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

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

2019 Vernon Art Gallery "The Light Within You" / Solo
2018 Galerie Halde, Switzerland "Aurora" / Solo
2018 Contemporary Art Fair Zürich
2018 Arco Gallery, NY (Represented)
2016 Kelowna International Airport "OK Sunshine" / Solo
2016 Vernon / Headbones Art Gallery / "OK Artists"
2016 Ottawa / The Cube Gallery "Blue - A Group Show"
2015 Lake Country Public Art Gallery "They Tell You Where to Go" -Group
2015 Vancouver International Art Fair
2015 Palm Beach Gardens / Onessimo Gallery
2014 San Diego / Alexander Salazar Gallery
2014 Vernon / Headbones Gallery
2014 Widen Switzerland / Halde Galerie (Represented)
2012 Vernon / Headbones Gallery (group)
2012 Montreal / Galerie D'Avignon (solo)
2012 La Jolla, CA / Alexander Salazar Contemporary Exhibits (solo)
2011 Armstrong Public Art Gallery / "Mind Space Energy" (solo)
2011 San Antonio, TX / Gallery Nord Exhibit "11/11/11"(group)
2011 San Diego / Alexander Salazar Art Gallery (solo)
2010 Atlanta / Bill Lowe Gallery "Bloom: The New Abstraction"
2009 Atlanta / Bill Lowe Gallery (group)
2009 Toronto / Lausberg Contemporary (group)
2009 Vernon / Gallery Vertigo (solo)
2009 Toronto / Varley Art Gallery (group)
2009 New York / Lana Santorelli Gallery (group)
2008 Montreal / Galerie Samuel Lallouz (group)
2008 New York / Lana Santorelli Gallery (group)
2008 Grand Forks / Grand Forks Art Gallery (solo)
2007 Toronto / The Drawers - Headbones Art Gallery (represented)
2005 Vernon / Vernon Public Art Gallery (group)
2000 Vancouver / Howe Street Art Gallery (represented)
1996 Vernon / Headbones Art Gallery (solo)
1994 Vancouver / Simon Patrich Art Gallery (represented)
1992 New York / Viridian Art Gallery (represented)
1991 Kelowna / Kelowna City Hall (solo)
1991 Vancouver / Festival of the Arts (juried/group)
1989 Vancouver / Robson Square Media Centre (group)
1989 Vancouver / Community Arts Centre/BC Women Artists (solo)
1987 Vernon / Topham Brown Public Art Gallery (solo)
1985 Vernon / Topham Brown Public Art Gallery (solo)
1985 Grand Forks / Grand Forks Public Art Gallery (solo)
1985 Kelowna / Kelowna Public Art Gallery (solo)
1983 Vancouver / BC Festival of the Arts (juried/group)
1981 Hungarian / State University (group)
1980 Nürnberg / Kom Youth Centre (solo)
1980 Nürnberg Gallerie der Stadt (group)
1978 Zürich / Witikon Community Centre "Zürich Chamber Orchestra"