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Portraiture is a very old art form going back at least to ancient Egypt, where it flourished from about 5,000 years ago. Before the invention of photography, a painted, sculpted, or drawn portrait was the only way to record the appearance of someone.

This exhibition embraces this idea and expands on it. Some works are clear representations of a person, and some are not so clear and more about the idea of a persons visual representation.

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Anouk Rugueu (France)

I have always drawn but not "full time", always alongside another work. I first studied book professions at university (book selling, library, edition) worked in several bookshops then in a museum bookshop for years. If you look at the beginning of my Instagram account you will see that I ran it in September 2021 and, as I was motivated by the quick growing of the audience, I decided to make at least a drawing a day and that's what I've been doing ever since.

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Deborah Leigh (Victoria, BC)

Deborah was born in Prince George in the early 1950’s. Deborah Leigh didn’t start to draw until she was in her 50’s and is now 71 and more creative than ever. During a period of recovery from an illness, Deborah started to “doodle” to help her relax. These “doodles” quickly evolved in size and in subject matter. Black and white shapes and forms turned into full coloured surreal landscapes with creatures, people, foliage, trees, houses, and so on.

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Scotty Colin (USA)

Scotty was born and raised in southern California, riding skateboards, and playing in punk rock bands.

"I’ve been through many chapters in life, some of them opposite of my highest potential. In 2010 my life fell apart and I began treatment for a debilitating heroin addiction. It was there I took an art therapy class and discovered I was an artist. I began uncovering a whole new world through my art. My art is intuitive and I've been quite surprised to see what has come out of me.”

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Keegan Wenkman (USA)

Keegan Wenkman is a self-taught artist who’s focus is creating images of people. His loose hand and sparse choices with colour, mainly because he is colour blind, add to his distinct style. Wenkman is an accomplished oil painter, traditional printmaker, and illustrator.