Visual Artist

ANDREW STELMACK
I was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba and have spent a great part of my adult life in Toronto. I also have been blessed to have had a previous career that has taken me to virtually every major city in Canada as a professional actor playing lead roles in such shows as THE LION KING, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, SEUSSICAL, SWEENEY TODD, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, THE HOBBIT, LES MISERABLES, to name but a few. It was a wonderful career but in the end, it is my visual art that I decided to dedicate the rest of my life to.
I still travel between both Winnipeg and Toronto, have art studios in both and after all this time I consider them both "home".
As a visual artist, I like to use bold and conflicting colours, shapes and textures as I explore an obsession of finding “the calm within chaos”. I will often use strong colours to assault and yet calm the senses at the same time. I will also combine the opposing effects of texture with smooth luminosity — within the same space — until they find a shared and harmonious balance.
Much like life, that which may look simple at first, can be very complex upon a more detailed reflection and examination.
There also is an influence of cubism in my work as I am fascinated in how such perfect shapes as a square or rectangle can so quickly become imperfect. It is amazing how all you have to do is create the simplest rupture or distortion to these defined shapes and instantly you create an energy and an emotion that wasn’t there.
As of late, most of my artwork focuses on that precious moment of self-realization in life. That moment when things are coming into focus or are retreating into the past. That moment of uncertainty where the boldest of choices in life lie, and they are made. Hence the dissolved or coming into focus shapes, with the use of strong and vibrant colours amidst the unknown mist of whites.
In most cases, there is no specific story behind any given artwork. My exploration of trying to create calm within chaos usually means that an artwork decides what it will become all by itself. It is my job as the artist to let that happen and not get in the way.
But as in life, there are no steadfast rules for my exploration of art: Sometimes, a painting (or series of them) can reflect a story, a memory or an experience that I wish to share. Perhaps even a reflection of my own emotional place at that given moment. But even when that happens, I don’t necessarily want that story or emotion to be its overriding force. In the end, the most important thing is that I want each painting to have no boundaries imposed. For it to have unlimited possibilities for the viewer’s imagination to simply take hold and see where it goes.
The viewer and I connecting.
Without words.
Sharing our own private stories, thoughts and emotions.
Together.
Education:
University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB
Bachelor of Arts, Four Year Program: Theatre and Drama
Banff School of Fine Arts, Calgary, AB
Exhibitions:
2023
The Artist Project
Riverdale Artwalk
North of 59 Collective
2022
The Artist Project
Riverdale Artwalk
Rosedale Art Fair
2020
The Artist Project, Toronto
2019
The Artist Project, Toronto
Riverdale Art Walk, Toronto
Ottawa Art in the Park, Ottawa
Kingston Art Festival, Kingston
2018
The Artist Project, Toronto
Riverdale Art Walk, Toronto
Ottawa Art in the Park, Ottawa
Kingston Art Festival, Kingston
Cabbagetown Festival, Toronto,
Solo show: Liberty Market Gallery, Toronto
2017
Riverdale Art Walk
Ottawa Art in the Park
Kingston Art Festival
Cabbagetown Festival
Solo show: Liberty Market Gallery
2016
ARTandem:Andrew and Emily, May 17th - July 5, Liberty Place Gallery, 150 East Liberty, Toronto
Quantum Colours, Solo Show, Brainstation/Quantum Coffee Gallery, 3rd Floor, 460 King St West, Toronto
Abstractions, Group Show, April 27 to May 30th, Liberty Market Lofts Gallery
The Abstructionists, Group Show, March 27th to April 27th, Liberty Market Lofts Gallery
2015
Riverdale Art Walk, June 6-7th, Toronto
Artcrawl Resident Artist Showcase, Stax Gallery, Hamilton
The Abstructionists, Various Pop-up Venues, May and June, Toronto
Exploring Landscape Exhibition, January, Trias Gallery, Oakville
The Artist Project, Toronto (February 19-22) Toronto
2014
Riverdale Artwalk, June, Toronto
ACTING WITH PAINT Exhibition, May 22-June 15, Qlix Gallery, Toronto
OPENING NEW DOORS Exhibition, June 17 – July 7, Qlix Gallery, Toronto
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, July 4-6, Toronto
2013
Cabbagetown Art Festival, September
Queen West Art Crawl, Sept 21-22
Art Walk North, Aug 15-16th.
Toronto Outdoor Art Expo, July 7-9
North By North East Festival, June 10-16th, Toronto, Canada. (Featured exhibitor)
2011
Kyeyune! Gladstone Hotel, Queen West, Toronto, June 16-19, 2011
2010
Bloody Beauty-full! (Solo Show) The Citadel, Edmonton, Alberta. May 1-28
Queen West Art Crawl, Sept 17&18th, Toronto, ON
2009
Riverdale Art Walk (Solo Show), Joy Bistro, June 6 – July 7th
Seeing Red, (Solo Show) Petroff Gallery, 1016 Eglinton Ave. West, Toronto, ON,
Toronto Art Expo, March
2008
Candlelight, Solo Exhibition, Hangman Gallery, Toronto, ON
Riverdale Art Walk, Toronto, ON
Start Your Engines, Solo Exhibition, Fiorano Gallery, Toronto, ON
Toronto Art Expo, Metro Convention Centre, Toronto, ON
2007
Little Art Show, BMW Showroom, Toronto, ON
Queen West Art Crawl, Toronto, ON
Testosterone, Snapdragon Gallery, Ottawa, ON
Pure Abstract, Gallery Arta, Toronto, ON
Toronto International Art Expo, Metro Convention Centre, Toronto, ON
2006
Little Art Show, BMW Showroom, Toronto, ON, Queen West Art Crawl,Toronto,
2005
Queen West Art Crawl, Toronto,ON,
Riverdale Art Walk, Toronto, ON
Corporate Collections and Galleries showing or having exhibited Andrews artwork:
Rubach Wealth Management, Toronto, ON, Heenan Blaikie Law Firm, Toronto, ON, GCAN Insurance Company, Toronto, ON, Odgers Berndtson, Toronto, ON, Tacita Capital Investments, Toronto, ON, Hill + Knowlton, Toronto, ON, Hair FX, Winnipeg , Soho Myriad Gallery (LA, Chicago and Atlanta), Kohl Gallery (Toronto), Trias Gallery (Toronto), Petroff Gallery (Toronto), Covent Garden (Wellington Ontario), Gallery Arta, Distillery District, Toronto, ON, Jacob Gallery, Toronto, ON, Snapdragon Gallery (Ottawa), Woodlands Gallery (Winnipeg), After Stonewall Gallery, Ottawa, ON, St. Germaine Gallery (Toronto), Qlix Studioz (Toronto), PI Creative Gallery (Toronto), Koyman Gallery (Ottawa)
Andrews work has also been presented as gifts to various Ministers and members of Canada’s Parliament.