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I began my professional career in the late 1960's, exhibiting in solo and group shows at private, University, and other public galleries. I was also one of the founders of the pioneering multi-media art spaces in Vancouver such as the Sound Gallery and Intermedia., working in collage, film, multi-media, performance art and music.
During the early 1970's, I became increasingly interested in the subjects of alchemy, mythology and Symbolism. In 1971, supported by a Canada Council grant and a letter of introduction from William Rubin of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, I traveled to London and Paris, to organize the first group exhibition of west coast Canadian art to tour Europe.
This exhibition, entitled Canadian West Coast Hermetics, The Metaphyisical Landscape, co-curated with the late Alvin Balkind of the UBC Fine Arts Gallery, was seen in Paris in 1973, by the French art historian and writer José Pierre, a member of the post-War Surrealist Group and a colleague of André Breton. He included my work in his landmark book, L'Univers Surréaliste (Editions Somogy, Paris,1983).
My work continues to be published and exhibited internationally alongside the leading historical figures of Surrealism and lyric abstraction, often with the Phases Movement in Paris, whose organizer, Edouard Jaguer, also collects my work.Another noted historian of the Surrealist Movement, Sarane Alexandrian, published a work from 1975 in Superiore Inconnu, the journal he began in1947 with André Breton. My work has also been written about in Surrealism in English Canada, a Ph D Thesis by Yves M. Larocque presented at the Sorbonne in Paris in 1996. In 2005 I helped organize the exhibition West Coast Surreal, A Canadian Perspective, for the Museo Granell in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
In 2001, my solo exhibition, A New Arcadia, toured Europe, and was the basis for a television doumentary of the same name, shown nationally in Canada since 2003. It also was the subject of a treatise by Professor Antonio Malmo of the Accademia Tiberina in Rome. Various works also appeared in other Italian publications: including Dizionario Antologico e Critico Di Poeti, scrittori e artisti italiani contemporanei (1997) and Il Volo Di Icaro Utopia, tra sogno e realta quotidiana (Edizioni Tigullio-Bacherontius, Torino, 1998) and in Terzoochio, Bologna (1979 and 1985).
My work has been written about in such publications as Vie Des Arts (Montreal), Vanguard Magazine (Vancouver), artmagazine (Toronto), International Artist (Sydney, Australia) and Terzoocchio (Bologna, Italy). Several pieces have been collected by public galleries and universities, and represented in corporate and private collections in Canada, the U.S., Europe, Asia and South America. I currently have studios on Bowen Island, B.C. and in North Vancouver, where I rent my work to the film and television industry. I spend part of every year painting and exhibiting in Europe.
Education:
1962: Private studies with Chicago painter, Charles Stegman, West Vancouver
1963: Night courses, Vancouver School of Art
1964: Extension Courses, University of B.C.: Painting (Don Jarvis), Life Drawing (Bruce Boyd),
Sculpture (Gerhard Class)
1965: Summer session, Painting (Ron Stonier) Vancouver School of Art
1966-67: Vancouver School of Art - 1st year program with Dave Mayrs
Awards:
2003: Canada Council Travel Grant for exhibitions in Spain
2001: Made an Academicien Correspondant of the Accademia Internazionale Greci Marino, Accademia del Verbano, Vercelli, Italy
- Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs Gramt for exhibitions in Austria, France and Italy
2000: Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs Gramt for exhibitions in France and Italy
1993: North Shore Arts Commission: Public Art Project, Versatile Shipyard, North Vancouver
1976: Canada Council Short Term Grant: for Video
1972: Canada Council Materials Grant for: Painting
1971: Canada Council Arts Bursary for Painting & Research in Europe
1968: Canada Council Short Term Grant: Painting
Collections:
Lord Eastleigh Foundation, Paris / Brussels / Monaco
Museo Granell, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Vancouver Art Gallery
Canada Council Art Bank, Ottawa
Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Kingston, Ontario
Carleton University Art Gallery; Ottawa
British Columbia Government Collection, Victoria, BC
City of Vancouver Collection, Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver
Richmond Art Gallery, Richmond, BC
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC
Phases Movement, Edouard Jaguer, Paris
Michel P.Christensen, Toronto
Christian Petroleum Company, Vancouver
Zentel Corporation, Calgary
InterPro Contractors, Vancouver
Frank Lo, Lo Kit Loon, Hong Kong
Several other private collections in Canada, USA, Europe, the UK, Hong Kong, and Korea
Co-Exhibitors:
International: Pierre Alechinsky, Jean Arp, Hans Bellmer, Alexander Calder, Jorge Camacho, Salvador Dali,
Adrien Dax, Marcel Duchamp, Amy Ernst, Max Ernst, Alberto Giacometti, Wifredo Lam, Conroy Maddox, Rene Magritte,
Andre Masson, Robero Matta, Joan Miro, Henry Moore, Robert Motherwell, Meret Oppenheim, Man Ray,
Dorothea Tanning, Antonio Tapies, Alfred Wols, Paul Wunderlich.
Canadian: Leon Bellefleur, Jean Benoit, Paul Emile Borduas, Kittie Bruneau, Marcel Ferron, Roland Giguerre,
Don Jarvis, Jock MacDonald, Guido Molinari, Alfred Pellan, Ivan Eyre, Jean Paul Riopelle, Toni Onley,
William Ronald, Jack Shadbolt, Tony Urquhart, Jeff Wall, Ian Wallace, Joyce Weiland, Jack Wise, Alan Wood.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2005: Figures in the Light, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver
2003: Selected Works, 1999-2003, Bfly Atelier, Vancouver
Un Arcdaia Nuevo, Galeria Zero, Barcelona, Spain
Une Nouvelle Arcadie, Salle des Arts, Colomars, France
2002 Angoli d'Italia (photography), Italian Cultural; Centre, Vancouver, B.C.
2001: Une Nouvelle Arcadie, Centre d'Affaires, Aéroport Nice Côte d’Azur, Nice, France
Selected Drawings, 1978-1999 Galleria Assioma, Prato, Italy
A New Arcadia, Ontario Light and Art Gallery, Innsbruck, Austria
2000: Selected Drawings, 1978-1999 Salle du Couvent, Seillans, France (presented by l'Assoc.des Amis de Max Ernst)
Una Nouva Arcadie, The Fortezza di Montalcino, Montalcino, Italy
Phantoms of Light, Studio Dieci, Vercelli, Italy
1999: Recent Abstract Paintings, MacPherson Playhouse Gallery, Victoria, BC
Cloisonnist Landscapes, Plaskett Gallery, Massey Theatre, New Westminster, BC
1997: :A New Arcadia, Oktavia Gallery, Vancouver, BC
French Landscapes, Dr. Vigari Gallery,Vancouver, BC:
1996: Aprés Miro, Bennett Gallery, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC
Cloissonist Landscapes, Montgomery Fine Arts, Vancouver
1995: Figurations, Torres Gallery, Vancouver
1994: Classic Mode, (photography) Montgomery Fine Arts, Vancouver
1993: Lyric Landscapes, Richmond Art Gallery
1991: Tribal Dynamics, Gallery Alpha, West Vancouver
1989: Waterfall Series, Centennial Theatre, North Vancouver
1988: Cellular Mosaics, Sinclair Centre , Vancouver
1987: Modern Ghosts, Vancouver East Cultural Centre
1986: Modern Ghosts, Richmond Art Gallery; Richmond, BC;
Paintigs and wateroclours, New Westminster Art Centre
1984: 12-Year Retrospective, Art Gallery of Algoma, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Paintings from the 1980's. New Art Gallery, Toronto
1982: Galerie Surrealiste, Toronto;
Mixed Media Works, Forest City Gallery, London, Ontario
1981: Cellular Mosaics Gallery Move, Vancouver;
Paintings and mixed media, Music Gallery, Toronto
1979: A Survey of Paintings, Gallery Move, North Vancouver
1978: Helix Series Gallery Move, North Vancouver
1975: Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Kingston, Ontario (mixed media installation/ performance)
1974: Works from 1964-1974, Vancouver Artists’Gallery, Vancouver
1973: Claw Series Galerie Allen, Vancouver
1972: Paintings and collages, Open Space Gallery, Victoria
1969: Normal Constants Simon Fraser University Gallery, Burnaby, BC
, Salle des Arts, Colomars, France 2002 (photography), Italian Cultural; Centre, Vancouver, B.C. 2001: Centre d'AffairesAéroport Nice Côte d’Azur, Nice, France Galleria Assioma, Prato, Italy Ontario Light and Art GalleryInnsbruck, Austria 2000: Salle du Couvent, Seillans, France (presented by l'Assoc.des Amis de Max Ernst) , The Fortezza di Montalcino, Montalcino, Italy Studio Dieci, Vercelli, Italy 1999: Recent Abstract PaintingsMacPherson Playhouse Gallery, Victoria, BC Plaskett Gallery, Massey Theatre, New Westminster, BC 1997: :, Oktavia Gallery, Vancouver, BC Dr. Vigari Gallery,Vancouver, BC: 1996: Bennett Gallery, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC Montgomery Fine Arts, Vancouver 1995: , Torres Gallery, Vancouver 1994: , (photography) Montgomery Fine Arts, Vancouver 1993: Richmond Art Gallery 1991: Gallery Alpha, West Vancouver 1989: Centennial Theatre, North Vancouver 1988: Sinclair Centre , Vancouver 1987: Vancouver East Cultural Centre 1986: Richmond Art Gallery; Richmond, BC; Paintigs and wateroclours, New Westminster Art Centre 1984:Art Gallery of Algoma, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Paintings from the 1980's. New Art Gallery, Toronto 1982: Galerie Surrealiste, Toronto; Mixed Media Works, Forest City Gallery, London, Ontario 1981: Gallery Move, Vancouver; Paintings and mixed media, Music Gallery, Toronto 1979: Gallery Move, North Vancouver 1978: Gallery Move, North Vancouver 1975: Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Kingston, Ontario (mixed media installation/ performance) 1974: Vancouver Artists’Gallery, Vancouver 1973: Galerie Allen, Vancouver 1972: Paintings and collages, Open Space Gallery, Victoria 1969: Simon Fraser University Gallery, Burnaby, BC
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2005: West Coast Surreal: A Canadian Perspective, Museo Granell, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Abstractions et Figurations, Maison de Artistes, Château Grimaldi, Cagnes-sur-Mer, France,
Summer 2005, Galeria Zero, Barcelona, Spain
2004: Summer group exhibition, Art Domain, Port Andratx, Majorca, Spain
2003 Euloge au petit format Centre Culturel Christine Puegot-Atelier Z, Paris, France
Abstra, Akros Gallery, Bilbao, Spain
Convergences, Art Domain, Port Andratx, Majorca, Spain
2002: Summer 2002, Galeria Zero, Barcelona, Spain
Europ'Art 2002, Palais des Expositions, Geneva, Switzerland
Inaugural Exhibition, Grupo Batik Art Galeria Sala Barna, Barcelona
West Coast Dreamers, Exhibition Centre, Harrison Hot Springs, B.C.
2001: Artropolis 2001, CBC Building, Vancouver
2000: Gotcha! Digital Images (four person) Vancouver East Cultural Centre, Vancouver
1998: Gallery Artists, Nicholas Joseph Fine Arts, New York City
Maldoror Park , Diversite Surrealiste 1935-1995 Centre d'Exposition, Universite de Montreal, Montreal, Quebec.
Electrica Mente (digital art), Studio 10, Vercelli, Italy
Binario Vivo: Ambiente E Creativita Sulla Strada Ferrata toured Italy: Treno Verde, Messina, Regio Calabria,
Taranto, Potenza, Avellino, Roma, Imola, Monza, Belluno, Porenone, Macerata, Foligno, Orario.
Art 98 International Art Fair, Trade and Convenion Centre, Vancouver
Il Cielo Contaminato (The Contaminated Sky) virtual exhibition, Salone Dugentesco, Vercelli, Italy;
colour reproductions exhibited in Trento, Italy
1996 Dessin Automatiste 1945-95, Phases Group, College Camille Claudel, St.Quay Portrieux, France.
1995: Vancouver: 1965-75, Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver
Dessin Automatiste 1945-95 Phases Group, Plœuc-sur-Lié, Brittany, France
Phases of Desire CASE Gallery, Saratoga Springs, New York
Currents, L’Atelier, Vancouver
1994: Constellations: Surrealism and Its Affinities, Carleton University Art Gallery, Ottawa
Permanent Collection, Richmond Art Gallery, Richmond, BC
1991-93: Lumière du Jour/Lumière Noir, Galerie Lumière Noir, Montreal and toured Quebec.
1991 Rainforests of the Mind; Fertility Rites; Geometric Expressionism; Fantastic Visions
Gallery Alpha:, West Vancouver, BC (also curator)
1990: Artropolis, The Roundhouse,Vancouver
1989: Western Patterns, Sinclair Centre (also Curator)
1987: Savage, NeoArtism Gallery, Vancouver
1986: Exposicao Internacional Surrealismo e Pintura Fantástica Teatro Iberico, Lisbon, Portugal
Open Cages, Pitt International Gallery, Vancouver;
Contemporary Living: Park Place, Vancouver
1985: West Coast Surrealists: Simon Fraser University Gallery, Burnaby, BC
1984: Gallery Artists: New Art Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
1982: Arteder 82: Bilbao, Spain
Melmoth Gallery, Vancouver
1981: Associations, Galerie Surrealiste, Toronto
1980: West Coast Surrealists, Gallery Move, Vancouver
On Canvas: Robson Square Media Centre, Vancouver
Insights: Preparatory works for On Canvas Exhibition Simon Fraser University Gallery
Gallery Artists: Gallery Move, Vancouver.
1979: West Coast Surrealists & Paul Wunderlich: Bayard Gallery, Seattle, Wash., USA;
Hindenberg Gallery, Bethesda, Maryland, USA; WashArt ‘79: Pyramid Gallery, Washington, DC, USA;
Gallery Artists: Gallery Move, North Vancouver
1978: Surrealism Unlimited, Camden Arts Centre, London, England
Other Realities: The Legacy of Surrealism in Canadian Art, Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Kingston,
Ontario; Canada House, London, England ; Centre Culturel Canadien, Paris, France
West Coast Surrealist Group, Gallery Move, North Vancouver
1977: From This Point of View, Vancouver Art Gallery
West Coast Surrealist Group Gallery Move, North Vancouver
Paperworks: BC Government Collection, Canadian Cultural Centers: Paris, London, Brussels
1976; Pacific Rim Consciousness: University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur; Bogota, Colombia
1975: Pacific Rim Consciousness: Simon Fraser University Gallery, Burnaby, B.C,
1974: Canadian West Coast Hermetics: McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario; McIntosh Gallery,
University of Western Ontario.
1973: Canadian West Coast Hermetics: Fine Arts Gallery, University of British Columbia; Centre Culturel Canadien,
Paris; Exhibition Centre; St. Brieuc, Brittany; Canada House; London; Palais des Beaux-Arts, Charleroi,
Belgium; McMaster University Art Gallery, Hamilton; McIntosh Gallery (University of Western Ontario, London.)
1972: The Private Patron: Simon Fraser University Gallery, Burnaby;
Mythodromus: Avelles Gallery, Vancouver
1971: A City Collects: Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver;
Divine Order of the Lodge Salon: Avelles Gallery, Vancouver
Vancouver School of Collage: Fine Arts Gallery, UBC
1970: Carmen Lamanna Gallery, Toronto, Ontario; Colour Optics: Burnaby Art Gallery
1969: Kinetic & Light Sculpture: Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
1969: Focus ‘69: Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver
1968: Mandan Ghetto Gallery, Vancouver; Spectrum ‘68: Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver
1967: Mandan Company Presents Western Supplies: Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver
TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS
1996: Artist as Photographer, Photographer as Artist, TECK Gallery, Simon Fraser University,
Vancouver ( with Gerry Shallie)
1976: Student Union Gallery, UBC, Vancouver (with Ted Kingan )
1969: Pandora’s Box Gallery, Victoria (with Don Harvey)
THREE PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2004: The Secret Garden, (with Marilyn S. Mylrea and Georgina Lohan) Marilyn S. Mylrea Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2002: Three Painters (with Richard Bond and John Haig) Evergreen Cultural Centre, Coquitlam, B.C.
1993: Three Vancouver artists, Community Arts Council Gallery, Vancouver (with Martine Bilodeau)
1992 Head/Hunter/Simpson with Kevin Head and Miles Hunter, Gallery Alpha, West.Vancouver
1969: Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver with Pierre Coupey & Ron Wattier
1968: UBC Graduate Centre with: Pierre Coupey & Ken Christopher
VIDEO EXHIBITIONS
2004: FIFA. 2004, McCord Museum, Montreal
Biennale Internazionale di Ferrara, Castello Estense, Ferrara, Italy.
PLAY III - International Video Art Festival, Museo de Arte Angel M. De Rosa, Buenos Aires, Argentina
1984: Installation with Retrospective Exhibition, Art Gallery of Algoma, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
1977: From This Point of View, Vancouver Art Gallery
1976: Video From Kitsilano, Image Forum, Tokyo, Japan
1975: CAYC International Video Exhibition, Museo d’Arte Moderna, Caracas, Venezuela
Vehicule Ltd., Montreal, Group Exhibition
Artons Video Open, Calgary, Group Exhibition
Multi-media presentation and performance Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Kingston, Ontario
1974: Video Bag, Group Exhibition, Burnaby Art Gallery
Academic Studies
2005: The Idea of Surrealism in English Canada, Yves M. Laroque, Université de Rouen, France
2001: Study of the recent work of Gregg Simpson by Prof. Antonio Malmo, Accademia Tiberina di Roma (monograph dsitributed to
several international art academies.)
1996: The Idea of Surrealism in English Canada, Yves M. Laroque, Doctoral Thesis given at the Sorbonne, Paris.
The thesis is on microfiche at the National Gallery and the University of B.C.
1980: José Pierre: Surrealism in Canada: Research Bulletin, Universite Rabelais de Tours, France
Reviews, Articles, Magazine Features, Films
2003-05 Cross Canada broadcast of A New Arcadia, The Art of Gregg Simpson, BRAVO TV Network
2003: Un Canadien Expose Salle des Arts, Colomars, Nice Matin, Nice, France
2001: Canadian Artist Expose a l'Aeroport de Nice, Le Petit Nicoise, Nice, France
2000: Driven to Abstraction, feature article by Janet Smith, Georgia Straight, Vancouver
Gregg Simpson Expose, review of Dessins Selectionees 1978-1999, Seillans, Var-Matin, France
A New Arcadia, photo and notices, Italy Daily, "Notebook" International Herald Tribune,
Milan, Italy.
- Gregg Simpson at Studio Dieci, notices and photo, L'Informaffare, Notzia Oggi, Vercelli, Italy
1999: Master Painter's Showcase, International Art Magazine, Sydney, Australia
1995: In the Beginning, José Pierre, Monograph for Brochure
1995: Feature article for Figurations at the Torres Gallery, Peter Wilson, Vancouver Sun, February, 1995.
1991: Introduction to Tribal Dynamics: Preview Magazine, January-March 1991 by Mia Johnson
1990: Ann Rosenberg: Gregg Simpson: Tribal Dynamics, Vancouver Sun,
1988: Other Worlds, profile by Alex Varty,Vancouver Magazine,1988
1986: Rob Linsley:: review of Modern Ghosts, Richmond Art Gallery, Vanguard, December, 1986
1986: Jill Pollack:: review of Modern Ghosts at Richmond Art Gallery, The Courier, October, 1986
1986: Aristede Gazetas: review of Modern Ghosts Richmond Art Gallery, The Richmond Times, October,
1985: Carol M. Cram: Gregg Simpson: Works of Excavation & Transference, Terzoocchio, Bologna, Italy
New Mythologies/Inner Landscapes West Coast Surrealists Revisited, Vie Des Arts, Montreal,
1984: Preview for 12 Year Retrospective: Art Gallery of Algoma: The Sault Star, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
1982: Elisabeth Topp: Gregg Simpson at Galerie Surrealiste, Artmagazine, Toronto, Ontario, April/May
1980: Scott MacKillop: West Coast Surrealists at the Move Gallery: Artmgazine, Toronto
1976: Mati Lansoo: Gregg Simpson: A Profile: Vancouver Magazine, Vancouver, June 1976
1973: Joan Lowndes: Simpson’s Surrealistic Claws & Crescent Moons of Atlantis: Vancouver Province,
1971: Joan Lowndes: A True Child of the InterMedia: Surrealist Has Desert Mission, Feature Article,
Vancouver Sun, June, 1971
Books,Catalogues, Anthologies:
1999: Supériore Inconnu, edited by Sarane Alexandrian, feature page with photo, Association
Supériore Inconnu, Paris
1998: Dizionario Antologico e Critico Di Poeti, scrittori e artisti italiani contemporanei,
edizioni Tigullio-Bacherontius, Vercelli, Italy
1997: Il Volo Di Icaro Utopia, tra sogno e realta quotidiana, Edizioni Tigullio-Bacherontius, Vercelli Italy
1994: Constellations, Surrealism and Its Affinities, Carleton University Art Gallery, Ottawa
1986: Open Cages : Catalogue for Group Exhibition at Pitt International Gallery, Melmoth Publications, June,
1985: West Coast Surrealists: Catalogue for Group Exhibition at Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC
1984: Catalogue for Exposicao Internacional Surrealismo e Pintura Fantástica, Teatro Iberico,
Lisbon, Portugal
1983: Contemporary Canadian Art, by Dr. David Burnett: Edmonton
L’Univers Surréaliste, by José Pierre: Editions Somogy, Paris
1982: Arteder 82 catalogue for international art fair, Bilbao, Spain
1979: Catalogues for: Paperworks: BC Government Collection, Victoria, BC
Other Realities, The Legacy of Surrealism in Canadian Art: Agnes Etherington Art Centre,
Kingston,Ontario - catalogue essay by curator, Natalie Luckyj
1977: Catalogue: From This Point of View, Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver
1973: Catalogue for Canadian West Coast Hermetics, Talon Press, Vancouver
1972: Canadian Artists in Exhibition, Volume 2, Roundstone Press, Toronto
1971: The Vancouver School of Collage, University of B.C.Fine Arts Gallery, Intermedia Press
Publications by the Artist
1999: Disquieting day in an Underground Forest, frottage novel, Condition West Press, North Vancouver
1995: In the Beginning: Selected Works: 1990-1995, Color brochure
1983: 4-Series, color brochure of works from 1972-1982
1980: Earth and Sky Changes: drawings from 1967, Derwydon Press, Vancouver
1979: West Coast Surrealist Group, feature article: Terzoocchio, Bologna, Italy
1978: Luminous Desires, collected writings from 1968-71, Derwydon Press, Kingston, Ontario
1973: Saturated Scenes, (collage novel) Intermedia Press, Vancouver
1970-76: Lodgisticks (periodical) co-editor, Kingston /Vancouver
1970: Splendour Solis, art supplement, Georgia Straight, Vancouver
Triumph of the Surreal (essay) Georgia Straight, Vancouver
1968: Household Words collages, blewointment press, Vancouver
1967: Apocolips collages with poetry by Scott Lawrance, blewointment press, Vancouver
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