Jack Bishop | you didn't have to do that but thankyou

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Jack Bishop, “you didn't have to do that but thankyou,” 2024

acrylic and oil on canvas, 14 x 11 inches (courtesy of the Gallery)

Opening Reception: May 11th from 2-4pm.

Newzones is thrilled to announce you didn’t have to do that but thankyou, a solo exhibition of new work by Canadian contemporary painter, Jack Bishop.

Highlighting a shift in subject matter and conceptual exploration, Bishop’s newest body of work focuses on flowers and their associated symbolism. Although the exhibition features a change in subject, Bishop continues his material exploration of florescent colours and iridescent paints which have become signature of his work, while also seeing the introduction of thick impasto to the canvas.

Speaking on the new body of work, Bishop explains:

"Flowers are probably considered by most a clichéd subject matter in that they are bright and cheery or simply a form of colourful decoration, but I have also been thinking of the symbolism they can convey, the way we have flowers for different occasions, for celebrations, to express love or sorrow, sympathy and for recovery. After having a rough 2023 I started making flower vase paintings as a distraction for myself while mourning, and after a period of time working on them I started to consider them as a form of art therapy for myself, using the subject matter to convey a personal message, almost like a Hallmark card. I began titling the works after common generic phrases of condolences and well wishes as a way of helping me express and work through my own grief, and over time and reflection have come to think of them as motifs representing a sense of comfort, support, gratitude and healing."

Jack Bishop was born in Saint John, New Brunswick and currently lives and works in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from NSCAD University in 2007. He is a three-time recipient of the Canada Council for the Arts Creation Grant, including most recently in 2021, which supported his body of work Road Trip Playlist. He has exhibited nationally across Canada and been collected by many private collections including Art Bank Canada, Ottawa; Art Bank of Nova Scotia; the Department of Foreign Affair’s Canada; Fidelity Investments, Boston; Saint Mary’s University, Halifax; and more.