Sheila Kernan | A State Of Balance | Advance Preview

This preview has now closed. All paintings are now available for viewing on Sheila Kernan's artist page. Please click here to see all available works in this collection.

Sheila Kernan | A State Of Balance
July 10 - August 4, 2025
Bau-Xi Gallery | Dufferin
1384 Dufferin Street, Toronto
Opening reception: Saturday, July 12th, 2 - 5 pm | Artist in Attendance

Sheila Kernan’s upcoming exhibition, A State of Balance, is a powerful meditation on harmony, tension, and the quiet intelligence of nature. In this new body of work, Kernan invites viewers into richly layered compositions where visual opposites - soft and sharp, dense and airy, stillness and movement - are masterfully brought into alignment. Drawing inspiration from the ever-shifting rhythms of the natural world, particularly the landscapes of Muskoka and the Great Lakes, Kernan creates paintings that feel both grounded and alive. A State of Balance offers a space to pause, reflect, and contemplate the beauty and balance found in both nature and art.

Artist statement:

In this new collection, I strive to achieve a unique state of balance within each painting and throughout the series. Through careful manipulation of contrasting painted elements—such as soft and hard edges, thick textures and thin washes, foreground, and background elements, I engage in a constant process of editing and reworking until my intuitive sense of equilibrium has been attained. This pursuit of balance often requires multiple layers of paint, numerous techniques, a careful observant eye, intense concentration, and presence.

There is delicate reciprocity between each visual element. At times it can be harmonious, offering stability. At times it can be more dynamic, offering an interplay between opposing forces and ideas. The movement between both creates a sense of dynamism and tension, which becomes its own form of balance even if not static. All of which contribute to creating an eye-catching composition. 

Nature is a prime example of dynamic balance; its constant state of flux is truly inspirational and why I enjoy mirroring it in my compositions. I value how nature provides a sanctuary for us, it fosters a sense of connection and well-being that contributes significantly to joy, happiness, and contentment. Nature has always been an underlying theme in my paintings, and I am particularly drawn to places that I have a personal connection with. My family’s roots in the east stretch back generations, and each time I visit, I feel a profound connection to the land especially Muskoka and the Great Lakes. 

By sharing my process with you, I hope to provide some insight and to invite you to contemplate the beauty and balance found in both nature and art. – Sheila Kernan

All artworks are now available for acquisition. To secure a piece, please contact us at 416-977-0600 or toronto@bau-xi.com.