Heidi Thompson
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Heidi Thompson
- "Attuned to the artist’s role as a medium, Heidi Thompson works with the physics of nature. The artist becomes a conduit for energy, engaging in a painterly process that involves intuition and an inner dynamic so contrary to the expressionist works Thompson produced earlier in her career. These paintings are anti-form and all about the physics of the moment that exists in many moments, in fact stands outside time. Therein lies the challenge and the invitation! We are not involved in recognizing anything when we look at a Heidi Thompson painting. We are receivers looking into a brilliant spectacle." – John Grande, Canadian Art Critic
Artist Statement
"My aim is to capture beauty – not by painting a landscape as I know it with trees, mountains, clouds or sunsets; rather by using nature's elements - colour, light, movement and space - to create abstract images that appear beautiful. Since I began painting, I have tried to express the mystery, depth and light of my being. When I was young, I turned my attention outwardly and saw darkness, drama and hopelessness. I didn’t see who I really was. As I grow older, I am discovering more light and peace within. I am not always successful in expressing light, peace and beauty, but the challenge keeps me returning to my studio. I believe that when we behold something beautiful we know it. Our hearts skip a beat. We are filled with joy, inspiration and peace. When we experience such uplifting profound reactions to something we are looking at, I believe that we have stumbled upon a mirror image of our true and beautiful nature. This can happen anywhere – in nature, in an art gallery or among people.” - Heidi Thompson was born in Vernon, B.C. Canada. In 1974, after graduating high school, she moved to Switzerland to work as an Au Pair. In her spare time she painted and discovered her love for art. In 1975 Thompson was accepted into the Kunstgewerbeschule (University of Art and Design) in Zürich. After completing a four-year program, she earned a Swiss Diploma for Professional Photography.
Pursuing her passion for art, Thompson moved to Germany and apprenticed with the artist Oskar Koller. Koller recommended that she continue her education at the Akademie der Bildene Künste Nürnberg where she studied painting for one year. Thompson then moved to Budapest and studied at the Hungarian University of Fine Art for one more year before returning to her home town in 1982. Ever since, Thompson has worked as a photographer, publisher, teacher and painter. She is married, has one child and paints full-time exhibiting her work in Europe, Canada and the USA. Heidi Thompson lives in Coldstream, British Columbia.
CV
1956 - Born in Canada
1974-1979 University of Art & Design Zürich, Switzerland earning a Swiss Dipl. Photography
1980-1981 Academy of Art Nürnberg, Germany
1981-1982 Hungarian State University for Fine Art, Budapest, Hungary
2001-2002 B.C. Open University, Canada earning a B.F.A
2002-2003 University of Victoria, Canada earning a B.C. Teaching Certificate
EDUCATION
1975 – 1979 Attended the Kunstgewerbeschule Zürich (now the University of Art & Design Zürich) which
included a one year Foundation Course followed by a three-year concentration in photography.
Graduated earning a Fahigkeitszeugnis (Swiss Certificate for Professional Photography).
1978 - Selected photographer to document the Zürich Chamber Orchestra for a solo exhibition.
Traveled with the orchestra photographing soloists including Yehudi Menuhin, Paul Tortelier,
Peter-Lucas Graf and Louis Duquenoy. The exhibition of 100 images were published into a book –
the anniversary edition of the Zürich Chamber Orchestra.
1979 - Assigned photographer to document painter US abstract painter Robert Ryman before and during
the opening of I.N.K. (International Neue Kunst Gallery) Zürich.
1979 - Apprenticed with the late German painter, Oskar Koller in Nürnberg, Germany.
1981- Studied painting at the Akademie fur Bildenden Kunste Nürnberg with Professor Ernst Weil.
Outside of school, became private student of Klaus Schmidt, former student of Austrian painter,
Oskar Kokoschka.
1982 - Completed first year of the five-year master’s art program, Kepzomuvezeti Foiskola (Hungarian
University for Fine Art) in Budapest under the instruction of Professor Kokas Ignacs.
1983 - Returned to Vernon, B.C. and worked as a photographer and painter.
1984 - Received the British Columbia Cultural Grant for a photography exhibit entitled "Portraits of
Artists".
1986 - Received instructions from illuminist painter, Leszek Forczek.
1995 - Wrote and published Recapitulation - A Journey by Sveva Caetani.
1997 - Created and taught a meditation course for children in Vernon and Vancouver schools called
Advanced Attention Development. AAD was featured in a documentary film for CBC's Spilled Milk.
2001 - Earned a B.F.A., Open University of British Columbia.
2002 - Completed the Post-Secondary School Internship Program, University of Victoria. Received a
British Columbia Teaching Certificate (BCCT).
2012 - Wrote and published Calm Focus Joy: The Power of Breath Awareness
2013 - Speaker at TEDx Kelowna
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2020 Switzerland / Contemporary Art Fair Zürich (Halde Galerie)
2019 Vernon / Headbones Art Gallery, “CORrE” (group)
2018 Switzerland / Halde Galerie “Aurora” (solo)
2018 Switzerland / Contemporary Art Fair Zürich
2018 New York / Arco Gallery (Represented)
2016 Kelowna Airport / Kelowna Art Gallery "OK Sunshine" 2016
2016 Vernon / Headbones Art Gallery /"Okanagan Artists" 2016
2016 Ottawa / The Cube Gallery "Blue - A Group Show" 2016
2015 Lake Country / Public Art Gallery "They Tell You Where to Go" (group)
2015 Vancouver International Art Fair (booth)
2015 Palm Beach Gardens / Onessimo Art Gallery (represented)
2014 San Diego / Alexander Salazar Gallery (solo)
2014 Vernon / Headbones Gallery (group)
2014 Widen Switzerland / Galerie Halde (group)
2012 Vernon / Headbones Gallery (group)
2012 Montreal / Galerie D'Avignon (solo)
2012 La Jolla, CA / Alexander Salazar Contemporary Exhibits (solo)
2011 Armstrong Public Art Gallery / "Mind Space Energy" (solo)
2011 San Antonio, TX / Gallery Nord Exhibit "11/11/11" (group)
2011 San Diego / Alexander Salazar Art Gallery “Light Energy Matter” (solo)
2010 Atlanta / Bill Lowe Gallery "Bloom: The New Abstraction" (group)
2009 Atlanta / Bill Lowe Gallery (group)
2009 Toronto / Lausberg Contemporary (group)
2009 Vernon / Gallery Vertigo (solo)
2009 Toronto / Varley Art Gallery (group)
2009 New York / Lana Santorelli Gallery (group)
2008 Montreal / Galerie Samuel Lallouz (group)
2008 New York / Lana Santorelli Gallery (group)
2008 Grand Forks / Grand Forks Art Gallery (solo)
2007 Toronto / The Drawers - Headbones Art Gallery (represented)
2005 Vernon / Vernon Public Art Gallery (group)
2000 Vancouver / Howe Street Art Gallery (represented)
1996 Vernon / Headbones Art Gallery (solo)
1994 Vancouver / Simon Patrich Art Gallery (represented)
1992 New York / Viridian Art Gallery (represented)
1991 Kelowna / Kelowna City Hall (solo)
1991 Vancouver / Festival of the Arts (juried/group)
1989 Vancouver / Robson Square Media Centre (group)
1989 Vancouver / Community Arts Centre/BC Women Artists (solo)
1987 Vernon / Topham Brown Public Art Gallery (solo)
1985 Vernon / Topham Brown Public Art Gallery (solo)
1985 Grand Forks / Grand Forks Public Art Gallery (solo)
1985 Kelowna / Kelowna Public Art Gallery (solo)
1983 Vancouver / BC Festival of the Arts (juried/group)
1981 Hungarian / State University (group)
1980 Nürnberg / Kom Youth Centre (solo)
1980 Nürnberg Gallerie der Stadt (group)
1978 Zürich / Witikon Community Centre "100 Photographs Zürich Chamber Orchestra"
COLLECTIONS
2021 BAE Systems Inc, USA
2020 Royal Family of Saudi Arabia,
2012 Senvest Canadian Collection
2007 Samuel Lallouz Private Collection, Galerie Samuel Lallouz, Montreal
2006 Mraz Collection, Toronto
2004 Private collection of Robert Keller, USA
2006 Corporate collection, Benefit Plan Administrators Inc. Mississauga
AWARDS & GRANTS
1996 VanCity Book of Excellence Award for the publication of Recapitulation
1984 B.C Cultural Project Grant through the Kelowna Art Gallery
PUBLICATION & ARTICLES
2016 "OK Sunshine Airport Exhibition" / Okanagan Life Guillian Richards / June 2016
2012 Wrote CALM FOCUS JOY: The Power of Breath Awareness
2007 Photographs & interview Okanagan Life
1995 Published Recapitulation - A Journey, by Sveva Caetani
1992 Featured Artist, Okanagan Life, written by Charlotte Berglund
1989 Illustrated and published an art journal for children Little Bear Book
1989 Drawings, Galerie, Vancouver based magazine
1985 Illustrations for 4 books entitled, Reflections, written by Brock Tulley
1980 Photographs, Professional Camera, May-June issue, Germany
1979 100 Photographs published into a book, Zurich Chamber Orchestra's 25 Year Anniversary