معرفی
Holger Kalberg is an Associate Professor in the School of Art at the University of Manitoba, where he has been teaching since 2011. Born in Germany, he currently lives and works in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He holds an MFA from Chelsea College of Art at the University of the Arts London (2007) and a BFA from Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design (2001).
Kalberg's artistic practice centers on painting as an instrument for exploring ideas about the human condition. His work combines elements of art historical and contemporary cultural influences, focusing on figures in interpersonal exchanges or states of alienation and withdrawal. He is particularly interested in how the outside world becomes layered into the painting over time, creating a negotiation between intention and materiality. The concept of uncertainty is closely tied to his painting process, which involves accumulating and collaging genres, painting languages, and references onto the canvas, often scraping and reworking to reveal previous images and 'mistakes.'
His recent exhibitions demonstrate a consistent focus on figurative work, with titles like 'Two figures with instruments' (2022), 'Two figures in water' (2022), and 'Two figures bending' (2022), revealing his ongoing exploration of human relationships and narrative situations. Kalberg's work has evolved to increasingly incorporate portraiture and complex narrative scenarios created from diverse source materials.
- Research Leave Grant University of Manitoba (2020, 2015)
- Creative Works Grant University of Manitoba (2015, 2013)
- Canada Council Production Grant (2007)
- BC Arts Council Production Grant (2004)
- Finalist for RBC Canadian Art Painting Award (2006, 2005, 2002)
Kalberg has served on juries for prestigious competitions including the RBC Canadian Painting Competition (2013) and the Global Undergraduate Award Visual Arts (2021-2022). His work is represented by Monte Clark Gallery in Vancouver and is held in significant collections including the Vancouver Art Gallery, Royal Bank of Canada, TD Bank, and the Canada Council Art Bank. He has presented his work internationally through exhibitions and artist talks at institutions including the Slade School of Fine Art at University College London.
