Mara Sfara Art

This miniature compact mirror sculpture of a snowy winter scene titled "Child’s Play, Make Way, Replay" is an original artwork by Kendal Murray made of m...

The Redpath Mansion was built in 1886 for members of the Redpath family – wealthy industrialists who constructed the Lachine Canal and founded the sugar refinery that bears their name. This majestic house was erected in the fabled Golden Square Mile of Montreal. By the mid-20th century, it was one of the few remaining Queen Anne style homes in this city. The Sochaczevski family, purchased it in 1986 and within that year, obtained a license to demolish the building. Approximately 40% of the property was leveled. Organizations such as Heritage Montreal and Save Montreal obtained an injunction to suspend the execution of the license and the destruction of the mansion. It was temporarily saved. In 2014, the Mayor of Montreal, Denis Coderre, sided in favour of the Sochaczevski family, granting them the license to level the Redpath Mansion. In a statement to the media, when substantiating his reasoning, Denis Coderre said, “It was too dangerous, so I asked that we demolish the building.” The disappearance of the Redpath Mansion represented a great loss to Montreal’s architectural landscape. Organizations such as Heritage Montreal and Save Montreal, contended that it possessed immense cultural value; and during the course of almost three decades – 1986 to 2014 - struggled to save this rare Queen Anne style home from the wrecking ball. Albeit, the Sochaczevski family argued that it was old and unsafe, and that a restoration of the once stately home would be very costly. During the span marked by the first attempt at a demolition and the final decision by the mayor of Montreal (i.e. 1986 – 2014), The Redpath Mansion’s already dire condition worsened. It stood vacant and exposed to the elements. Nothing to upkeep the house was implemented, neither by the owners, or the city of Montreal; which ultimately compromised its structural viability. The events surrounding the Redpath Mansion, came to my attention in the summer of 2010. It was during a visit to Mount Sinai Hospital, in Montreal, where my father lay stricken by a terminal disease known as pulmonary fibrosis. I came upon a newspaper article in the Montreal Gazette. It described the Redpath Mansion case. I likened the decaying building with the final stages of my father’s life. The Redpath Mansion gained even greater significance for me when I went in person to the Golden Square Mile - in the city centre – and stood before it along Du Musée Street. I experienced it as a powerful metaphor for the transient nature of life. It also inspired thoughts related to generational ties, and how familial bonds act to influence and shape a person’s identity. The program of work I plan to undertake aims at building a scale model of the Redpath Mansion, as it appeared just before its demolition, in 2014. The physical height of this scale model is set at approximately 1 metre. I wish to place emphasis on the craft aspect, by creating a visual idiom based on details and decaying forms that allude to our connection to the past. For example, old pictures found among the rubble, scattered clothing and shoes, all of which are suggestive of a past ethos. I steer clear of political and social issues and aim to view this project with a more poetic lens, hoping to move the focus from societal problems to problems we face inside ourselves. The end result, or the finished piece would make a statement in a more introspective and emotional way, and show that the past weighs on the present, almost to the point of haunting. The viewer of the finished scale model will view it in the round, and in so doing perceive a definite narrative that addresses questions of identity, memory and loss. Ivan Markovic The Redpath Mansion, 2019 mixed media 37h x 20w x 24d in 93.98h x 50.80w x 60.96d cm IVM007 IVAN MARKOVIC was born in Montreal, Quebec in 1970. At an early age, he showed a natural propensity for drawing. At 15 years of age, he went to Paris, France to attend the Fine Arts school Creatione et Future. This experience allowed him to become a better draftsman and encouraged him to take his first steps in the art of oil painting. In 1994, he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Concordia University in Montreal. During his undergraduate degree he developed an interest for Art History and life drawing. After graduation, Ivan Markovic moved to Madrid, Spain to work at the Prado museum, where he made copies of Old Masters’ paintings, and developed an understanding for the materials and techniques of Spanish, Italian and Flemish art. He received a Master of Fine Arts degree from Bretton Hall College, University of Leeds, in the U.K. in 1997. His graduate work focused on large-scale paintings that alluded to baroque and neoclassical painting. In parallel, he pursued his other passion, teaching, by instructing a figure drawing course. Upon completing his MFA, he returned to Madrid to work as a practicing artist and art teacher for 13 years. During this time, he experimented with a diverse range of media. Of these, he was most captivated by sculpture. In 2010, he came back to his native Montreal, thus completing a formative cycle that has lasted 25 years. Currently, Ivan Markovic lives and works between Montreal, Chicago, and Madrid. He creates three-dimensional renditions of people facing situations of adversity, especially those that live on the fringe of society. His work has been featured in solo exhibitions in Canada, the United States and Europe, and is also on permanent display in privately owned collections of art. Ivan Markovic b. 1970, Montreal, Quebec Education 1997 Master of Fine Arts, Bretton Hall College, University of Leeds, England. 1994 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada. 1986 Studies at the Fine Arts School, Création et Future, Paris, France. Selected Exhibitions 2020 Double Feature: Art Shay and Ivan Markovic, 2019, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago, IL 2019 SOFA Chicago 2019, Navy Pier, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago, IL 2018 SOFA Chicago 2018, Navy Pier, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Chicago, IL Art Market Hamptons, Gallery Victor Armendariz, Bridgehampton, NY Art On Paper, Gallery Victor Armendariz, New York, NY 2017 Art Toronto, Galerie D’Este, Toronto, Canada. SOFA Chicago, Navy Pier, Option Art, Chicago, IL Papier/10th Edition, Contemporary Art Fair of Works on Paper, Galerie D’Este, Mlt., Canada. 2016 SOFA Chicago, Navy Pier, Option Art, Chicago, U.S.A. 2016 Toronto International Art Fair, Galerie D’Este, Toronto, Canada. 2016 Beyond the Pale, Galerie D’Este, Montreal, Canada. 2014 On the Fringe, Galerie D’Este, Montreal, Canada. Love Art, Galerie D’Este, Toronto, Canada. Papier 14, Contemporary Art Fair of Works on Paper, Galerie D’Este, Montreal, Canada. 2013 Shades of Isolation, Galerie D’Este, Montreal, Canada. 2013 Toronto International Art Fair, Galerie D’Este, Toronto, Canada. Papier 13, Contemporary Art Fair of Works on Paper, Galerie D’Este, Montreal, Canada. 2012 Papier 12, Contemporary Art Fair of Works on Paper, Galerie D’Este, Montreal, Canada. 2011 Papier 11, Contemporary Art Fair of Works on Paper, Galerie D’Este, Montreal, Canada 2004 Galería Francisco Duayer, Madrid, Spain. 2004 Fundación Cultural Mapfre Vida (Premio Penagos de Dibujo), Madrid, Spain. 2003 Centro Intergrado Arganzuela (Ayuntamento de Madrid), Madrid, Spain. 2003 Galería Francisco Duayer, Madrid, Spain. 2001 Galería Francisco Duayer, Madrid, Spain. 2000 Sala Goya, Círculo de Bellas Artes, Madrid, Spain. 1998 Instituto Cervantes, John Hancock Center...

Resin cast geodes and cracked slate in a wooden frame by Paige Smith. This piece measures 18in x 18in, with a depth of 1-5/8in. Paige Smith AKA A Common Name, is a multi-discipli...

ST.ROPER is a 3D-printed sculpture by Ray Padrón created in 2016. The piece belongs to a series of work centering around clothing items and their relation t...

"Tantalize, Synchronize, Exercise!" is an original metal, mirrored glass, polyester fibre, wire, plastic, and enamel paint artwork by Kendal Murray measu...

Resin cast geodes in cracked marble in a wooden frame by Paige Smith. This piece measures 18in x 18in, with a depth of 1-5/8in. Paige Smith AKA A Common Name, is a multi-disciplinary artist and designer who lives and works in Los Angeles, CA. Smith is most notable for creating “Urban Geode,” a street art series of sculptures that resemble geodes, made entirely of paper and resin casts. Always interested in geology, Smith started to notice the nooks and crannies in the sides of buildings, walls, and abandoned phone booths within her community of the Historical Arts District (in Los Angeles). Seeing this as an opportunity to create, Smith took street-art to a whole new level. Since beginning the project, she has created large-scale installations for well-known brands such as The Standard, Hollywood; The Viper Room...

Limited-Edition Basketball: "Death of St. Joseph" by Kehinde Wiley In the realm where art meets sport, a remarkable creation awaits - a limited-edition basketball adorned with the transcendent brushwork of Kehinde Wiley. Renowned for his profound reimaginations of classical portraiture, Wiley's influence on the contemporary art scene is as undeniable as it is transformative. About the Artist: Kehinde Wiley, born in Los Angeles in 1977, emerged as a luminary in the art world with a vision that defied convention. His journey was one of innovation, guided by a profound respect for history and a boundless determination to redefine it. Wiley's artistry is a testament to the dynamic interplay between tradition and reinvention. Deeply influenced by the 18th Century's classical biblical portraiture, Wiley's creative alchemy gave birth to "Death of St. Joseph." This awe-inspiring painting is a testament to his ability to traverse time and infuse ancient narratives with contemporary relevance. St. Joseph, a figure steeped in enigmatic art history, found new life under Wiley's masterful hand. Influences and Inspirations: At the core of Wiley's work lies a fascination with the human form, an obsession with identity, and a profound respect for the diverse tapestry of cultures that shape our world. His canvases are a symphony of color, a dance of patterns and textures that echo the rich heritage of his subjects. Through this kaleidoscope, Wiley weaves a tale of inclusivity, inviting us all to bear witness to the beauty that unites us. The open hand...

"Chic Boutique, Mystique Peek" is an original metal, mirrored glass, plastic, and enamel paint artwork by Kendal Murray measuring approx. 2.5”h x 3”w x 3...

"Ad Amethysto" is an original sculptural work in a painted wooden frame by Paige Smith (A Common Name). The piece is solid resin dyed and cast by the artist and measures 10in x 10in...

A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Paul Rousso attended the Cleveland Institute of Art in Ohio and went on to earn his BFA from the California College of the Arts in 1981. In his...

A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Paul Rousso attended the Cleveland Institute of Art in Ohio and went on to earn his BFA from the California College of the Arts in 1981. In his...

A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Paul Rousso attended the Cleveland Institute of Art in Ohio and went on to earn his BFA from the California College of the Arts in 1981. In his...