When I was five years old, I emigrated to the United States of America with my parents. We left post war Germany behind to settle in Washington, D.C. I then received my first pencil and thereby started my life as an artist. My very first drawing was that of a horse!
I started school almost immediately upon arrival despite the fact that I was unable to speak English.
Later, I married young to a Canadian citizen and once more emigrated into a culture and language that were not my own, in Canada. These major changes in my early life greatly influenced my view of things. I often escaped the insecure realities of my young life by immersing myself into literature. I was particularly fond of mythology, fairy tales and stories with magic and animals, especially horses.
Today, my art is often described as allegoric, whimsical and filled with emotions. This is a direct result, I believe, of my fascination for the imaginary.
I rarely use pictures to execute my work relying upon my memory instead. This reliance upon my memory allows me to create work that is gestural and free in movement and colors. There are no recipes in the making of my work. All is first tried and then either enhanced or removed according to the effects achieved or desired.
When sculpting, I work with a block of clay pulling it and stretching it into a general form. I see “something” and then I will accentuate it and create an unexpected form often to my own surprise. When I fire my sculptures, I use an old Japanese technique called Raku and also Primitive Firing. Both methods have an element of surprise and force a lack of control as to what kind of effect and colors will be present upon the completion of the process. This element of surprise is my greatest joy!
When I paint, I often move my work back and forth from the easel to the floor to look at it from different angles. I am an automatist in a figurative mode.
I want to bring the viewer into my world. I become a child once again and then, everything is possible: horses and people can be whimsical and strange, beautiful and desirable. My work transmits a feeling rather than a message and my art is magical rather than spiritual. I want my work sensual rather than sexual; and I want it worldly and meant strictly for physical pleasure.
Place of birth: Hamburg, Germany
Place of residence: St-Charles-sur-Richelieu, Québec
2004 Live model course, Bishop University (La Maison des Arts), South Shore, Quebec
2000-2003 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec (Workshops with Françoise Sullivan, cosignatory of Le Refus Global Manifesto)
1994 « Techniques of Old Masters of Art » course with Laurent Bonet, Otterburn, Quebec
1993 « Discovery and Exploitation of our Creativity » course with Tania Lebedeff, Mont St-Hilaire, Quebec
1990-1991 « Drawing and Painting » course with Gilles Dagenais, Mont St-Hilaire, Quebec
2010 Painting exhibition for the concert of Marie-Andrée Ostiguy
2010 Office of Deputy Minister Luc Malo, Varennes, Quebec
2009 Office of Deputy of Verchères, Stéphan Bergeron, Verchères, Quebec
2009 Recent sculptures, Complexe St. Laurent, La Prairie, Quebec
2009 « Paintings, Women & Horses », Complexe St. Laurent, La Prairie, Quebec
2008 City Hall of St-Charles-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
2006 Hector Charland Theatre, L’Assomption, Quebec
2006-1993 Diffusion d’Art, permanent exhibition at Caisse Populaire, St-Charles-sur-Richelieu, QC
2002 Salon du cheval – Racecourse of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec
1992 Strathmore Vanderbilt Country Club, Manhasset, N.Y.
2010-2016 Galerie Lamoureux Ritzenhoff, Montreal, Quebec
2014 Rêve d'automne, COFEC - cultural exchanges activities between Russia and Quebec "Colors of the World", sept. 29 - oct. 6, Baie St.Paul, Quebec
2011 Salon des arts visuels (Honorable Mention), Brossard, Quebec
2010 De la couleur contre la douleur, Beloeil Cultural Center, Beloeil, Quebec
2010 L’Art pour tous, tous pour l’art, St-Hyacinthe, Quebec
2010 Rêve d’automne (finalist of National Competition), Baie-St-Paul, Quebec
2010 Le Symposium en arts visuels l’Art Salin, Carleton-sur-mer, Quebec
2010 Festival Folk, St-Charles-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
2010 Hommage au cheval, Blainville, Quebec
2010 Le Parcours des Arts du Richelieu, South Shore Montérégie, Quebec
2010 Salon des arts visuels de Brossard (Award of Excellence), Brossard, Quebec
2010 Organisation multi ressources pour les personnes atteintes de cancer (OMPAC), Montreal, Quebec
2009 Arguments, Beloeil Cultural Center, Beloeil, Quebec
2009 Rêve d’Automne, Baie-St-Paul, Quebec
2009 Le Symposium en arts visuels l’Art Salin, Carleton-sur-mer, Quebec
2009 Le Parcours des Arts du Richelieu, Rive Sud Montérégie, Quebec
2009 Auction, OMPAC, Montreal, Quebec
2009 17th édition du Salon des arts visuels de Brossard (guest artist, demo), Brossard, Quebec
2009 Galleria Mentana, Florence, Italy
2008 Galleria Mentana, Florence, Italy
2008 Galerie Renée-Blain (Ursula et Brigite Normandin), Brossard, Quebec
2008 Galerie du Presbytère (Canadian artists), Berre les Alpes, France
2008 Tout Azimuts, Beloeil Cultural Center, Beloeil, Quebec
2007 Carrousel du Musée du Louvre, Paris, France
2007 Rencontre des Arts, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
2007 Festival de Peinture de Mascouche, Mascouche, Quebec
2007 Les Sculpturales de St-Sauveur, St-Sauveur, Quebec
2007 Hampton Classic, New York, U.S.A.
2007 Salon des Arts Visuels, Centre Socioculturel de Brossard, Brossard, Quebec
2007 City Hall of Repentigny, Repentigny, Quebec
2007 Olympic Stadium (associated with the Salon Chalet et maisons de campagne), Montreal, Qc
2006 Centre Léonardo Da Vinci, St. Leonard, Montreal, Quebec
2006 Exhibition-competition of La Prairie, La Prairie, Quebec
2006 Centre Léonardo Da Vinci – St. Leonard, Montreal, Quebec
2006 16th Edition of Rencontre des Arts, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
2006 Festival de Peinture de Mascouche, Mascouche, Quebec
2006 Hampton Classic, New York, U.S.A.
2006 Vignoble de l’Ile Ronde, St. Sulpice, Quebec
2006 16e édition de la Rencontre des Arts - St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
2006 Festival de Peinture de Mascouche – Mascouche, Quebec
2006 Hampton Classic, New York, U.S.A.
2006 Vignoble de l’Ile Ronde, St. Sulpice, Quebec
2006 Diffusion d’Art, permanent exhibition of Caisse Populaire, St-Charles-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
2006 Parcours des Arts, St-Charles-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
2006 Cœur et Passion, Société culturelle et artistique de la région d’Acton (SCARA), Acton, Quebec
2006 Salon des Arts Visuels, exhibition/competition, Centre Socioculturel de Brossard, Brossard, Quebec
2005-2006 Petits Formats et Grands Talents, Centre d’art Ozias Leduc, Mont St-Hilaire, Quebec
2006 Permanent exhibition of Caisse Populaire, St-Charles-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
2005 15th Anniversary Rencontre des Arts, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
2005 Parcours des Arts, St-Charles-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
2005 En un coup de vent (exhibition/competition FascinArt), SCARA, Acton, Quebec
2005 Salon des arts visuels, exhibition/competition, Centre Socioculturel de Brossard, Brossard, Quebec
2004 Rencontre des Arts, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
2004 Paintings and Sculptures of Horses, Royal Winter Fair, Toronto, Ontario
2004 Amours, Amours, Arts Station with Tania Lebedeff, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec
2003-2004 Exhibition of clay sculptures, Musée du Haut Richelieu, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Qc
2003 Rencontre des Arts, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
2003 Salon des Arts Visuels (exhibition/competition), Centre Socioculturel de Brossard, Brossard, Quebec
2002 La peinture prend l’air, Galerie Latouche, St-Denis-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
2002 Peinture et Poésie, St-Charles-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
2001 Ceramic exhibition and workshop, Beloeil Cultural Center, Beloeil, Quebec
2000 Un village aux dentelles de bois, 250th Anniversary of Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
2000 Peinture et Poésie - St-Charles-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
1991 Diffusion d’Art, permanent exhibition of Caisse Populaire (selected work for the Caisse Popartiste competition), St-Charles-sur-Richelieu, Québec
1992 Montage, Rivière, Village, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec
1992 Galerie des Cèdres, Montreal, Quebec
1992 Un coin de village, Ville de Varennes competition, Quebec
2013 Nominated "Master in fine arts", AIBAQ
2011 1st Prize "Sculpture-Chicago", Académie Internationale des beaux-arts du Quebec - AIBAQ
2011 "Gicl'Art Prize", AIBAQ
2011 2nd Prize Sculpture, AIBAQ
2011 Artist nominated for the Contest: "Life after Death", AIBAQ
2011 Selected artist for the exhibition "Parcours des arts Richelieu", St.Charles-sur-le-Richelieu, Quebec
2011 Finalist for the National Contest "Rêves d'automne", Quebec
2011 Salon des arts visuels 2011, Honorary Award by jury (Sculpture), Brossard, Quebec
2011 Académie Internationale des beaux-arts du Quebec, Socrate Grand Prize (painting)
2011 AIBAQ, Academician-Council
2010 National Competition, Finalist, Baie-St-Paul, Quebec
2010 AIBAQ, 1st Prize (Sculpture « Achilles »), Quebec
2010 AIBAQ, 1st Prize (Sculpture « Chicago »), Quebec
2010 Prize of Excellency, Salon des Arts Visuels de Brossard, Brossard, Quebec
2009 AIBAQ, Academician
2009 AIBAQ, International Ambassador
2009 Académie Internationale des beaux-arts du Quebec, 3rd Prize
2007 Rencontre des Arts, 2nd Prize - professionnal sculptors category (« Danger » sculpture), St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
2006 La Prairie City, 3rd Prize - professionnal sculptors category (« Avalon » sculpture), La Prairie, Quebec
Françoise Sullivan, cosignatory of Le Refus Global Manifesto
Michel Desmarais, professional artist
Claude Bonneau, professional artist
Cascade Canada
City Hall, St-Charles-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
Roger Couture, professional artist
Anne Lemieux, professional artist
Office of Deputy of Verchères, Stéphane Bergeron, Verchères, Quebec
Office of Deputy Minister Luc Malo, Varennes, Quebec
2014 High end selection of artists for: "Artists in gallery" book, publication in November.
2011 L’Oeil Regional Newspaper, « Prix pour nos artistes » (May)
2010 L’Oeil Regional Newspaper, « Un Festin pour les yeux et les oreilles » (Dec. 18)
2010 Tv program « La Vallée des arts » (Sept. 16.)
2010 L’Oeil Regional Newspaper – program for artists (Sept. 14)
2010 L’Oeil Regional Newspaper, Le Reflet Newspaper, St-Bruno Newspaper, Ste-Julie Newspaper - Solo exhibition in the office of Deputy Minister Luc Malo, Varennes, Quebec
2010 L’Oeil Regional Newspaper- 2 artists exhibit at the Jockey Club in Blainville (August 14)
2010 Magazin’Art – « Les Gens qui font l’événement » (July)
2010 L’Oeil Regional Newspaper, « Brossard Excellence Award » (June)
2009 Press release from the office of Deputy of Verchères (Sept. 28)
2009 L’Oeil Régional Newspaper (Sept. 26)
2009 L’Oeil Régional Newspaper(Sept. 12)
2009 L’Oeil Régional Newspaper(May 9)
2009 Le Reflet Newspaper, Ursula, « La Femme Cheval » (May)
2009 L’Oeil Régional Newspaper, « Femmes & Chevaux » - Ma Vallee.ca (April)
2009 Culturel Spring Calendar 2009 - La Montérégie (April)
2009 Le Reflet Newspaper– Art visuels Roussillon (April)
2009 Magazin’Art, « Les Gens qui font l’événement », Winter-Spring (January)
2008 L’Oeil Régional Newspaper(November)
2008 Babill’AAPARS (Association des artistes à la Rive Sud) (Oct.)
2008 L‘Oeil Régional Newspaper(Sept.)
2008 L’Oeil Régional Newspaper(August)
2008 L’Oeil Régional Newspaper(June)
2008 L’Oeil Régional Newspaper(May)
2007 Magazin’Art (Autumn)
2007 Newsday Newspaper, New York (Sept.)
2007 L’Oeil Régional Newspaper(Nov.)
2007 L’Oeil Régional Newspaper(August)
2007 Les Idées de ma maison Magazine (March)
2006 L’Oeil Régional Newspaper(Dec.)
2006 Magazin’Art (Autumn)
2006 L’Oeil Régional Newspaper(Sept.)
2004 Chevaux et Campagne Magazine, American Edition (Nov.)
2004 Cultural Magazine L’Échappée Belle – Montérégie (June)
Académie Internationale des beaux-arts du Quebec - AIBAQ
Atelier de peinture, Beloeil, Quebec
Atelier de céramique, Beloeil, Quebec
