Ken Kirkby was born on September 1, 1940 in London, England.His family moved to Spain in 1945 and then one year later to Portugal where Kirkby spent his formative years.
Kirkby moved to Canada in 1958 and almost immediately made his way
north.During a five-year period he lived with various groups of Inuit and traveled Canada's far north extensively, recording the landscape, the people and the conditions in a vast collection of drawings.During this time Kirkby discovered the awe
inspiring stone structurs known as "Inukshuks".
On returning from the Arctic, Kirkby took up residence in Vancouver and began translating his many sketches into magnificent oil paintings.His crowning achievement is a massive work titled
"Isumataq".Measuring 152 feet long by 12 feet high, "Isumataq" is the largest portrait on canvas ever painted.This strikingly beautiful creation was unveiled in the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, on March 30, 1992.
Today, Kirkby's paintings are
recognized internationally and are displayed in public and private collections around the globe.
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EDUCATION
Self Taught
EXHIBITIONS-GROUP
Art Expo, New York, 1992
Toronto International Art Exhibition, 1991
EXHIBITIONS-SOLO
Jenkins Showler Gallery, White Rock, 1996
Peter Pried Gallery, Kleinburg, 1994
Ontario Place, Toronto, 1993
Museum of Nature, Ottawa, 1993
COVERAGE-MEDIA
Newspaper, Ottawa Citizen, 05 - 1993
Art Impressions, 03 - 1993 / 03 - 1995
Liaison Magazine, 07 - 1993
Newspaper, Ottawa Sun, 11 - 1992
Osmos, 1991
Art Business News, 08 - 1991
Newspaper, Toronto Star, 06 - 1989
CORPORATE AND PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Albert Reichman, First Canadian Place/
Columbus Centre/ Yellowknife Airport/
Bregmon & Hamann/ House of Commons, Ottawa/
The Honourable Jean Chretian, P. M. of Canada/
The Honourable David Crombie/
Mr. Ted Hughes, Poet Laureat of Gr. Britian/
The Queen Mother, Great Britian/
HRH Prince Philip, Gr. Britian/
St. Michael's Hospital/ NWT Airlines/
His Worship, Mayor Mel Lastman/
Government of Yukon Territories/
Mitsubishi Corp/
The Government of Portugal.
MEDIUM
Oil
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