The Richmond Art Gallery (RAG) will present the first solo exhibition of Richmond artist Pierre Vassura, New Work 1983 - 2018, from Dec. 1, 2018 to Jan. 20, 2019.
The exhibition will showcase a range of sculptures, paintings and drawings, which were over forty years in the making, “highlighting a strong graphic style and vibrant use of colour,” according to the gallery.
“It is rare to encounter an artist working at this level that has not exhibited before,” said RAG director Shaun Dacey.
Since arriving in Canada in 1983, Vassura has shared his work just once, at the Italian Cultural Center in Vancouver.
However, Dacey notes that the artist has “continued to work tirelessly, entirely filling his Richmond home with paintings, sculptures and drawings” and he believes Vassura’s work will have broad appeal.
Many of Vassura’s paintings are in a series, and the sculptures shown will include puppets and purpose-built stages.
“Vassura evokes classic literature including the Decameron, Dante’s Divine Comedy and Aesop’s Fables, as well as referencing the Tarot and stories from The Bible,” according to the gallery.
The exhibition titled “New Work 1983 - 2018” because Vassura’s work is new in that this is its first public exhibition in that time, said co-curator Jonathan Middleton.
“The title also points to the inventiveness of Vasura’s practice - combining important influences and ideas in a way that feel rather singular and indeed, new,” said Middleton.
The opening reception of New Work 1983 - 2018 will take place on Friday, Nov. 30, 7-9 p.m.
