Etienne Zack

Etienne Zack (born 1976, Montreal, Canada) is a Canadian-American painter. He studied at the Emily Carr University of Art and Design^[1] in Vancouver earning his diploma in 2000, and attended Concordia University in 1997.^[2]

Etienne Zack
Born	July 22, 1976 Montreal, Quebec
Citizenship	Canadian-American
Occupation	Painter
Website	https://www.etiennezack.com/

Zack's works often explore themes of architecture, power, and the construction of history.^[3]

Artistic focus

Etienne Zack's early paintings of Vancouver are connected to urban environments and socio-political commentary. His works challenge the dominant economic structures of these landscapes.^[4]

In 2014, artist and art critic Dion Kliner highlighted Zack's exploration of the constructed nature of history, stating that his work examines how both events and objects are selectively preserved or erased.^[5] In his 2016 solo exhibition at the Esker Foundation, curated by Naomi Potter, he focused on systems of control, institutional power, and the reconsideration of history and text.^[6]

Career Highlights

In 2004, his work was included in the East International exhibition in the UK at Norwich School of Art, curated by Neo Rauch  and Gerd Harry Lybke.^[7] This was followed by solo exhibitions, including one in 2006 at the Bergen Kunsthall in Norway, curated by Solveig Østebø,^[8] and a duo exhibition with Jorge Queiroz at the Thomas Dane Gallery in London, England.^[9][10]

In Canada, Zack won the 2005 RBC Canadian Painting Competition^[11] and the Pierre-Ayot Prize from the City of Montreal in 2008.^[12]

His work was featured in the 2008 Québec Triennial at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal,^[13][14][15] which led to a solo survey exhibition at the museum in 2010,^[16][2][17] (with catalogue authored by Francois LeTourneux and Seamus Kealy).^[18] Zack also contributed a commissioned sculpture for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.^[19] That same year, the Surrey Art Gallery in Canada held a survey exhibition of his work, curated by Jordan Strom.^[20][21][22]

In 2014, Zack was awarded the Emily Award from Emily Carr University.^[23]

His 2016 exhibition at the Esker Foundation in Calgary focused on his "book series" (2013–2016).This exhibition was accompanied by a catalogue featuring contributions by Naomi Potter, Travis Diehl, Carole Anne Klonarides, and Keith Wallace.^[21]

Public collections

His works is part of numerous public and private institutional collections, including the following:

• National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, Canada^[24]
• The Model Museum, Sligo, Ireland^[25]
• Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, Canada,^[26]
• National Fine Arts Museum of Québec, Québec, Canada,^[27]
• Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montréal, Canada,^[28]
• Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, Montréal, Canada,^{[29][30][31][32]}
• Global Affairs Canada,
• Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, Montréal, Canada
• Surrey Art Gallery, Surrey, Canada
• Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Canada
• Zabludowicz Collection, London, England
• Canada Council Art Bank, Canada,^[33]
• City of Montréal, Montréal, Canada
• Royal Bank of Canada Collection, Montréal-Toronto-Vancouver, Canada
• Loto-Québec, Montréal, Canada
• Giverny Capital Art Collection, Montreal, Canada

Awards

RBC Canadian Painting Competition (National Competition)– 1st Prize 2005,^[34] Sustainable Arts Foundation, recipient 2021,^[35] Emily Award, Emily Carr University, Vancouver, Canada, 2014,^{[22][23][36][37]} City of Montréal Pierre-Ayot Prize – 1st Prize 2008,^[38] Brissenden Scholarship - 1999, Mary Catherine Gordon Memorial Scholarship - 1999.