Portraits by Maaris
March 7 to March 27, 2022
Location: Art Space Connect Gallery
Presented by: Maaris Gailitis
Opening Reception: Saturday, March 12, 2022 from 2 pm – 4 pm
Maris Gailitis was born in 1954 in Riga, Latvia. His artistic education started with the Childrens Art Studio, then the prestigious Riga’s Art School and the Academy of Arts of Latvia. He was a member of the USSR Artists Association. He has participated in many group exhibitions, as well as solo shows in Riga and St. Petersburg where he expressed himself by creating portraits.
After moving to Toronto in 1992, he was an artist for the Revlon-Ultima commercial events sketching consumers from 1994 to 1999. After re-evaluating his career as an artist, he decided that portrait painting was the direction he wanted to concentrate on. Maaris paints the portraits likeness only, where the sitter feels comfortable, whether at home, workplace or in a park. Maaris’ portraits are painted within a few hours time, some even within an hour. He is able to accomplish this because of his art practice and life long experience.
Maaris has had a long interest in abstract art. In his portrait concept, he has found a way to combine abstract and academic styles of representation to express thoughts, feelings and emotions in an abstract manner.
His miniature sculptures are created using concrete and acrylic mixed media. As concrete is part of our manmade environment, it also may be an art form.
His photography series is titled Abstract Nature. With his camera Maaaris is looking for art in nature. He is also interested in street and portrait photography.
This is Maaris’ first solo exhibition in Canada.
All are welcome to attend the opening reception on Saturday, March 12 from 2 pm to 4 pm.
