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Erik Olson | Hold The Line

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Erik Olson Hold The Line
Erik Olson

Olson presents new works that feature the places and people he encountered during his epic 3-month motorcyle trip across America.

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Michael Gibson Gallery

Opening Reception | September 20, 8-10pm

Alumnus Erik Olson's fifth solo exhibition, Hold The Line, introduces new paintings that feature the places and the people he came across during his 3-month motorcycle ride across America.

In a bit of a unique twist, works from the exhibition were created in the second floor of the then undeveloped gallery space. Born from an idea that Olson had to utilize the space during his last solo exhibition in London, along with proprietor Gibson's vision to develop the floor, the space was turned into a blank canvas for Olson's return in early July.

Images reflect time spent in Palo Alto, Big Sur, LA, Joshua Tree, El Paso and Marfa on his way to New Orleans then up to New York City and Woodstock, NY.

Erik Olson was born in Calgary in 1982, and graduated from the Emily Carr University of Art and Design in 2007. The following years after university, Olson traveled extensively, studying painting at artist residencies in Canada, Italy and India. Olson self-curated his first solo show in an abandoned gas station in 2008. Since then, his paintings have been recognized by curators and galleries which has led to exhibitions at the Glenbow Museum, MOCA Calgary, Art Gallery of Calgary and the University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee Union Gallery.

In 2012, his painting, “The Skateboarder”, was included in the BP Portrait Award exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in London, UK, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland and the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter, UK.

Beginning on September 28 at the Glenbow Museum in Calgary, Olson is included in a three person exhibition entitled “Cosmos”. Olson will be showing paintings from his 2011 “Space” series along with night sky paintings by Gathie Falk and beaded reliefs by Margaret Nazon.

In 2014 Olson moved to Düsseldorf, Germany to study at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf as Peter Doig’s guest student. His artwork is in the collections of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, McCarthy Tetrault LLP, Richard Ivey School of Business, RBC and TD Bank. He currently lives and maintains a studio in Dusseldorf.