Derek Michael Besant, RCA, is well known for his unorthodox use of materials and technology; hybrid forms often include soundtracks relating to themes of memory, language, and the body as a metaphor. Dislocation of the body haunts his imagery; impressions, gestures, and the ephemeral serve to underpin selected concepts.

Besant earned a BFA with Honors (1973) and has taught at ACAD since 1977. At age 29, Besant won the Andrew Nelson Whitehead Award from the Los Angeles Printmaking Society, along with his first major public art commission of The Flatiron mural in Toronto’s Theatre District and his life-sized Waterfall mural at Scotia Plaza. Most recently, Besant’s END OF LANGUAGE image + sound exhibition toured museums in the Balkans (2014-16). His film STRANGERS premiered at the 2010 Portobello International Film Festival (London, UK). Besant also recently installed a six-sided, twelve foot metallic etched sculpture at the Cerveira International Sculpture Biennial in Portugal.

Recent studio activity includes: feature exhibitions for The Centro de Arte Moderno in Madrid, Spain (2017); Edinburgh International Art Festival, Scotland (2015); and Krakow International Triennial, Poland (2016). International exhibitions include: Saatchi Gallery (London); Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Egypt); Akademija Centre for Art Research (Belgrade Serbia); Musée des Beaux-Arts Liège (Belgium); Stedelijke Museum (Belgium); Sun Yat-Sen Museum (Taipei, Taiwan); Canadian Cultural Centre (Paris); and Künstlerhaus Museum (Vienna).

Awards include: Grand Prix from Associazione Nazionale Graphica (Italy 2015); Grand Prix from International Drawing Biennial, MMA Museum (Hungary 2009); Smithsonian American Museum Award (Boston 2005); Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Art Award (1987); World Culture Prize for Letters, Arts & Science from The Centre Recherche delle Nazioni (Milan 1984); Metropolitan Museum Prize (Miami 1977). Besant also won the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Calgary (1999) and two MUDA (Mayor’s Urban Design Awards) for the City of Calgary for his proactive collaborative role in urban art integration. Besant is an elected member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.

Derek Besant    “TOUCH” #13
24″ x 27″     Prolain Relief
Silent Auction Lot #103
Fair Market Value   $1500
Derek Besant"TOUCH" #13 24" x 27" Prolain Relief
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Derek Besant    “TOUCH” #13      24″ x 27″     Prolain Relief

 

Derek Besant

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