Jill Ehlert

The Chapel Gallery was looking forward to the opening of Kirsten Brand’s exhibition “Renewal” on Saturday April 18th. As a result of the pandemic and the temporary closure of The Chapel Gallery, curator Jill Ehlert has created this extensive online exhibition.

ABOUT THE CHAPEL GALLERY

This not-for-profit Art Gallery presents original artwork, from a variety of visual art mediums, that encourages people to reflect and consider a wide range of issues and themes in a safe, respectful and welcoming space. The Gallery is designed to invite the local community, artists and visitors to Victoria to come together to enjoy the exhibitions and attend the Artist Talk at our exhibition openings. Link: The Chapel Gallery

ABOUT KIRSTEN BRAND

Link: Artist Statement, Bio, CV Link: Price list and artist contact information Link for Kirsten’s website: www.studio222.ca

Link: 2018 background article on Kirsten Brand by Victoria based arts writer Kate Cino

Welcome to “Renewal”, paintings by Kirsten Brand

VANCOUVER ISLAND BOTANICALS

SOUTH WEST DESERT

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The grid below shows all 23 paintings in the order they appear above and on the price list.

For sales enquiries, contact Kirsten Brand directly, email address is on the price list. Link: Price List and Contact Information.

VIDEOS OF PAST SOLO EXHIBITIONS

ARTIST STATEMENT

Nature and organic elements are the inspiration for my paintings. St. Mary Lake on Salt Spring Island in particular, land forms, geology and the plant ecology of Vancouver Island influence my art practice..

The profusion of growth, the cycles and rhythms of flowers and plant life create a visual music for me. My understanding is that nature is a harmony of energies that must work together. I paint to convey this vitality, flow, and movement of the life force. 

I am in a transitional period. My focus for over a decade was the plant life of the American south west deserts. I was fascinated by the complex, intricate and diverse plant structures, each with their unique shapes and colours. My new interest in Vancouver Island’s ecology with it’s ever changing seasons and varied plants, from native to introduced species provides endless inspiration. The varied gardens and trees, both public and private, including Butchart’s Gardens provides continuous, colourful and exciting subject matter. I begin with chalk pastel to create coloured line drawings and then with acrylic paint, I render both line drawing and painting together.

The climate is changing and the human population is exploding. Unique areas are  impacted up and down Vancouver Island and throughout the province of B.C. Hence, my passion to paint some of this precious ecology.

BIOGRAPHY

Kirsten Brand was born and lives in Victoria, BC., she has studied painting and drawing since she was three years old. Both parents were classical musicians and were instrumental in the formation of and performed with the Victoria Symphony. A strong musical influence is evident in many of her paintings.

Kirsten studied at the Vancouver School of Art at age twelve and won the William Townsend Scholarship to the Banff School of Fine Arts at 16 years old. She decided to support her art by training to become an RN at the Royal Jubilee Hospital. Her Fine Art studies include one year in the Visual Arts program at UVIC and a four year diploma from the Victoria College of Art.

In her early years, along with her husband Ross, an Archaeologist with the BC Provincial Museum, Kirsten travelled throughout BC, working on various archaeological digs and a BC Petroglyph Recording Project. This experience served to strengthen her love of nature. Kirsten has exhibited in many venues over the years and her subject matter has always remained botanical in nature.

Kirsten Brand information:

Link: Artist Statement, Bio, CV Link: Price list and artist contact information Link for Kirsten’s website: www.studio222.ca

PAINTINGS FROM KIRSTEN’S EARLY YEARS

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