Irene Klar

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Irene Klar, "Dugout Voyage"

acrylic on canvas ,16"x40". Courtesy of the Gallery.

Inspired by water, whether it be the sea or rivers near and far, Irene focuses on the people who rely on it, those who make it a timeless source of life, travel and trade. Throughout the collection, she uses bright colours, paints intricate textile prints and simplifies shapes down to their basic forms. Recognized throughout North America, Irene has painted commissions for Amnesty International Canada, Amnesty International USA and the Trans-Canada Trail. She is also widely represented in both public and corporate collections.

Irene Klar was born in Montreal in 1950. After completing degrees in Physical Therapy and Science at McGill University, she moved to Edmonton in 1973. People, textiles, pattern decoration and colours serve as her inspiration. Her interest in universal design elements has taken her on far-reaching travels from Australia to Guatemala and Morocco. These themes are incorporated into her paintings and prints, which are full of the intense colours of the marketplaces. Inspired by humanity and its cultural expression of pattern and design, Klar uses sculptural lines and a rainbow palette to portray a universal indigenous woman, weighted with history but imbued with grace, vitality and hope. Klar is currently featured in multiple private and corporate collections, including Canada Council Art Bank, Alberta Art Foundation, and Teleglobe Canada.