Heidi Thompson

Heidi Thompson

Coldstream, BC, Canada

About Heidi Thompson

“What I dream of is an art of balance, purity and serenity devoid of troubling or depressing subject matter, a soothing calming influence on the mind rather like a good armchair which provides relaxation from physical fatigue.” - - Henri Matisse. Inspired by Matisse’s artistic quest to uplift and energise the viewer, I strive to create light and colour filled paintings that illuminate, soothe and vitalise the human spirit. Perhaps my appreciation for abstraction comes from living in Canada surrounded by mountains, lakes, sky and forests. Nature continually presents me with soothing colours, exciting designs, delightful patterns, intriguing patinas and infinite space. Nature presents light, dark, shadows and movement which evoke emotions of mystery, wonder and love. My goal as a painter is to use nature’s abstract elements like colour and space to capture a particular feeling, a feeling of unity, passion or peacefulness. I strive to create painterly abstractions that mysteriously resonate with my deeper self and hopefully with the soul of the viewer. I believe art is a way to communicate one soul to another. Heidi Thompson

Education:

Heidi Thompson was born in Vernon, British Columbia. After graduation, she moved to Europe where she studied art at three academies. From 1975-1979 she attended the University of Art & Design Zürich earning a Swiss Diploma for Professional Photography. In 1980 she studied painting at the Nürnberg Art Academy. Her final year in Europe was at the Hungarian State University for Fine Art in Budapest. In 1982, Thompson returned to Canada where she worked as a photographer and painter.

In 2001, Thompson received her BFA from Open University of British Columbia. Later she attended the University of Victoria and earned her B.C. Teaching Certificate.

In 1994 Thompson started a book publishing company Coldstream Books. She wrote and published Calm Focus Joy: The Power of Breath Awareness (www.calmfocusjoy.com) and Recapitulation by Canadian/Italian artist Sveva Caetani, which won the VanCity Book of Excellent Award. Currently, Thompson paints full time and exhibits her paintings in San Diego, Montreal, Florida and Switzerland

Events:

THE LIGHT WITHIN YOU
Heidi Thompson Painting Installation
Opening Reception January 10th, 2019
Vernon Public Art Gallery, Vernon BC

Exhibitions:

1978 Zürich, Witikon Community Centre
1980 Nürnberg, Kom Youth Centre
1980 Nürnberg, Galerie der Stadt
1981 Budapest Hungarian State University
1985 Grand Forks Public Art Gallery
1985 Kelowna Public Art Gallery, Portrait of Artists (photographs)
1991 Kelowna City Hall, Passages
2008 New York, Lana Santorelli Gallery
2008 Grand Forks, Grand Forks Art Gallery
2009 Toronto, Varley Art Gallery

2010 Atlanta, Bill Lowe Gallery "Bloom: The New Abstraction"
2011 San Diego, Alexander Salazar Art Gallery 2011 Vernon, Headbones Gallery
2011 San Antonio, Gallery Nord Exhibit 11/11/11
2012 Montreal, Galerie d'Avignon
2013 Switzerland, Galerie Halde
2015 Palm Beach Gardens, Onessimo Gallery
2016 Kelowna International Airport

SELECTED COLLECTIONS
2012 Senvest Canadian Collection
2007 Samuel Lallouz Private Collection, Galerie Samuel Lallouz, Montreal
2006 Mraz Collection, Toronto
2004 Private collection of Robert Keller, USA
2006 Corporate collection, Benefit Plan Administrators Inc. Mississauga

AWARDS & PROJECT GRANTS
2015 Thrive Project, BC Cultural Grant
1996 VanCity Book of Excellence Award
1984 B.C. Cultural Grant – Kelowna Public Art Gallery