WHY I PAINT
There has always been something compelling and satisfying about making things. I think it’s the tangibility of creating something with my hands that caught my eye as a little kid, and continues to inspire me as a painter. Clarity is what I get from digging in and getting my hands dirty and any questions I may have about life are worked out through my paintings.
Unique, 32x24, oil/canvas
THE SIMPLE TRUTH ABOUT MY PAINTING
As an artist who lives and paints in the inner city, I am interested in the diversity of behaviours that exist. Recently I realized there was a natural continuity between what I fantasize about and how and what I write, verbalize and paint. My art speaks directly to the need I believe exists in society for a visual representation of our ever-increasing social complexity.
The collage of our common social reality is represented through pockets of human interaction which as a whole manifest into a cohesive expression of daily life. Urban centres are a haven and breeding ground for diverse and illusive behaviours that are sometimes humorous and sometimes tragic. The images I create are based on observations of these situational behaviours which offer endless variety from subtle, almost undetectable to erratic, chaotic and sometimes volatile moments.
I paint on canvas, using a variety of techniques including collage and encaustic. Pieces generally progress from an acrylic sketch to an oil-based finish. The open flowing nature of the oils is a catharsis for the story which originates with the acrylic under-painting and progresses as the narrative evolves.
There is a satirical side to my work which I use as a mechanism for coping with social stigmas and lightening up the narrative. I want the sincerity of my work to override the seriousness of our common social experience. The situational human behaviours I capture are the fibres which create the social fabric of our common reality. Our social complexity is fundamentally composed of these behaviours which represent diversity, uncertainty, immediacy, inclusion and chaos.
Bio
David Grudniski is a Calgary based artist and entrepreneur. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Lethbridge, School of Fine Arts after attending the Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary. David’s work has been seen and recognized as a valuable contribution to the creative community and is collected locally, nationally and abroad. He has exhibited in Italy and across Canada in solo and group shows in Edmonton, Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto.
While traveling Europe David’s exposure to classical, modern and contemporary art, evolved into a bold transformation of his art practice. He owned and operated Catharine Studio Art Gallery in Inglewood, Calgary and for a decade invited photographers, musicians, and visual artists to create and exhibit their work.
David’s proclivity for creative expression has never diminished and is a force to be experienced.
Curriculum Vitae
David Grudniski
davidgrudniski@grudart.ca | www.grudart.ca | 587.284.1956
Selected Solo Shows
2020: Grudart So Far, Grudart Virtual Gallery Retrospective.
2019: Open Studio, Great Wall Of Paintings, Exhibition and Sale, Calgary.
2019: Inglewood Friday Night Market, Exhibition and Sale, Calgary.
2018: Inglewood Friday Night Market, Exhibition and Sale, Calgary.
2018: Point West, V.I.P. Review, Paintings and Drawings, Calgary.
2018: Glencoe Club, Investors Group, Calgary.
2017: Manhattan Lofts, Homelife Cityscape Open-House, Calgary.
2009-2015: Christmas in Inglewood, Calgary
2009_2015: Inglewood Sunfest, Studio Show, Calgary
2010-2012: Calgary Art Walk, Inglewood Studio, Calgary.
2009-2012: Eastside, Studio Crawl, Calgary
2011: Gallery nOne, “The No Name Show” Inglewood, Calgary.
2010: Gallery nOne, “All new, all night” Inglewood Calgary
2009: Marquee Room, “Living a Bohemian life” Calgary.
2008: Catherine Studio Art Gallery, “Recovery Show” Calgary.
2006: Gallery Gora, “Collective” Montreal, Quebec.
2006: Catherine Studio Art Gallery, “Concepts” Calgary.
2006: Artists of The World, “Group Show” Calgary.
2005: Art Space, “internal/external” Calgary
Selected Group Shows
2019: Xposed, Man vs. Earth, Knox Contemporary Art Gallery, Calgary
2019: Xposed, The Figure, Knox Contemporary Art Gallery, Calgary
2019: ArtMatch Summer Exhibit, cSpace, Calgary
2019: Ageism, ASA, Fish Creek Library, Calgary
2019: Light SpaceTime, Abstract, online
2019: Light SpaceTime, City Scapes, online
2018: Galerie Tuur, Straelseweg, Mailart Project, The Netherlands
2018: Jubilee Auditorium, CARFAC/Visual Arts Alberta “Evidence of Paint”, Calgary
2018: Jubilee Auditorium, CARFAC/Visual Arts Alberta, “Evidence of Paint”, Edmonton
2018: Pumphouse Theatre, “Ode to Music”, Calgary.
2018: McDougal Centre, Premier Rachel Notley, “Art from the Unknown” , Calgary,
2018: Ruberto Ostberg Gallery, “Connections”, Calgary.
2016: Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, “Art Auction and Painting Demo”, Calgary.
2009-2015: Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, “Cork and Canvas” Calgary.
2005: Florence Bienelle, International Exhibition, Florence Italy.
2004: Bowman Arts Centre, Group Show, Lethbridge, Alberta
2003: Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, “Western Art Gallery and Auction”, Calgary
2002: Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, “Western Art Gallery and Auction”, Calgary
2001: Calgary Exhibition and Stampede ” Art Auction”, Calgary
2001: Artview Expositions Gallery, “Prairie Themes”, Calgary
Public Collections
Diabetes Association
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
Calgary Rotary Club and Hospice
Heritage Park, Calgary
Calgary Boys and Girls Club
University of Lethbridge
Publications
2019: CBC News, Man vs. Earth, Knox Contemporary Art Gallery, Calgary
2019: Artqol Magazine, NEW Perspectives Feature, November issue
2019: Wotisart Magazine, Featured Artist, May Issue
2019: A5 Magazine, Featured artist, May Issue
2019: Empty Easel, David Grudniski: Bold Narrative Paintings
2018: Average Art Magazine, Featured Artist
2016: Calgary Stampede Exhibitions
2011: Brooklyn Art Library. The Sketchbook Project
2007: Calgary, Condo Living, Artful Lodgers