Aron Hill
Aron Hill currently lives and works in Calgary, Alberta. He graduated from Alberta College of Art and Design in 2000 with a BFA in Interdisciplinary studies. He then completed his MFA at Goldsmiths College, University of London. His work there evolved into installation based projects using traditional drawing and painting methods alongside formal sculptural elements, large format photography and text based work. He has recently been focused on formalist paintings that recall aspects of minimalism and color field paintings though with references to the figure throughout. He finds conceptual company in the late Modernist paintings produced particularly in Canada. The choice of a restricted medium, acrylic ink washes on prepared raw canvas, forces restraint. The work's graphic nature relies on the sheer flatness this medium produces. Aron has exhibited internationally, occasionally lectures, and writes.
Aron Hill
Aron Hill currently lives and works in Calgary, Alberta. He graduated from Alberta College of Art and Design in 2000 with a BFA in Interdisciplinary studies. He then completed his MFA at Goldsmiths College, University of London. His work there evolved into installation based projects using traditional drawing and painting methods alongside formal sculptural elements, large format photography and text based work. He has recently been focused on formalist paintings that recall aspects of minimalism and color field paintings though with references to the figure throughout. He finds conceptual company in the late Modernist paintings produced particularly in Canada. The choice of a restricted medium, acrylic ink washes on prepared raw canvas, forces restraint. The work's graphic nature relies on the sheer flatness this medium produces. Aron has exhibited internationally, occasionally lectures, and writes.
Paul deGroot
Paul deGroot was born in the Netherlands but moved to Canada at an early age and is currently based in Calgary.
Paul started art school at Kootenay College along with good friend, Chris Cran. Both Paul and Chris then moved to Calgary to finish their degrees at the Alberta College of Art, (now the Alberta University of the Arts), where Paul’s nickname became “the forger”. Paul continued to work in his home studio but did not exhibit until recently. Last year Paul had his first solo show at the Herringer Kiss Gallery which was a critical and commercial success. He has had two works purchased by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts and numerous to private collections.
Paul’s current work is rooted in the photorealist genre, though not in the strictest sense. The paintings, executed in oil, are based on personal photographs, chosen intuitively, which are generally photoshopped or manipulated in some manner before translating them to canvas. The subject matter consists of everyday scenes, such as buildings, street scenes, vehicles, figures, etc., that are often perceived as ordinary or unremarkable in themselves. Although mostly painted monochromatically, colour always plays an important role in the paintings.
The work is influenced by an interest in the ordinary, everyday world, and in trying to make some sense of it.
