Cetacean Constellation (Bathers #2), Swimmers

Catharine MacTavish (b. 1952)
Catharine MacTavish is a contemporary artist best known for her densely painted works, created over a number of years. MacTavish settled into painting following early explorations of film and holography infused by the radical currents of 60’s art. Her studies in art at York University and science at Queen’s University are evident in her paintings from the 1970s and 1980s, which suggest perceptible waves of light. Brian Grison, Curator for the Surrey Art Gallery, described MacTavish’s work as belonging to “a long history of Western art’s pursuit of a relationship between the world of matter and world of spirit.”

Based in Toronto, she continues to paint, realizing one dense painting every two or three years. According to the artist, each piece entails “a slow conceptual and technical percolation.” Her works have been exhibited at artist-run, private and public galleries in Canada. They are held in private and public collections including the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Art Gallery of Hamilton, the Surrey Art Gallery, the Toronto Dominion Bank and the Vancouver Civic Art Collection. MacTavish is also an ordained Buddhist nun.