA, 1979), the University of Dallas (MA, 1980), and the University of Calgary (MFA, 1982). He has taught at several institutions including the Alberta University of the Arts, the University of Regina, and the University of Saskatchewan. In addition to his studio practice, he has contributed reviews and essays to various Canadian art publications over the years. He has also received a number of noteworthy Commissions and Arts Awards during his career. Richard’s paintings offer intelligent and thoughtful commentary on a diverse array of themes, ideas, and visual concerns and his work has been widely exhibited in Canada and the United States and is represented in many private, public, and corporate collections. Richard currently lives and works in Calgary.
M.F.A., University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta
M.A., University of Dallas, Irving, Texas
B.F.A., University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
HONOURS
Senior Arts Grant, The Canada Council for The Arts, 2001
Arts Grant “B”, The Canada Council for The Arts, 1986, 1990, 1993, 1998
Project Grant, The Canada Council for The Arts, 1985, 1988, 1992
Visual Arts Project Grant, The Alberta Foundation for The Arts, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2009
Individual Assistance Grant, The Saskatchewan Arts Board, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991
Travel Grant, University of Calgary, Faculty of Graduate Studies, 1982
Graduate Teaching Assistantship, University of Calgary, 1980, 1981
Research Grant, University of Calgary, Faculty of Graduate Studies, 1980
Rush Award, TFAA Exhibition, Dallas City Hall, Dallas, Texas, 1979
Tuition Scholarship, University of Dallas, Irving, Texas, 1979
Dean’s Discretionary Award, University of Saskatchewan, 1978
COMMISSIONS
Arcis Corporation, Calgary, Alberta, 2000
University Centre Complex (External Frieze), University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, 1997
Caber Productions, Toronto, Ontario, 1995
City of Regina Transit Authority, Regina, Saskatchewan, 1990
COLLECTIONS
Air Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Agnes Etherington Gallery, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario
Alberta Foundation for The Arts, Edmonton, Alberta
Alberta Pacific, Athabasca, Alberta
Alberta Securities Commission, Calgary, Alberta
Art Gallery of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario
Bank of Montreal, Calgary, Alberta
Burnet, Duckworth and Palmer, Calgary, Alberta
Canada Council Art Bank, Ottawa, Ontario
Canadian Pacific, Calgary, Alberta
City of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan
Clarkson Gordon, Regina, Saskatchewan
Department of External Affairs (International Trade), Government of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
Ernst and Young, Regina, Saskatchewan
Farm Credit Corporation, Regina, Saskatchewan
Fasken Martineau Dumoulin, Calgary, Alberta
Gulf Canada, Calgary, Alberta
Heenan Blaikie, Montreal, Quebec
Heller, Erhman, White and McAuliffe, Seattle, Washington
Husky Oil, Calgary, Alberta
Lignum Limited, Vancouver, British Columbia
MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
MacPherson Leslie, Regina, Saskatchewan
McCarthy Tetrault, Calgary, Alberta and Toronto, Ontario
Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Miller Thomson, Calgary, Alberta
Morrison Petroleums, Calgary, Alberta
Norton Rose Canada, Montreal
Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt, Calgary, Alberta and Toronto, Ontario
Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa, Ontario
Saskatchewan Arts Board, Regina, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Telecommunications, Regina, Saskatchewan
SaskTel, Regina, Saskatchewan
Stykeman Elliot, Calgary, Alberta
Teatro, Calgary, Alberta
The Claridge Collection, Montreal, Quebec
The Canadiana Fund Collection, Ottawa, Ontrio
The National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
The Nickle Arts Museum, Calgary, Alberta
Toronto Dominion, Edmonton, Alberta
Tory’s, Toronto, Ontario
TrueNorth, Calgary, Alberta
University of Dallas, Irving, Texas
University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia
University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario
*As well as numerous private collections in Canada, The United States, and Europe
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Anderson, Jack. Fields: “Gorenko Captures Our Land and More”, The Leader Post, September 24, 1998
Arnold, Grant. “Richard Gorenko”, Vanguard, volume 13, no.10. p. 47
————————-. Introduction to “Richard Gorenko: Paintings and Drawings”, Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina, 1985
Borsa, Joan. “Another Prairies”, The Art Gallery at Harbourfront, Toronto, Ontario, 1986
———————. “Out of Saskatchewan: An Exhibition of Contemporary Art”, Sask Expo Corporation, 1986
———————. “The Second Generation: Fourteen Saskatchewan Painters”, Vanguard, volume 14, no. 10, p. 40
Dufour, Gary. “Locality Prevails: Richard Gorenko”, MacKenzie Art Gallery, 1988
Enright, Robert. “Saskatoon”, Canadian Art, volume 1, no. 2, pp. 51-57
GalleriesWest.ca, “A Prairie Vernacular”, Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery, 2019
Garneau, David. “Always Returning”, Nouveau Gallery, Galleries West. May 2006
Godley, Elizabeth. “Gorenko Shows Strong Populist Streak”, Vancouver Sun, December 11, 1987, p. D9
Gorenko, Richard. “Randy Burton”, Vanguard, volume 14, no. 1, p. 42
——————————-. “Simon Read”, Vanguard, volume 13, no. 7, pp. 33—34
——————————-. “Martin Ramirez”, Vanguard, volume 15, no. 2, p. 44
Heath, Terence. “Another Prairies”, Border Crossings, volume 6, no. 1, p. 28
—————————. “The Eighth Dalhousie Drawing Exhibition”, Dalhousie Art Gallery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, 1986
Laviolette, Mary-Beth. Topographies: “Gorenko Paintings On Top of Things”, Calgary Herald, May 26, 2001
Milrod, Linda. “Personal Bests”, Canadian Art, volume 2, no. 2, p. 48
Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery, “A Prairie Vernacular”, Exhibition Catalogue, Summer 2020
Murray, Joan. “Canadian Art in the Twentieth Century”, Dundern, 1999
Muse, illustration (Shifting Patterns), Muse, Vol. XIV/3, 1996, p. 51
O’Brien, Mern. Forward to “The Eighth Dalhousie Drawing Exhibition”, Dalhousie Art Gallery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, 1986
Perry, Meta. “Gorenko’s Work Examines Value of Prairie Institiutions”, The Leader Post, Regina, October 8, 1985
Pavilion Contemporary Art Auction (Catalogue), Calgary Stampede Foundation, 2008, pp. 30, 31
Richmond, Cindy. “Saskatchewan Art: Tradition and Diversity”, University of New Brunswick Art Centre, Fredericton, 1987
——————————-. “Outside Arcady: Four Regina Artists”, National Exhibition Centre, Swift Current, 1989
——————————-. “Richard Gorenko at Susan Whitney Gallery”, C Magazine, no. 27, September 1990, pp. 62-63
Ring, Dan. “Saskatoon Imagined”, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, 1989
——————. “Irresistable Tautology”, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, 1995
Rochon, Lisa. “On Show”, The Globe and Mail, January 14, 1988, p. A28
Sabat, Christina. “Saskatchewan Art: Tradition and Diversity”, Arts Atlantic, volume 8, no. 3, Spring/Summer 1988
Shepard, Pilar. “Direct Message in Saskatoon Artist’s Work”, TheLeader Post, Regina, October 11, 1984
Sherman, Tom. Four Documentations, Regina Work Project, “Shifting Territories Without Leaving Home”, p.28, 1991
Staples,Wayne. “The Eighth Dalhousie Drawing Exhibition”, Vanguard, volume 8, no. 3, p. 50
Swain, Robert. Introduction by Robert Fulford, “Hidden Values: Canadian Art in Corporate Collections”, Douglas and McIntyre, 1994
Thurston, Harry. “The Eighth Dalhousie Drawing Exhibition”, Canadian Art, volume 3, no. 3, p. 106
Tousley, Nancy. Introduction, “Susan Whitney Gallery - A Birthday Celebration”, Susan Whitney Gallery, Tenth Anniversary - November 1979 to November 1989, pp. 6-7
University of Regina - University Centre Complex, catalogue, “The Artists”, p. 9, 1997
Wyatt, Joseph. “Pure and Simple”, University of Waterloo, 1993
Park-Taylor, Michael; Zepp, Norman. “The Second Generation: Fourteen Saskatchewan
Painters”, MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan, 1985
Ylitalo, Katherine. “The Story Behind the Artwork at Teatro”, Avenue Magazine Calgary, 2019
“Another Prairies”, Canadian Art, volume 3, no. 3, p. 35
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
Solo
2018 Record, Retain, Retrieve, Slate Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
2015 Tall Tales, Short Stories, and Non Sequiturs, Darrell Bell Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
2014 In the Straits, Slate Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
2013 Recent Work, Darrell Bell Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
2011 Recollections, Masters Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
2009 Cabin Fever, Nouveau Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
2006 Alawys Returning, Nouveau Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
2004 Maybe You Can Drive My Car…, The Viewing Room, Trepanier Baer Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
2003 Every Direction Starts Somewhere, Susan Whitney Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
New Paintings, The Viewing Room, Trepanier Baer Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
2001 Deep Thought, Susan Whitney Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
Topographies, TrepanierBaer, Calgary, Alberta
2000 Deep Space, Susan Whitney Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
1999 Wild Life, TrepanierBaer, Calgary, Alberta
1999 New Paintings, Vanderleelie Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
1998 Fields, etc., Susan Whitney Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
1997 Richard Gorenko: New Work, TrepanierBaer, Calgary, Alberta
1996 New Work, Susan Whitney Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
1995 Irresistable Tautology, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
1994 Journeys, Sites, and Symbols, TrepanierBaer, Calgary, Alberta
A Work In Progress, Susan Whitney Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
1993 Pure and Simple, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario
1992 Equinox Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
Susan Whitney Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
1990 Richard Gorenko: Paintings, Muttart Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
Susan Whitney Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
1989 Equinox Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
1988 Artists With Their Work, MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
1987 Equinox Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
1986 Richard Gorenko: Paintings and Drawings, Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
(Circulated to Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan)
1984 A Hard Lesson To Follow, A.K.A. Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Group
2020 Summer Rhubarb, Slate Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
2019 A Prairie Vernacular, Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan;
Travelling to (through 2021): Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre, Medicine Hat, Alberta;
Art Gallery of Swift Current, Swift Current, Saskatchewan;
Buhler Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Summer Rhubarb, Slate Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
2018 Summer Rhubarb, Slate Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
Saturnalia IV, Slate Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
2017 Artists at Riverside Studio, Art Gallery of Woodstock, Woodstock, Ontario
2016 Saturnalia III, Slate Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
2015 Artists at Riverside Studio, Maclaren Art Centre, Barrie, Ontario and Art Gallery of Guelph, Guelph,
Ontario
Made in Calgary: The 2000’s, Nickle Art Gallery, U of C, Calgary, Alberta
Made in Calgary: The 1990’s, Art Gallery of Calgary, Alberta
2014 The Second Generation: Thirty Years Later, MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
Modern Visions: The Mendel Art Gallery 50th Anniversary Exhibition, Mendel Art Gallery,
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Saturnalia II, Slate Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
2013 Saturnalia I, Slate Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
2012 ACAD Faculty Exhibition, ACAD, Calgary
Toronto Art Fair (Darrell Bell Gallery), Toronto, Ontario
2011 The Works (Collaborative Installation with Ken Webb at three Venues), Edmonton, Alberta
ACAD Faculty Exhibition, ACAD, Calgary
This Tree is For You…, Nouveau Gallery, Regina
2010 ACAD Faculty Exhibition, ACAD, Calgary
2009 When I Think of the Land, MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
Rick and Ken at Gallery 809, Calgary, Alberta
2008 ACADemy, Faculty Exhibion, ACAD, Calgary
2008 Group Show, Masters Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
2007 From Where I Stand: Contemporary Landscapes by Canadian Artists, MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
2006 Sketch, Faculty Exhibition, Universtiy of Lethbridge, Lethbridge , Alberta
2005 ACAD Faculty Exhibition, ACAD, Calgary, Alberta
Chasing Amnesia, The MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
2004 Trading Places: Susan Whitney Gallery Artists at Darryl Bell Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
2004 Field and Furrow, Tom Thompson Art Gallery, Owen Sound, Ontario
2004 Toronto Art Fair (Susan Whitney Gallery), Toronto, Ontario
2003 Toronto Art Fair (Susan Whitney Gallery), Toronto, Ontario
2003 Lodestar: Saskatchewan RCA and Friends, Kenderdine Art Gallery, U of S, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
2002 Qu’Appelle: A Tale of Two Valleys, The McMichael Gallery, Kleinburg, Ontario
Deep Prairie, Lyons Weir Gallery, New York City, New York
ACAD Faculty Exhibition, ACAD, Calgary, Alberta
2000 Toronto Art Fair (Susan Whitney Gallery), Toronto, Ontario
In/Land: Narrative in Western Landscape, The Nickle Arts Museum, University of
Calgary, Calgary, Alberta
Summer Group Show, TrepanierBaer, Calgary, Alberta
1999 Personal Obsession, The Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario
Canada’s Most Wanted and Unwanted, Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
1998 Six Degrees of Separation, The Prairie Art Gallery, Grande Prairie, Alberta
Group Show, TrepanierBaer, Calgary, Alberta
1997 30th Anniversary Exhibition, The Nickle Arts Museum, University of Calgary
1996 New Acquisitions, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Works From The Collection…, Kenderdine Gallery, University of Saskatchewan
Incipient Logic, TrepanierBaer (South Window Installation), Calgary, Alberta
1995 Seattle Art Fair (Susan Whitney Gallery), Seattle, Washington
1994 Hidden Values: Western Corporations Collect, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
1993 Hear to See II, Agnes Etherington Art Gallery, Kingston, Ontario
Saskatchewan Symbiotics in the Visual Arts (The Canada Council Art Bank), Maison de la
Cote-des-Nieges, Montreal, Quebec
1992 Legal Perspectives: The Collection of Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt, The McMichael
Gallery, Kleinburg, Ontario
Urban Perspectives, Paul Kuhn Fine Arts, Calgary, Alberta
1991 Small Works, Equinox Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
Los Angeles Art Fair (Susan Whitney Gallery), Los Angeles, California
1989 Outside Arcady, National Exhibition Centre, Swift Current, Saskatchewan
Saskatoon Imagined, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Circulated to
MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan)
1988 From The Landscape, Illingsworth Kerr Gallery, ACAD, Calgary, Alberta
Quiet Protest, A.K.A. Gallery, Saskatoon, Sasktchewan
Seven Artists From Western Canada, Gallery Dresdnere, Toronto, Ontario
1987 Chicago International New Art Forms Exposition, Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois
Saskatchewan Art: Tradition and Diversity, University of New Brunswick Arts Centre,
Fredericton, New Brunswick
The Farm Show: A Documentary, A.K.A. Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Circulated
in Saskatchewan by the Mendel Art Gallery: Grace Campbell Art Gallery, Prince Albert;
Grand Coteau Heritage and Cultural Centre, Shaunavon; Allie Griffin Art Gallery,
Weyburn; Dunlop Art Gallery, Sherwood Branch/Glen Elm Branch, Regina; National
Exhibition Centre, Swift Current; Chapel Gallery, North Battleford; Godfrey Dean
Cultural Centre, Yorkton)
1986 The Eighth Dalhousie Drawing Exhibition, Dalhousie Art Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia,
(Circulated to: Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Fredericton, New Brunswick; Ringhouse
Gallery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta; Southern Alberta Art Gallery,
Lethbridge, Alberta; The Nickle Arts Museum, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta)
Out of Saskatchewan: An Exhibition of Contemporary Art, Robson Square Exhibition
Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia (Circulated to Rosemont Art Gallery, Regina,
Saskatchewan)
1986 Another Prairies, The Art Gallery at Harbourfront, Toronto, Ontario (Circulated in
Saskatchewan by the Mendel Art Gallery: Grand Coteau Heritage and Cultural Centre,
Shaunavon; Gordon Snelgrove Art Gallery, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon;
National Exhibition centre, Swift Current; Moose Jaw Art Museum, Moose Jaw)
A Sense of Place, Rosemont Art Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
1985 Artist’s Choice, Rosemont Art Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
The Second Generation: Fourteen Saskatchewan Painters, MacKenzie Art Gallery,
Regina, Saskatchewan
Representation Proposition, Gordon Snelgrove Art Gallery, University of Saskatchewan,
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Heritage Art Exhibition, Legislative Building, Regian, Saskatchewan
1984 Saskatchewan Open, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
1983 Ten Canadians, Evelyn Amis Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
1982 Emerging Calgary Artists, Ringhouse Gallery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
1981 Emerging Calgary Artists, Gallery Moos, Calgary, Alberta