Ken Clarke: Bio
Ken Clarke is a sculptor living and practising in Vancouver, British Columbia. Born in Toronto, he studied two years at the Ontario College of Art between 1982 and 1984,and moved west to study a further four years from 1984 to 1987, graduating with honours from the Emily Carr College of Art and Design. Subsequently, he created several public art projects, including the Tribute to Baseball at the Skydome in Toronto, the Delano Project on west 4th in Vancouver, the Italian Gardens at the PNE, and the Cinque Terre condominium in the West End.
During that time, he started a studio, “Hungry Thumbs”, in the downtown eastside, where he developed his figurative body of sculpture, and worked in hard landscape design and carving.
In recent years, Clarke has moved into sculptural explorations using natural materials and processes. He has collaborated with master weaver Alastair Heseltine on a large scale sculptural project installed in the VanDusen gardens, and has continued to develop project partnerships with other sculptors, including Marie Khouri, with whom he worked in 2013 to create “Vantage”, for Bosa properties, and “Let's Sit and Talk”, 2014, installed in the Equinox Gallery. Clarke is involved in the film industry, working as a sculptor on feature productions, and maintains an ongoing sculptural practice in his downtown studio. His work is held in private and corporate collections throughout North America.
“I feel that it is more important than ever to reconnect with the environment. I work with my hands interpreting the shapes found in nature, to give meaning and richness to my place in this world. I am an avid hiker, and I find it amazing that nature can be simultaneously awe inspiring and humourous. Working spontaneously with each project allows me to see with fresh eyes and an open heart.”
Public Art
2016 Project assistant for Carmen Rosen. Still Here. Vancouver.
2016 Project assistant for Marie Khouri. Eyes on the Street. Olympic Village, Vancouver.
2016 Project assistant for Glen Anderson. Dream of the River. Steveson.
2015 Land Art dans les Champs. Land Art event.
Mt St Hilaire, Quebec.
2014 Project assistant for Marie Khouri. “Let's Sit and Talk”
Equinox Gallery.
2013 Project assistant for Alastair Heseltine. “Salix Iterum” Touch wood exhibit. Van Dusen Gardens.
2007 Grizzly. Life size cast in concrete of original sculpture. 11th and Lonsdale, North
Vancouver.
2005 “Rivers and Streams”. Collaborative project with Bruce Walther, North Vancouver.
2004 “La Luna”. Sign for La Luna Cafe, Vancouver.42' diametre, cast resin.
2004 Grotesque faces facade, Hungry Thumbs Studio. 16” height Cast in Fiberglass.
2002-2003 “Cinque Terre” project on Beach avenue, west end, Vancouver. 9 architectural details on building facade cast in agilia concrete . For Bob Landucci and Dominion Fairmile Construction.
2000-2001 Italian Gardens project, East Hastings Park, Vancouver. 14 sculptures, multiples cast in concrete, some are water features. Project collaboration with Sandra Moore of Birmingham and Wood, Architects, and Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg, landscape architects.
1997 Delano project. Art Deco reliefs, four sections. 30” x 24 feet, cast in concrete. Collaboration with Hoy Jacobson for the Delano condominium on west fourth, Vancouver.
1992 Glass archway. For exploration grant. Cast glass.
1991 Glass relief mural of sports figures. 200 square feet. Made in collaboration with Norman Courtney for the University of Oregon.
1988-1989 “Tribute to Baseball”. Sculpted low relief panels, 330 square feet in collaboration with Lutz Haufchilde and Norman Courtney for the Skydome in Toronto.
Related Work Experience
Journeyman Bricklayer
Faux Rockwork
Sculptural Commissions: Figurative, architectural, and water features
Sculptor IATSE
Education
1982-86 Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design
1975-77 Ontario College of Art