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Elizabeth Merei
[Elizabeth Merei]

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Elizabeth Merei, a Hungarian born artist, came to Toronto, Canada, in 1972 where she currently lives and works. Growing up in Szombathely, a city with a 2,000 year old history, made a lifelong impression on her. Observing the silent remnants of the past reminded her of the hidden mysteries of times gone by.

In 1979, she carved her very first sculpture in stone and it became her ultimate form of expression. Elizabeth has a keen interest in the human form which embodies beauty, spirit and harmony. “I try to express joy, anger, sadness and the human experiences that fall between.”

Carving directly into the stone without models or maquettes, using the natural stone with its imperfections and sudden temper became an ongoing challenge. Her work is easily recognizable with its tension between smooth and rough surfaces. Her sculptures exude a sensuality that is as prevalent in an abstract form as in a classical figure.

“Carving to me is such an unconscious act; I don’t plan, I feel. It is a very tactile exploration of the material, almost as if I am waiting for it to tell me what it wants to be. Each stone has its unique, distinct personality, its inner essence and spirit and each represents a new challenge. Passion fuels her art, as seen in her piece Everest. “It is very emotional. It came to me after reading Jon Krakauer’s book, Into Thin Air. The courage and struggle of the climbers described in the book touched me deeply.”

A self taught artist, “Merei’s most impressive pieces are firmly linked to the Western classical tradition.” She has been exhibiting her work in Canada, the USA and abroad since 1984 and served as an executive of the Sculptors Society of Canada for eighteen years. Several private and corporate collections include her work.

It is the nature of all artists to explore, to push the boundaries, not just of their art, but of themselves. For Elizabeth, it also meant returning to an early love: painting.

E.M., 2008

Résumé

Place of birth: Szombathely, Hungary
Year of birth: 1951

MAIN SOLO EXHIBITIONS

  • 2003 “Les Femmes”, Studio Show, Toronto, ON
  • 2002 “Endeavors”, Paintings, drawings and sculptures, Studio Show, Toronto, ON
  • 2000 “Studio Tour 2000”, North York, ON
  • 2000 “Passion”, Studio Show, Toronto, ON
  • 1999 “Inspiration”, Studio Show, Toronto, ON
  • 1995 “Impressions in Stone”, Sculptors Society of Canada Gallery, Toronto, ON
  • 1992 “Sculptures by Elizabeth Merei”, Kitchener/Waterloo Art Gallery, ON
  • 1988 “Canadian Opera Company Exhibit”, O’Keefe Centre, Toronto, ON
  • 1984 “Stone and Bronze”, Bergamo International, Toronto, ON

TWO PEOPLE EXHIBITIONS

  • 2008 Lamoureux Ritzenhoff Gallery: “Story Within” with artist Chantal Lavoie, Montreal, QC
  • 2007 “Gods and Goddesses”, Canadian Sculpture Centre, ON
  • 2004 “Vamps Vixens Virgins”, Canadian Sculpture Centre, ON
  • 1995 “National Ballet Nureyev Gala”, O’Keefe Centre, Toronto, ON
  • 1987 “Premier show”, Gallery Rochon, Toronto, ON

MAIN GROUP EXHIBITIONS

  • 2006-2010 Lamoureux Ritzenhoff Gallery, Montreal, QC
  • 2007 “Diversity”, Society of Canadian Artists - 50th Anniversary, ON
  • 2006 Art Gallery of North Humberland Exhibit, Cobourg, ON (SCA)
  • 2006 “1956 Hungarian Revolution Anniversary Exhibit”, Toronto City Hall, Metro Toronto Hall, ON
  • 2006 “Figurative Sculptors of Ontario”, Toronto, ON
  • 2005 “Windows”, Canadian Hungarian Cultural Collective Exhibit, Montreal, QC
  • 2003 “Celebrating Creative Life”, Todmorden Mills Heritage Museum – Sculptures and Paintings, Toronto, ON
  • 2003 Society of Canadian Artists Exhibition, Humming Bird Centre, Toronto, ON
  • 2001 Hungarian Visual Artists of Canada, Budapest, Hungary
  • 2001 Toronto International Art Fair, (SSC)
  • 2000 “Millenium Show”, Nielsen Park Creative Centre, Mississauga, ON (HUVAC)
  • 1997 Aspen Fine Art Gallery, Aspen, Colorado, USA
  • 1993 65th Anniversary National Touring Exhibition of the Sculptors Society of Canada, ON
  • 1989 “International Art Exhibit” – Ravenna, Italy
  • 1988 “Challenge and Tradition”, SSC 60th Anniversary Exhibition, John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto, ON
  • 1986 “The Exhibition of Contemporary Canadian Sculpture”, Ernst Museum, Budapest, Hungary
  • 1985 “Sculpture Now”, Metropolitan Toronto Library, ON

ASSOCIATIONS

  • 2004 Canadian Hungarian Cultural Collective
  • 2003 Society of Canadian Artists
  • 1999 Hungarian Visual Artists Collective
  • 1984 Sculptors Society of Canada

COLLECTIONS

  • Coogan Corporation
  • Stafford Textile
  • Osler Wills Bickle
  • Ram Forest Lumber
  • Osler Hoskins
  • New Image Property
  • Ram Forest Products
  • Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
  • Arthur Anderson
  • National Beauty Supply
  • Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

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