Old Traditions
"Old Traditions is a moody, atmospheric piece that showcases the balance between hard and soft edges, as well as the interplay of texture. Set amidst a hazy, misty background, the tree islands appear to float, creating a sense of depth and perspective while symbolizing the delicate balance between tradition and the passage of time." - Sheila Kernan
-----
Sheila Kernan is a Calgary-based Canadian contemporary artist whose distinctive practice bridges the space between abstraction and realism. Working primarily through a highly constructed, collage-informed process, Kernan builds each composition from layers of photographic references, sketches, and visual fragments that she carefully reconfigures into dynamic, immersive paintings.
Kernan’s work is immediately recognisable for its tactile surfaces, bold graphic structures, and intensely saturated colour palette. Her meticulously layered mixed media compositions often combine applications of flat acrylic surfaces and airbrushed accents with hand-cut stencil elements and richly textured oil impasto. The result is a visual language that feels both structured and spontaneous, where clarity and disruption coexist within richly layered compositions.
Kernan’s paintings explore how images are remembered and reconstructed, drawing viewers into environments that feel familiar yet unsettled.
A graduate of the Alberta College of Art and Design (B.F.A., 2006), Kernan has exhibited extensively across Canada and internationally in over 40 exhibitions. Her work is held in numerous private, corporate, and public collections throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Africa. In recognition of her contribution to contemporary art, she received the ACAD Alumni Legacy Award in 2017.
Sheila Kernan’s practice continues to resonate with audiences seeking bold, emotionally charged, and materially rich abstract paintings that push the boundaries of perception and visual storytelling.
Canvases are finished with white-painted sides and are ready to hang framed or unframed.