Katie Ohe

Sculpture Artist

Katie Ohe is a renowned Canadian sculptor and one of the first artists to make abstract sculpture in Alberta. Born in 1937 in Peers, Alberta, she attended the Alberta College of Art (ACAD), the Montreal School of Art and Design, the Sculpture Centre in New York and Fonderia Fabris in Verona, Italy.

In the 1960s Calgary, then a small Western Canadian city where the stand-alone sculpture was a minor practice, Katie became a catalyst for the medium, first with small figurative sculptures in bronze and aluminium inspired by proto-feminist themes and later when she began experimenting with kinetic sculptures that entice viewers to touch and put in motion.

Today she is one of the most idiosyncratic metal sculptors of Canada and remains a pivotal and inspirational figure to generations of artists in Calgary. In the 1960s, together with Jean LaPointe Mihalcheon and Kay Angliss, Katie was among the first artists to propose new alternatives beyond painting in Alberta and managed to draw attention to the growing number of women professionally active in the Calgary art community (Mary-Beth Laviolette, Made in Calgary).

“I want my sculptures to induce or to invoke touch before you really think that you shouldn’t.”

The Many Mediums of Katie’s Practice

Small Metal

Metal sculptures

View Gallery

Prints

Masterful silkscreens

View Gallery

Kinetic

Iconic moving sculptures

View Gallery

Outdoor

Oversize public sculptures

View Gallery

Katie’s CV at a Glance

Education
1961-1963 Graduate Studies in Sculpture, Sculpture Center, New York
1960 Diploma, Alberta College of Art, Calgary, Alberta
1954-1957 Alberta College of Art, Calgary, AB
1958-1959 Art Education, Montreal School of Art and Design, Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal, Quebec

Professional Experience and Activities
1970-2010+ Sculpture Instructor, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, AB
1981 Part-time Seminar Instructor, The Banff Centre, School of Fine Arts, Banff, AB
1978-1979 Sculpture Instructor, The University of Calgary, Calgary, AB
1970-1982 Sessional Sculpture Instructor, Mount Royal College, Calgary, AB
1964-1967 Full-time Art Instructor, Calgary, Allied Art Centre, Calgary, AB
1960-1962 Assistant Art Instructor, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, AB
1958-1959 Full-time Art Instructor, Child Art Program, Coste House, Calgary, AB

Adjudicator
2006 City of Calgary, Public Sculpture.
2006 Adjudication, Environmental Design, U of C, Calgary
2002 Adjudication and external advisor, Faculty of Environmental Design, U of C, Calgary
2000 Waterworks Centennial Sculpture Competition, Calgary, AB
1998 17th Ave Sculpture, Calgary, AB
1997 Famous 5, Calgary, AB
1996 + S.A.W.S. (Southern Alberta Woodworking Society), Calgary, AB
1996 Calgary Police Association & Calgary Firefighters Association Sculpture Competition, Calgary, AB
1996 Sien Loc, Park Sculpture Competition, Chinatown, Calgary, AB
1995 17th Ave Uptown Revitalization, Calgary, AB
1995 S.A.W.S., Calgary, AB
1994 17th Ave Uptown Revitalization
1992 Science Alberta Foundation, Calgary, AB
1991 Cultural Activities Scholarship
1978 Canada Council Grant (B and Short Term), Ottawa ONT
1978 Sculpture Selection, Commonwealth Games, Edmonton, AB
1978 Canada Council Art Bank purchase
1978 Alberta Arts Foundation

Art Talks
2010 Art talk in Gdansk, Poland, Porto, Portugal (to accompany “Inhabiting Space “Exhibition.
2006 Art Gallery of Calgary
2006 Video, Glenbow, Museum, Calgary, AB
2000 Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, AB
2000 Banker’s Hall, Calgary, AB
1999 Alternate Gallery, Kelowna, BC
1999 Red Deer College, Red Deer, AB
1999 Stone Carving Society, Calgary, AB
1999 Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, AB
1998 Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, AB
1997 Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, AB
1996 Grande Prairie Art Gallery, Grande Prairie, AB
1996 Art Department Okanagan N. College, Kelowna, BC
1996 Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, AB
1996 Mysore School of Art, Mysore, India
1995 Nickle Art Museum, Calgary, AB

Art Related Travel
2010 Japan, Poland, Portugal
2008 China
2004 Greece
2000 Holland, Belgium, France, England
1995 India
1993 Greece, Turkey, Italy, France, London
1992 Holland, Belgium, Germany: Kassel Dokumenta
1985 Italy, France, Germany
1983 Japan
1972-1982 Verona, Italy (summer residencies in Bronze Foundry Studio)
1969 London England: Canada Council Study Grant (visited France, Spain and Germany

Membership
Royal Canadian Academy of Artists
Alberta Society of Artists
Calgary Contemporary Art Society

Legacy
2011   Founder and Board Member of  KIYOOKA OHE ART CENTRE (KOAC)

Awards/Grants

2006 Alberta Centennial Medal
2002 Queens Golden Jubilee Medal
2001 Honorary Degree, Doctor of Laws, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB
1991 Alberta College of Art and Design Medal of Excellence
1989 Y.W.C.A. Arts and Culture Award
1984 Allied Arts Medal, The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
1973 Canada Council Grant
1968 Canada Council Grant
1964 Winnipeg Show, Sculpture Award
1963 Tuition and Studio Grant, Sculpture Centre, New York
1962 Canada Council Grant
1960 Tuition and Study Grant, Sculpture Centre, New York
1960 Reeves Foundation Award, Calgary, AB
1958 National Gallery Study Award for The Montreal School of Art and Design, Montreal
1958 Museum (Dr. Lismer), Montreal, QUE

Group Exhibitions
2010 “Inhabiting Space”, (2 venues) Gdansk, Poland, and Porto, Portugal
2008 “7 Canadian Sculptors “. Shanghai, China
2004 “Migrations”, Greek Exchange Exhibition, Tinos, Greece
2000 Kaleidoscope, Amsterdam, Holland. Ostova, Czechoslovakia. Calgary, AB
2000 Alberta Biennial, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, AB
2000 Alberta Biennial, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, AB
2000 Royal Canadian Academy Of Art Millenium Exhibition, Gallery Stratford, Stratford, ONT
1999 Hands that Shape, Triangle Gallery, Calgary, AB
1999 Japanese Print Exhibition (sculpture), Nickle Art Museum, Calgary, AB
1998 Real Objects, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, AB
1998 Celebrating a Legacy, Foundation for the Arts, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, AB
1998 Edmonton Art Society (sculpture), Armoury Building, Edmonton, AB
1997 Tradition Transformed, Triangle Gallery, Calgary, AB
1997 Works, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Edmonton, AB
1996 Between 4, Grande Prairie and Medicine Hat, AB
1995 Between 4, Red Deer, AB
1994 Domestic Objects, Triangle Gallery, Calgary, AB
1994 Artist Circle, Triangle Gallery, Calgary, AB
1991 Works Exhibition, Edmonton, AB
1991 Art Around Here – Avenues of Acquaintance, Nickle Arts Museum, Calgary, AB
1989 Alberta Sculpture Survey ’89, Triangle Gallery, Calgary, AB
1988 Triangle Gallery, Calgary, AB
1986 Founders of the Alberta College of Art, Alberta College of Art, Calgary, AB
1985 A Sense of Space, Muttart Gallery, Calgary, AB
1982 Royal Canadian Academy, Nickle Arts Museum, Calgary, AB
1981 Walter Phillips Gallery, Banff, AB
1980 Royal Canadian Academy, Toronto, ONT
1980 Alberta Art Foundation, Kamakura, Japan
1975 Changes: Two Artists Walking on the Prairies, Mackenzie Art Gallery, Regina, Saskatoon, SASK Edmonton, Calgary, AB
1975 Alberta Art Foundation, London, Brussels, Paris, New York
1975 Kunsterverien Zu Frechen, International Print Show, Germany
1975 International Print Exhibition, Yugoslavia
1974 Bradford Print Biennial, England
1971 West 71, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton
1971 Environment “71, Calgary
1970-2000 Faculty Exhibition, Alberta College of Art, Calgary, Alberta
1964 National Gallery, Ottawa, Ontario
1960 Sculpture Centre, New York

Recent Exhibitions
2006 Art Gallery of Calgary, AB
2003-2004 “Greetings Katie Ohe, silk screen prints, Travel Alberta, Alberta, AB
2001 Stride Gallery, Calgary, AB
1999 Alternate Gallery, Kelowna, BC
1996 Nickle Arts Museum, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB
1991 Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Calgary, AB
1989 Glenbow Museum, Calgary, AB
1976 Alberta College of Art, Calgary, AB
1972 University of Calgary, Calgary, AB
1972 University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
1966 1640 Gallery (prints), Montreal, QUE
1960 Alberta College of Art, Calgary, AB
1962 University of Saskatoon, Saskatoon, SASK

Publications Selected Bibliography
Norman Shoman, “Art the Dark Side”, 2010
Mary-Beth Laviolette, “An Alberta Art Chronicles”, 2006
Chris Willard, “Keepers of the Flame”, Canadian Art, Winter, 2005
Nancy Townsend, “A History of Art in Alberta”, 1905-1970, 2006
Westra, Monique. “Katie Ohe, Sculpture Prayers “. Artichoke, Vol.13, Spring 2001, AB
Newlands, Anne. Canadian Art From its Beginning to2000. Firefly Books, ONT, 2000
Zimon, Kathy. Alberta Society of Artists. Calgary, 2000
CD-ROM of the Provincial Collection. Alberta Foundation for the Arts. 2000
The Alberta Biennial of Contemporary Art 2000. Edmonton Gallery, 2000
Heller, Jules. Encyclopedia of Women Artists in North America. Garland Publishing Inc, New York, 1994
Townsend, Nancy, and Ylitalo, Katherine. Katie Ohe. Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Calgary, 1991
Ylitalo, Katherine. Markers: Katie Ohe. Glenbow Museum. Calgary, 1989
Roukes, Nicholas. Alberta Sculpture Survey ’89. Triangle Gallery. Calgary, 1989
Tousley, Nancy. “Movable Sculptures evoke Sci-Fi imagery.” Calgary Herald. July 19, 1989
Tousley, Nancy. “Sculptors Find New Venue in Stingray.” Calgary Herald. October 29, 1986
Greenfield, Valerie. Founders of the Alberta College of Art. Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, 1986
Tousley, Nancy. “Sculpture Marks Ranch Site.” Calgary Herald. August11, 1985
White, Richard. A Sense of Space. Muttart Gallery, Calgary, 1985
Moppett Ronald. Katie Ohe. Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, 1976
Phillips, Carol. Changes:11 Artists Working on the Prairies. MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, 1975
Blakeman, Evelyn. “Two women artists put accent on form.” Edmonton Journal. March 10, 1972

Selected Collections
Foundation for the Arts (provincial collection), Edmonton, AB
Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, AB
Alberta House, England
Canada Council Art Bank, Ottawa, ONT
Crown Collection, Rideau Hall, Ottawa, ONT
Cultural Archives, Edmonton, AB
Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, AB
Esso Resources Canada Limited, Calgary, AB
Glenbow Museum, Calgary, AB
Government of Alberta
Oxford Development Group, Edmonton Centre, Edmonton, AB
Petro-Canada Inc., Calgary, AB
Sculpture Centre, New York
Shell Canada Limited, Calgary, AB
University of Calgary, Calgary, AB

Commissions
2001 Janet’s Crown, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, AB
1997 Sentinel, Standard Life Building, Edmonton, AB
1996 Garden of Learning, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB
1989 Earth Probe, Esso Resources Canada Limited (now Imperial Oil), Calgary, AB
1984 Samantha, Stephen J. Connell Productions, Hollywood, California
1983-1984 Nimmons Cairn, Bankview Community and the City of Calgary, Nimmons Park, Calgary, AB
1983 Lotus no.1, Bethany Care Centre, Calgary, AB
1981 Untitled, Awards for Y.W.C.A. Woman of the Year, Calgary, AB
1979 Zipper No.2, Oxford Development Group Inc., Edmonton Centre, Edmonton, AB
1975 Zipper, Math Science Complex, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB
1973 Child Bearers, Education Centre, Calgary School Board, Calgary, AB
1967 Conic Turn, Engineering Complex, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB
1967 Canada, Federal Western Regional Office Geological Institute, Calgary, AB
1966 Day and Night, Chinook Shopping Mall, City of Calgary, Prince’s Island Park, Calgary, AB
1963 St. Michael and All Angels, St. Michael’s the Archangel Church, Calgary, AB
1962 Communion Table, Pulpit, Font and Sculpture, Grace Presbyterian Church, Calgary, AB

Private Sculpture Commissions
2009 “Muskeg Baby”, Paul Ziff, Calgary, AB
2001 Quenten’s Song, Joyce Doolittle, Calgary, AB
1992 Fulda Table for Mary Burton, Calgary, AB
1992 Head for John Snow, Calgary, AB
Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, AB
Mysore School of Art, Mysore, India
1995 Nickle Art Museum, Calgary, AB