| ARTIST BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: | Born in Norwich, England, Ann Clarke attended the Slade School of Fine Art, University College in London, England and earned her Diploma of Fine Arts (equivalent to a Master of Fine Art in Canada). She and her family relocated to Alberta where this contemporary visual artist became an important fixture in the Edmonton art community.
Ann taught at the Banff Centre for the Arts, the University of Alberta, University of Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, and Queen’s and Guelph universities as well as at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, ON, where she retired as a Professor Emeritus in 2009.
Through sculpture, painting and drawing, Ann strings together fragments of her life – things and places she’s seen – in an effort to connect time and space. While also adding depth, the use of layering reflects the duality of nature versus nurture and the past versus the present. Although mostly abstract, Ann’s work references moments from her own life as well as history and current events. Ann also highlights technology and consumerism, folding in elements of mass media and packaging into her pieces.
Her work has been exhibited in throughout Canada, and in the United States and Britain, France and Germany. Her works are held in a variety of public collections, including the Ministry of Public Building and Works in the United Kingdom, the Canada Council Art Bank, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Queensland Art Gallery, the Art Gallery of Alberta, Red Deer College, the University of Alberta, Du Pont Canada and Lakehead University. Ann was elected to the Royal Canadian Academy of Art in 2008. |