David MacWilliam

Now showing till October 24, *Paintings and Drawings 1985–1987* by David MacWilliam. David MacWilliam resides in Vancouver and is an accomplished artist and former Assistant Professor at Simon Fraser University. He has been exhibiting since 1978 in solo and group shows both nationally and internationally. In this exhibition of new abstract drawings and paintings by MacWilliam further explores forms which have been prevalent in his work for the past eleven years — the cornucopia, the vessel, the volute, and the palette. MacWilliam's paintings often begin as casual drawings or doodles. It is the latent subjective or subconscious meaning inherent in these drawings which intrigue MacWilliam. His belief that "an artist makes art to make sense or give meaning to our world" and that "this can be done simply, with clarity, elegance and dignity" fuel his ongoing interest in abstraction.

Essay: "A Personal Repertoire," Christine Elving

An abstract painting hangs on a gallery wall. The painting has a blue and yellow form at the centre with a solid black background. 

thumbnail_00-HEADER-David MacWilliam-1987.jpg

00-HEADER-David MacWilliam-1987.jpg

A closeup of 8 charcoal drawings in black frames, mounted on the wall of a dimly lit gallery. The drawings are abstract forms with lots of shading, resembling cornucopia, paint palettes and scrolls.

thumbnail_01-DavidMacWilliam-1987.jpeg

01-DavidMacWilliam-1987.jpeg

2 framed drawings and 2 large paintings in a corner. All the works have large conical shapes with drastic shadows. One of the drawings is the same as one of the paintings, with the addition of colour.

thumbnail_02-DavidMacWilliam-1987.jpeg

02-DavidMacWilliam-1987.jpeg

Several paintings and drawings on the walls of a gallery. The paintings are all quite large and colourful, and the drawings are smaller and black. All the works are of abstract forms.

thumbnail_03-DavidMacWilliam-1987.jpeg

03-DavidMacWilliam-1987.jpeg

Paintings and Drawings: 1985–1987

This catalogue was published in 1987 by the Contemporary Art Gallery on the occasion of an exhibition of paintings and drawings by David MacWilliam held at the Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver, from October 1 – 24, 1987. The publication contains an essay by curator Christine Elving.

David MacWilliam

Exhibitions

Publications & Editions