The Artist

Administrator — Wed, 16 May 2007 02:33:00 +0000

MARCEL PIET-HEIN KERKHOFF

Marcel Kerkhoff was born in Suffern, New York, in 1968. His childhood and youth were mostly spent, respectively, in the Netherlands and Canada. He studied at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, receiving a diploma in graphic design (1989) and a BFA in 1990, with emphasis on art history and photography. He attended the Ontario College of Art and Design from 1997 to 1999, and completed his MFA at the University of Saskatchewan in 2002.Kerkhoff, if not working with the figure directly, often substitutes inanimate objects, allowing them to interact and connect with one another to bring forth ideas or expressions that might otherwise easily remain dormant. His paintings frequently revolve around themes of displacement, whether they project a cultural, religious or sexual charge, and usually (on a secondary level) try to make sense of our world through a dependence on chance and fate. More recently, the roles given to his small cast of animal characters are becoming increasingly benign yet existential, keeping intact the dry wit, unsettling effect and a curiosity for exploration inherent to them, and, perhaps more importantly, to Kerkhoff himself.Kerkhoff has had solo exhibitions of his work at Greener Pastures Gallery, Toronto (2003); Corridor Gallery, Halifax (2002); Gordon Snelgrove Art Gallery, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon (2001); Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon (2001); Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition (1999); and the Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax (1990). He has participated in numerous group exhibitions in Halifax, Sudbury, Toronto, Edmonton and Saskatoon. Education

2002 – mfa university of saskatchewan, saskatoon, sk
1997-99 – ontario college of art and design, toronto, on
1990 – bfa nova scotia college of art and design, halifax, ns
1989 – associate of the nova scotia college of art and design, halifax

Solo exhibitions

2003 – greener pastures gallery, toronto, on
2002 – ree, corridor gallery, halifax, ns
2001 – ship of fools, thesis exhibit, gordon snelgrove gallery, saskatoon, sk
2001 – seven ( wooden constructions ), mentorship with edison del canto, mendel art gallery, saskatoon, sk
1999 – toronto outdoor art exhibition, toronto, on
1989 – a change of scene- scenes of nova scotia, anna leonowens gallery, halifax, ns

Group exhibitions

2003 – cobalt, corridor gallery, halifax, ns
2002 – bite mark, corridor gallery, halifax, ns
2001 – bouffant, gordon snelgrove gallery, saskatoon, sk
2000 – fresh meat, douglas udell gallery, edmonton, ab
2000 – tractor lab show, holy grail science fair installation, university of saskatchewan, saskatoon, sk
2000 – the long haul, st. thomas more gallery, saskatoon, sk
1999 – mute worth, gordon snelgrove gallery, saskatoon, sk
1990 – issues in landscape photography, anna leonowens gallery, halifax, ns

Other

2000-01 – instruction of 2nd year life drawing, university of saskatchewan, saskatoon, sk
2000 – teaching assistant, studio drawing, university of saskatchewan, saskatoon, sk
2000-01 – acceptance of hantelman humanities scholarship, middleton trust award, full graduate teaching fellowship, university of saskatchewan, saskatoon, sk
1999- 2000 – video documentation, visiting artist’s lectures and related work, university of saskatchewan, saskatoon, sk
1999- 2000 – the burial and millennium princess, two videos pertaining to two beatles

Bibliography

robertson, sheila. “mischievous works work by not working.” the star phoenix, saskatoon, 25 august 2001, e14.
mandel, charles. “fresh meat vulgar and provocative.” the edmonton journal, edmonton, 5 may 2000, e5.

Marcel Piet-Hein Kerkhoff

The Artist