Kim Dorland's paintings depict the real space of his hometown suburbia; free of romantic delusions, but perfectly accepting of quiet, unexpected beauty. His refusal to remain faithful to one medium or approach plays into the symbiotic nature of his work, the deadness of acrylic, the sheen of spray paint, the density of oil paint all convene to engage the viewer. The loose yet identifiable scenes are interjected with areas of heavy abstract impasto, adding to the raw, fleeting quality of his canvases. Dorland is by no means trying to entice his audience with a nostalgic vision of utopia, but rather he cultivates reflection, upon a quiet moment, a party ended, the fleeting beauty within the often ugly and mundane.
Kim Dorland (b. 1974, Wainwright, Alberta) received his MFA from York University, Toronto. With five solo exhibitions in 2009 alone, Dorland has exhibited globally - including shows in Milan, Montreal, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. Dorland is featured in The Sander Collection (Berlin), Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art (KS), Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (Montreal), Blanton Museum of Art (TX), The Glenbow Museum (Calgary) and numerous private collections of note.
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