Juxtapositions: The Work of Jack Akroyd

Born England in 1921, Jack Akroyd was inspired to move to Canada after serving for five years in the Royal Air Force. He eventually made a home of British Columbia, where he would support his life as an artist by working as a draftsman amongst other professions, often drawing inspiration from his jobs. Furthermore, two long journeys to Japan proved life-changing: his creative practice was deeply influenced by what he experienced overseas. His approach to perspective and iconography shifted immensely, and he developed a unique artistic style.

Through painting and drawing, Ackroyd depicted experiences of his day-to-day life infused with imaginative, otherworldly portrayals. The juxtaposition between the mundane, the unexpected, and the surreal in his work results in vivid tableaux that evoke places and cultures sometimes worlds apart. Whimsy appears across Akroyd’s oeuvres, with exquisite attention to details that build up intricate scenes into multiple co-existing storylines.

Hours
Monday-Thursday: 10 am-8 pm
Friday-Sunday: 10 am-6 pm