Zebra With Blanket
Mixed Media on Panel
36h x 36w in
Andre Petterson is a multi-media artist who attempts to capture the essence of a split-second in time. His current photography-based work explores various themes of lighting to create elements of mystery. Born in Rotterdam, Netherlands in 1950, Petterson grew up in Saskatoon where he lived and worked as a professional musician for many years before becoming interested in art. He moved to the West Coast of Canada in 1970 where he eventually concentrated his efforts on visual art.
Petterson has worked in various mediums such as wood, metal, and plastic, both in two and three dimensions. He has created installations, performance, film and kinetic work involving music composition, sets and choreography.
Rembrandt and the Dutch masters’ use of light have strongly influenced Petterson; important elements are highlighted and the mind must fill in the rest. Fabric and movement are also subjects of fascination for the artist. He believes that the integration of movement and fabric are similar to brushstrokes. The chance and artistic freedom involved in motions of dance and similar movements are also reflected in his mixed media work.
Andre Petterson has exhibited in both private and public galleries in Canada and the United States. He is the recipient of The National Film Board of Canada Award, and has work featured in numerous private and public collections including Canada Council Art Bank, Canadian Airlines, Vancouver General Hospital, Claridge Investments, Duracell Canada, Esso Resources Canada, Pan-Pacific, Seattle, WA, Polygon Group Ltd., Richmond Public Art, St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Wall Centre Garden Hotel.
Andre Petterson explores the contentious symbolism of the suit jacket in his latest body of work, Transition.
The widespread, politically-charged graffiti decorating stately Neoclassical buildings in Buenos Aires is impossible to ignore. It is a visual contradiction which exposes the rift between the conservative elite and radical working class. Aesthetically, the bold colours of spray paint and the gestural, script-like application reshape its planar architectural forms into a highly personal expression. For the artist, the vandalized buildings of the Argentine capital reflect, "a need for a generation of people to be heard by way of a visual vocabulary which speaks out against the values of the establishment."
In Transition, Petterson utilizes the suit jacket - a Western symbol of masculine authority, formality, and professional prowess - as a vehicle to capture this notion. Physical suit jackets, painted in bold colour with a gestural, Sumi-e technique indicative of the artist's earlier work, become politicized sites revealing contradictory ideas of success and oppression in contemporary society. If the suit is a metaphor for the establishment, then the artist uses the garment as a canvas to liberate its socio-political identification.
Applying paint to the jacket prior to photographing it adds a new layer of dimension to Petterson’s work, blurring the boundary between photography and painting that has come to be synonymous with his practice.
The suit jacket – a symbol of male power and authority – is the topic of Andre Petterson’s latest paintings, showing this fall at the Bau-Xi Gallery in Vancouver. Interestingly, the work takes as its jumping-off point politically charged graffiti Petterson saw on stately buildings in Buenos Aires earlier this year. The visual contradiction seemed a metaphor for the rift between Argentina’s working class masses and the conservative elite.
“Everything was spray painted,” says Petterson. “And I’m not talking street art, I’m talking vandalism. Just rampant spray cans on marble facades, windows and cars. It was just everywhere. It sort of got to me. The people seemed so unhappy.”
Petterson takes a similar approach with his mixed-media paintings, using bold colours, smeared paint, drips, spatters and the like. He photographs the paintings, and then paints atop the print, blurring the boundary between painting and photography.
Petterson, who was born in the Netherlands and grew up in Saskatchewan, works in other media, including sculpture, film and performance. “I can’t keep doing the same thing again and again,” he says. This latest work? “I’m excited by it because it’s something new for me and I like to experiment.”
Petterson is also a musician and has been selling his art in Vancouver since the mid-’70s.
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2019 Random by Design, May
Foster White Gallery, Seattle, Wa
2018 Brand, Wallace Galleries
Calgary, Ab.
2018 Brand, Capture Photography
Bau-Xi Gallery
2017 Reconnoitre, Bau-Gallery,
Toronto, Ont.
2016 Transition, Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2015 To and Fro, Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2015 To and Fro, Foster White Gallery, Seattle, WA
2014 New Work, Bau-Xi, Toronto, ON
2014 New Work, Wallace Galleries, Calgary, AB
2013 Impressions of Africa 2, Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2013 Impressions of Africa, Foster White Gallery, Seattle, WA
2013 African Impressions, Galerie LeRoyer, Montreal, QC
2011 Here and There, Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2008 Thread (Cinema Stage 2) Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2008 Thread (Cinema Stage 1) Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, ON
2007 Precis, Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2006 Contact Photography Festival, Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, ON
2005 Voice, Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2003 Still Not Still (episode 2) Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2003 Still Not Still (episode 1) Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, ON
2001 Spin Spun, Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2000 Public Access (photographs 1990-1999 courtesy Bau-Xi Gallery) Atelier Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1999 Conversations and Cliches of Modern Speech, Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1998 Reflections, Newzones Gallery, Calgary, AB
1998 New Works, Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, ON
1998 New Works, Denise Roberge Gallery, Palm Desert, CA
1998 Survey Exhibition, Grand Forks Public Art Gallery, Grand Forks, BC
1997 Place and Placement, Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1997 Cut-Outs, Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, ON
1996 Cut-Outs, Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1995 Stations of the Mind, Richmond Public Art Gallery, Richmond, BC
1995 Crows and Icons, Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC and Toronto, ON
1993 Contemplations, Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1992 Stages of Being - Dolls, Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2014 New Work, Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
2014 New Work, Wallace Gallery, Calgary, Alta
2014 Impressions of Africa 2, Bau-Xi Gallery Vancouver, BC
2014 Impressions of Africa, Foster White Gallery, Seattle, Wa
2013 African Impressions , Galerie Le Royer, Montreal, Que.
2011 ‘Here and There,’ Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2010 ‘Stitch.Print,’ Foster/White Gallery, Seattle, WA
2009 ‘Print,’ Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
‘New Works,’ Wallace Gallery, Wallace Gallery, Calgary, AB
2008 ‘Thread,’ Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, ON
‘Cinema Stage 1,’ Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, ON
2007 ‘Night and Day,’ Foster/White Gallery, Seattle, WA
‘Precis,’ Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
‘Ironies,’ Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, ON
2006 ‘New Works,’ Wallace Gallery, Calgary, AB
2005 ‘Voice,’ Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2003 ‘Still Not Still: Episode 2,’ Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
‘Still Not Still: Episode 1,’ Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, ON
2001 ‘Spin/Spun,’ Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2000 ‘Public Access,’ photographs from 1990-1999 (courtesy Bau-Xi Gallery), Atelier Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1999 ‘Conversations (Clichés of Modern Speech),’ Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1998 ‘Reflections,’ Newzones Gallery, Calgary, AB
‘New Works,’ Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, ON
‘New Works,’ Denise Roberges Gallery, Palm Desert, CA
‘Survey Exhibition,’ Grand Forks Public Art Gallery, Grand Forks, BC
1997 ‘Place & Placement’, Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
‘Cut-Outs,’ Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, ON
1996 ‘Cut-Outs,’ Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver , BC
1995 ‘Crows and Icons,’ Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
‘Crows and Icons,’ Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, ON
‘Stations of the Mind,’ Richmond Art Gallery, Richmond, BC
1993 ‘Contemplations,’ Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1992 Granville Square, Vancouver, BC
‘Stages of Being,’ Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1990 Galerie l'Autre Equivoque, Ottawa, ON
1989 Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
‘Peep Show,’ Kelowna Public Art Gallery, Kelowna, BC
1988 Galerie Franklin Silverstone, Montreal, QC
1986 ‘Music Speaking Visually,’ Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
St. Georges School, Chamber Music Festival, Vancouver, BC
‘Mysterious Objects,’ Performance & Installation, Vancouver East Cultural Centre, Vancouver, BC
‘The Lane,’ Installation, Kamloops Public Art Gallery, Kamloops, BC
1984 ‘Urban Reflections,’ Jackson Street Gallery, Seattle, WA
1983 ‘Preservations and Restorations,’ Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1982 Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, ON
1981 Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, ON
1980 Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1979 Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1978 Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1977 Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1976 Habitat Conference, Vancouver, BC
1975 Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2007 ‘Holiday Small Works Show,’ Foster/White Gallery, Seattle, WA
2006 Bau-Xi Gallery in conjunction with the Toronto Contact Photography festival, Toronto, ON
‘Alternate Vision,’ Soho Myriad, Atlanta,GA
2005 ‘Spring Show,’ Wallace Gallery, Calgary AB
2000 ‘35th Anniversary,’ Bau-Xi Gallery, August, Vancouver, BC
‘Ditto,’ Seattle Art Museum Sales/Rental Gallery, Seattle, WA
ART MIAMI International Art Expo (with Buschlen Mowatt International)
1999 ‘Menagerie,’ Seattle Art Museum Sales/Rental Gallery
‘BOOK (writ large),’ an exhibition of original artist books, Community Arts Council, Vancouver, BC
1998 New Leaf Editions Exhibition, Performance Works, Vancouver, BC
‘Contemplating Eternity,’ Seattle Art Museum Sales/Rental Gallery, Seattle, WA
1997 Newzones Gallery, Calgary, AB
‘Browser,’ ARTROPOLIS 97, Vancouver, BC
‘The Last Picture Show,’ Newzones Gallery, Calgary, AB
1996 ‘Group Show,’ Newzones Gallery, Calgary, AB
1993 ‘Straight From the Pile,’ Burnaby Art Gallery, Burnaby, BC
1992 Seattle Art Fair, Seattle, WA (with Bau-Xi Gallery)
1991 ELAAC 91, Montreal Art Fair, Montreal, QC
Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1990 ‘Black & White,’ Grand Forks Public Art Gallery, Grand Forks, BC
‘Twenty-Five Years,’ Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC and Toronto, ON
1990 ‘Artropolis,’ The Roundhouse, Vancouver, BC
1989 ‘Six from Bau-Xi,’ Courtenay Arts Alliance, Courtenay, BC
‘Fear of Others,’ The Roundhouse, Vancouver, BC
Galerie de la Ville, Dollard des Ormeaux, QC
Richmond Art Gallery, Richmond Art Gallery, Richmond, BC
1988 ‘Bag,’ Burnaby Art Gallery, Burnaby, BC
‘Statues,’ 20 min film, The Seventh Annual Santa Fe Film Exposition, Santa Fe, NM
1987 ‘Temporal Suggestions,’ Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
Sunshine Coast Arts Centre, Sechelt, BC
1986 ‘Images and Objects IV,’ Community Arts Council of Vancouver, Vancouver, BC
‘Arts in Motion,’ BC Festival of the Arts, Prince George, BC
‘Images BC,’ Robson Square Media Centre, Vancouver, BC
‘Ten Plus One,’ Surrey Art Gallery, Surrey, BC
1985 ‘Sculpture 85,’ Grand Forks Public Art Gallery, Grand Forks, BC
1984 The Warehouse Show, Vancouver, BC
The Remy Martin Show, Vancouver, BC
1983 Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, ON
October Show, Vancouver, BC
Surrey Art Gallery, Surrey, BC
1982 Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
‘Art Inspired By Music,’ Saxe Gallery, Toronto, ON
1981 ‘Esso Resource Collection,’ Nickel Art Museum, Calgary, AB
Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, ON
1980 Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1979 Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1977 ‘Making Marks,’ Norman MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, SK
Presentation House, North Vancouver, BC
MUSIC, THEATRE, AND OTHER PROJECTS
2011 Chateau Ste. Michelle Meritage Artist
1991 ‘Dancing on the Edge,’ Firehall Theatre, Vancouver, music for Gisa Cole
1990 Loft Performances at Main Dance Place, music for Gisa Cole ‘City’
1989 ‘Dancing on the Edge,’ Firehall Theatre, Vancouver, music for Gisa Cole
Winnipeg Fringe Festival, music for Gisa Cole
1987 ‘Loft Performances,’ Main Dance Place, Vancouver music for Gisa Cole
‘Awaken the Sleeping Giant,’ Soundscape
‘Solo Dance,’ music for Gisa Cole
1986 Three music works, Children's Carousel Dance Co.
Waterloo University, Waterloo, ON
‘Phone Calls from the Dead,’ Soundscape
‘Mahfeesh,’ music for Gisa Cole
‘Flipside Series,’ Soundscape
1985 ‘Mysterious Objects,’ soundtrack
1984 ‘The Lane,’ soundtrack
1971-83 Various club dates, BC and WA
1968-71 The Skip Kutz Septet (Jazz Ensemble), Drummer
1965-68 The Great Flood (Rock Band), Drummer
Two releases in 1966 Columbia Studios, Chicago, IL
1967 Expo 67 Gala Night Under the Stars, Montreal, QC
1962-64 Various club dates, Saskatoon, SK
AWARDS
1986 The National Film Board of Canada (Pacific Studio)
The Canada Council (Explorations Program)
FILM AND VIDEO
1989 Televisia Mexico. Interview with Carmen Iregoyen
1987 ‘Statues,’ 16mm colour film, 20 min.
1984 ‘Building the Lane,’ Video document
Works form 1974-83, video catalogue
1983 Collages from 1981-83, video catalogue
CATALOGUES
Vancouver Art Gallery Auction, 2000
Art for Life, 1999 Art for Life auction
BOOK (writ large), 1999 Catalogue for the Community Arts Council exhibition of the same name.
Art for Life Auction, 1998
Art for Life Auction, 1997
Art for Life Auction, 1996
Great Work, contemporary BC artists, compiled by Melanie Gold, 1996, pp64-65
Straight from the Pile, Burnaby Art Gallery, Todd Davis, curator, 1993
Charles Bronfman Collection, 1991
Artropolis, 1990
Peep Show, Kelowna Public Art Gallery, Kelowna, BC
Andre Petterson, 1974-86
Holos, Noch Lohnt Das Traumen II, Amsterdam, Holland
Fear of Others, 1990
Mysterious Objects 1986
The Lane, Kamloops Public Art Gallery, 1984
The Warehouse Show, 1984
The October Show, 1983
Making Marks, Norman MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, SK, 1977
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Advance Group Products
Burnet, Duckworth, and Palmer, Calgary, AB
Canada Council Art Bank
Canadian Airlines
Claridge Investments
CS Resources Ltd, Calgary, AB
Duracell Canada
Elbow River Resources, Calgary, AB
Esso Resources Canada
Grand Forks Public Art Gallery, Grand Forks, B.C
Grand Hotel, Lobby, Vancouver, BC
Laxton & Company
M.A. Lamothe & Associates, Toronto, ON
Pan-Pacific, Seattle, WA
Polygon Group Ltd.
Q.L.T. Technologies, Vancouver, BC
Richmond Public Art
St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC
Telesat, Canada
Wall Centre Garden Hotel
Webber and Company
Vancouver General Hospital
PUBLICATIONS
cover - book - Jeremias Gamboa Contrarlo todo2014
Vancouver Home magazine inaugural issue ( multi page spread) 2014
Geist magazine (cover) Vancouver April 2014
La Presse, Montreal, October 14th 2013
Harper’s Magazine, November 2009, Page 84
The Georgia Straight , April 2005, Robin Laurence
Preview Magazine, April 2005, preview Mia Johnson
Toronto, April 2003, Betty Ann Jordan
Art Access (Seattle), November 2000 Adriana Grant
Art Access (Seattle), Sept., 2000, Adriana Grant
The Georgia Straight, Mar. 30 – Apr. 6, 1999, Robin Laurence
Spotlight on the Arts, CKWX Radio, Nov. 26, 1999, Leanne Campbell
Art Access (Seattle), Sept., 1999
The North American Post (Seattle-Japanese), Sept. 17, 1999
Vancouver Sun, Oct. 31, 1997, Michael Scott
Preview Magazine, Nov./Dec./Jan. 1996 cover & preview, Mia Johnson
Arts Umbrella – 1999, Splash Auction, Oct., 1999
Vancouver Sun, Oct. 16, 1993, Lloyd Dykk
The Georgia Straight, May 28-June 4, 1993, Robin Laurence
Vancouver Sun, Feb. 22, 1992, Ann Rosenberg
Art Week, Nov. 8, 1990, Ron Glowan
Georgia Straight, Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 1990, Robin Laurence
Western Living Magazine, Jan., 1990, Michael Boxall
Vancouver Province, Nov. 24, 1990, Art Perry
Georgia Straight, Nov. 17-24, 1989, Robin Laurence
Kelowna Capital News, Feb. 22, 1989
Kelowna West Side Sun, Feb. 23, 1989
Kelowna Daily Courier, Feb. 15, 1989, Gail Pitney
Kelowna Capital News, Feb., 1989, Barbara Etter
Chatelaine Magazine, June, 1988
The Santa Fe Reporter, Feb. 24, 1988
Kitchner Waterloo Record, Feb. 13, 1987, Pauline Durichen
CBC Radio, Dec. 11, 1986, Jean Louis Brachet
West Side Week, Dec. 14, 1986, Doug Coupland
The Westender, Dec. 18, 1986
Vancouver Sun, Dec. 8, 1986, Elizabeth Godley
Vancouver Sun, Feb. 28, 1986, Eve Johnson
Vancouver Sun, Nov. 1984, Eve Johnson
Kamloops Newspaper, Nov. 8, 1984, Sandra Albers
Toronto Star, Aug. 13, 1983, Christopher Hume
Vancouver Sun, Dec. 2, 1983, Eve Johnson
Vancouver Sun, Mar. 11, 1983, Lloyd Dykk
The Westender, Jun. 24, 1982, Mia Johnson
Vancouver Sun, Jan., 1980, Andrew Scott
Vancouver Sun, Apr., 1980, Lloyd Dykk
Western Living Magazine, May, 1980, Andrew Scott
Vancouver Province, Nov., 1980, Art Perry
Canada Crafts, Apr., 1979.
Vancouver Sun, Feb., 1977, Wayne Edmonston
The Financial Post Magazine Dec., 1976
Benefits and Donations
Art for Life Auction, annually since 1996 Vancouver, BC
Arts Umbrella Auction, annually since 1984 Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Art Gallery, 2006 Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Art Gallery, 2000 Vancouver, BC
St. Paul’s Hospital, 2002 Vancouver, BC
Grand Forks Public Art Gallery, 2000 Grand Forks, BC
PID Society Auction, 1999 Vancouver, BC
St. Paul’s Hospital, 1998 Vancouver, BC
Grand Forks Public Art Gallery, 1998 Grand Forks, BC
PID Society Auction, 1998 Vancouver, BC
Richmond Art Gallery, 1997 Richmond, BC
PID Society Auction, 1997 Vancouver, BC
PID Society Auction, 1996 Vancouver, BC
Main Dance Projects, 1994 Vancouver, BC
BC Alzheimer Society, 1993 Vancouver, BC
Canadian Artists to the Benefit of the Olga Havel Foundation, 1993 Prague, Czech.
Evergreen Auction, 1991 Ottawa, ON
