Find the art that works for you.
Masterclass honours six artists who have been with the gallery for almost four decades since the gallery opened its doors in 1986: Sharon Quirke, Ken Prescott, Deryk Houston, Markian Olynyk, Vern Simpson, and Joyce Kamikura.
Masterclass reflects both reverence and recognition — a celebration of mastery earned through decades of dedication to art. Each artist featured in the exhibition represents a different “class” in the truest sense: a generation of creators who have taught through their example, influenced others through their craft, and embodied perseverance in a changing art world.
For Art Works Gallery, Masterclass is not just a showcase of artistic skill — it’s a statement of values. It honours the idea that mastery comes from community, mentorship, and time. These artists have not only mastered their mediums but have also helped shape Vancouver’s creative landscape, contributing to a legacy that continues to inspire new generations of artists and collectors alike.
Exhibition Featured Artists
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SHARON QUIRKE
See Quirke's Current CollectionSharon Quirke’s work is recognized as unique and vibrant. Canvases are swept with fresh air, and present images, colours and emotions that are layered and fluid. Warm golden light and bold brushstrokes make the work inviting and dramatic.
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JOYCE KAMIKURA
See Kamikura's Current Collection“It is not so much in the final product, but in the process and struggle to bring all elements together to function in harmonious presentation in a painting that I derive so much satisfaction and pleasure as an artist.”
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KEN PRESCOTT
See Prescott's Current CollectionFor over 40 Ken has created his collage work for exhibitions throughout Canada. In 1975, he moved to Vancouver and soon after was elected to senior member status and a chairman of The Federation of Canadian Artists.
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DERYK HOUSTON
See Houston's Current CollectionAttentive to the subtle changes in light, color, and how they effect visuality, one discovers a similar sense of illumination when light passes through stained glass. In his paintings Houston evokes this sense of wonder and amazement, documenting the landscape in traditional yet contemporary ways.
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VERN SIMPSON
See Simpson's Current CollectionVern Simpson's abstracted expressionist style redefines the landscape genre in a modern, contemporary fashion. Intense in colour, edgy, with strong movement, texture, Vern builds compositions that appear as architectural arrangements of light, color and shadow.
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MARKIAN OLYNYK
See Olynyk's Current CollectionHis most famous projects remain his large-scale glass sculptures and installations, yet his paintings, too, are a delight that reflect his experimentation in the second dimension. Completely self-taught, Markian remains curious in his approach to art-making.
Past Exhibitions
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Past Exhibition : June 12th - June 28th.
View The WorkHappiness Is... : Carole Arnston, Kimberly Blackstock, & Todd Clark
What is happiness? Is it a fleeting feeling or a lifelong pursuit? Is it found in the rhythm of the everyday, the colors of memory, or the quiet moments of reflection? Through the distinct yet complementary visions of Kimberly Blackstock, Todd Clark, and Carole Arnston, the exhibition becomes a conversation between abstraction, nature, and narrative.
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Past Exhibition : March 12th - May 30th.
View The WorkTrue North | A rotating exhibition of Canadian artwork.
Since 1986, we've been dedicated to promoting local and national talent, celebrating the creativity and resilience that define our country.True North is more than just our location...it’s our mindset. A tribute to loyalty, teamwork, and determination, this collection brings together artists whose work embodies the spirit of Canada. Whether you're a seasoned collector or discovering new favorites, find the art that works for you.
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Past Exhibition : October 19th - November 2nd.
View The WorkMilestone Collection : Enda Bardell
Art Works Gallery is thrilled to announce a special event celebrating the life and work of renowned artist Enda Bardell on the occasion of her milestone birthday. Join us on Opening Day Saturday, October 19th, 2024. An exhibition and a day dedicated to honouring her incredible artistic journey and her two distinct styles of artwork.
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Past Exhibition : September 26th - October 17th
View The WorkThe Inherent Icon : Richard Wlodarczak
Grappling with the timeless human condition, elusively invoking religious imagery, symbolism and portraiture with modern abstraction and surrealism. By interpreting ancient symbols through a progressive lens, this series captures our eternal fears, desires, struggles, triumphs, and inherent spirituality. Theses iconographic characters and archetypes named themselves through the creative process.
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Carole Arnston
View the ArtworkHow we humans live and occupy this beautiful place has been a constant exploration for me. Architecture, as a medium of formal space creation was my first pursuit, but painting on canvas has proven to be a more immediate and versatile adventure. Like design, it is the experience of exposing and imposing order on chaos, found in the wind current of a gust in leaves, surface tension at the crest of a wave, the vital life of captured blossoms.
Paint is a visceral medium and its shape on my canvas echoes the arc of my paddle stroke, and the balanced rhythm of my hiking stride. Paint sits on my canvas with the viscosity and velocity of the Pacific West Coast, heavy and dense, rich and textured, and rendered with joy. -
Todd Clark
View the Artwork“I’m interested in light, colour, mark, and the balance of spontaneity and control.” Todd draws his inspiration from nature, yet he does not seek to recreate any high realism in his paintings. His interest in the medium of paint is evident in his very tactile process of creation. He seeks freedom in his process, and balances the playful with informed, intentional decisions.
To look upon a work of Clark is to see evidence of years of controlled spontaneity, of an expectation for the unexpected and the confidence to never fear what might come as a result. It is evident that he simply loves to paint. -
Kimberly Blackstock
View the ArtworkFor me, creating art and cultivating happiness are two parts of the same process. My paintings communicate joy with the audience, each piece emerging from a powerful reflection on elation and gratitude. But my art also acknowledges that light cannot exist without darkness. It was during a challenging time that I first felt prompted to create in a way that brings me joy. Through abstracted shapes inspired by my natural surroundings and the joyful memories of my past, the dreams in my imagination were unleashed onto my panels in vibrant dots, lines, and layered shapes—bright strokes of colour that express the deep happiness of my art practice.
