Ozrenko Ozzie Mrkic
B.A. of Fine Arts 1980-1985 Academy of Fine Arts, University of Sarajevo
UPCOMING SOLO EXHIBITION
March 30 - April 19, 2015 - Nelson Park Creative Centre, Toronto, Ontario
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2012 Praxis Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
2006 IZBA Gallery, Novi Sad, Serbia
2004 COOP on Scolard Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
1998 Propeller - Center for the Visual Arts, Toronto, Ontario
1997 Propeller - Center for the Visual Arts, Toronto, Ontario (printed catalogue)
1996 Eyes - Post Group Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
1996 Canadian Film Center, Toronto, Ontario
1992 Museum of the 14th Winter Olympic Games, Sarajevo, Yugoslavia (printed catalogue)
1991 Gallery Art in a Tea Room, London, England
1989 Gallery Uno, Trieste, Italy (printed catalogue)
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2006 Toronto Alternative Fashion Week, Toronto, Ontario (printed Catalogue)
2006 Propeller - Center for the Visual Arts, Propeller Turns 10, Toronto, Ontario,
2005 Praxis Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
2004 Praxis Gallery, Toronto, Ontario Anno Domini
2002 Yugoslav Embassy, Ottawa, Ontario New Canadians, curated by Bissa Scekic
2001 Praxis Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
2000 Gallery Michelangelo, Toronto, Ontario,
2000 Propeller - Center for the Visual Arts, Toronto, Ontario
1999 Canadian Opera Company, Toronto, Ontario, Art Salon `98, curated show, (printed catalogue)
1998 Red Head Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Mighty Canadian Art
1997 Propeller - Center for the Visual Arts, DIVINE, Toronto, Ontario, (catalogue)
1996 Propeller - Center for the Visual Arts, Toronto, Ontario
1995 Del Bello Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Art Salon `95, curated show, (printed catalogue)
1994 Del Bello Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Singidunum and Friends, curated show,
(printed catalogue)
1991 Gallery of Modern Art, Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia, WHY? (printed poster)
GRANTS
2012 - Exhibition Assistance Grant, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Canada
1998 - Exhibition Assistance Grant, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Canada
My art work can be seen in numerous private collections throughout Europe, United States, Australia and Canada
ARTIST STATEMENT
As an artist, I act as a messenger who releases what is submerged and overlooked onto the canvas. My work is personal; each piece represents an individual thought and experience I have drawn from my own sense of spirituality and culture. It is a subconscious journey between my body, my soul and surrounding energy.
Every artist faces the decision to use either traditional art methods or to move beyond and rely on their own intuition. One can revisit some of their first art principles and subsequently revise each step. My approach can be understood by the old adage: "Paint from nature, but do not paint nature as it is." This is essentially what I try to do.
If I were to make myself strictly paint from reality I would be undermining my own sense of reason with every move I make.
To me, paintings clothe the processes of the human soul in a plastic form and function to enrich our lives. Unlike science, art requires one to explore new territory often without any controls in place. I enjoy the fact that art is not definitive and offers such a broad field to make bold statements.
FOR DREAMS ARE THE MOST DIFFICULT - THEY ALWAYS HAVE TO STAY AWAKE
UPCOMING SOLO EXHIBITION
March 30 - April 19, 2015 - Nelson Park Creative Centre, Toronto, Ontario
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2012 Praxis Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
2006 IZBA Gallery, Novi Sad, Serbia
2004 COOP on Scolard Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
1998 Propeller - Center for the Visual Arts, Toronto, Ontario
1997 Propeller - Center for the Visual Arts, Toronto, Ontario (printed catalogue)
1996 Eyes - Post Group Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
1996 Canadian Film Center, Toronto, Ontario
1992 Museum of the 14th Winter Olympic Games, Sarajevo, Yugoslavia (printed catalogue)
1991 Gallery Art in a Tea Room, London, England
1989 Gallery Uno, Trieste, Italy (printed catalogue)
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2006 Toronto Alternative Fashion Week, Toronto, Ontario (printed Catalogue)
2006 Propeller - Center for the Visual Arts, Propeller Turns 10, Toronto, Ontario,
2005 Praxis Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
2004 Praxis Gallery, Toronto, Ontario Anno Domini
2002 Yugoslav Embassy, Ottawa, Ontario New Canadians, curated by Bissa Scekic
2001 Praxis Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
2000 Gallery Michelangelo, Toronto, Ontario,
2000 Propeller - Center for the Visual Arts, Toronto, Ontario
1999 Canadian Opera Company, Toronto, Ontario, Art Salon `98, curated show, (printed catalogue)
1998 Red Head Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Mighty Canadian Art
1997 Propeller - Center for the Visual Arts, DIVINE, Toronto, Ontario, (catalogue)
1996 Propeller - Center for the Visual Arts, Toronto, Ontario
1995 Del Bello Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Art Salon `95, curated show, (printed catalogue)
1994 Del Bello Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Singidunum and Friends, curated show,
(printed catalogue)
1991 Gallery of Modern Art, Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia, WHY? (printed poster)
GRANTS
2012 - Exhibition Assistance Grant, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Canada
1998 - Exhibition Assistance Grant, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Canada
My art work can be seen in numerous private collections throughout Europe, United States, Australia and Canada
ARTIST STATEMENT
As an artist, I act as a messenger who releases what is submerged and overlooked onto the canvas. My work is personal; each piece represents an individual thought and experience I have drawn from my own sense of spirituality and culture. It is a subconscious journey between my body, my soul and surrounding energy.
Every artist faces the decision to use either traditional art methods or to move beyond and rely on their own intuition. One can revisit some of their first art principles and subsequently revise each step. My approach can be understood by the old adage: "Paint from nature, but do not paint nature as it is." This is essentially what I try to do.
If I were to make myself strictly paint from reality I would be undermining my own sense of reason with every move I make.
To me, paintings clothe the processes of the human soul in a plastic form and function to enrich our lives. Unlike science, art requires one to explore new territory often without any controls in place. I enjoy the fact that art is not definitive and offers such a broad field to make bold statements.
FOR DREAMS ARE THE MOST DIFFICULT - THEY ALWAYS HAVE TO STAY AWAKE
