Karina Kalvaitis depicts a parallel world full of personable, loveable, odd and awkward creatures that are familiar yet strange.
In graphite drawings and in mixed media sculptures these silently expressive oddballs act as metaphors for our own states of mind – expressing stoicism, uncertainty, hope, and wonder. She is interested in creating art that gets to the heart of human emotions and experiences – while also embracing a sense of the mysterious and unknowable.
Always interested in physically crafting work with a variety of materials, Karina majored in sculpture at the Alberta University of the Arts, and later studied theatre prop building at the Banff Centre in Alberta.
She lives in Victoria on traditional lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) Territory and in addition to being an artist she works as a props builder and scenic artists for theatre and opera productions.
SELECTED ARTICLES
KARINA KALVAITIS – CREATOR OF WORLDS AND CURIOUS MENAGERIES. Beautiful Bizarre Magazine (Australia)
KARINA KALVAITIS – A PORTAL INTO A PARALLEL UNIVERSE. YAM magazine (Canada)
SELECTED EXHIBITION HISTORY
WINTER SMALL WORKS SHOW. December 2022 to January 2023. Massey Gallery. Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.
BRIDGE STUDIO CRAWL. Winter 2020. A virtual studio crawl across Victoria, BC, Canada with video studio tours and demonstrations. Bridge Studio crawl info.
THE RESIDENTS. Solo show. July 10th to July 26th, 2020. Arc.hive Artist Run Centre. 2516 Bridge St. Victoria, BC Canada.
ANIMALIA. Two person show with Jo Ludwig. Circle Craft Gallery. 1-1666 Johnston St, Net Loft, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
September 5th to September 30th, 2019.
BRIDGE STUDIO CRAWL. Arc.hive Artist Run Centre. 2516 Bridge St. Victoria, BC. October 8th to 9th, 2019.
BRANCH. Exhibition and open studios at arc.hive artist run centre. 2516 Bridge St. Victoria BC. August 23rd and 24th, 2019.
AGE OF THE UNSEEN WORLD. Solo show at Arc.hive Artist Run Centre. 2516 Bridge Street Victoria, B.C. Sept 7th to 23rd 2018.
DRAWING CONCLUSIONS. Errant Art Space. 975 Alston St. Victoria, BC. Group drawing show with Victoria and Vancouver Island artists curated by Kyle Labinsky. June 9th – 24th, 2018.
WINTER SMALL WORKS Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. 1040 Moss St. Victoria BC. Nov 7 – Jan 31 2018.
REFUGIUM. Maritime Museum of B.C. 634 Humboldt St, Victoria, BC
October 5th to December 17th, 2017.
ART GALLERY PAINT IN Moss St. Victoria, BC, Canada. July 15, 2017.
HOPEFUL MONSTERS. Arc.hive Artist Run Centre. March 3rd to 26th. 2516 Bridge St. Victoria, BC
ART GALLERY PAINT IN Moss St. Victoria, BC Saturday July 16th, 2016.
INTEGRATE ARTS FESTIVAL August 26th to September 2nd, 2016. 636 Fort Street, Victoria BC. Plus a show in my studio at 216 – 2614 Bridge St. Victoria, BC.
ART NOW. (group show). Atrium Building, Victoria, BC. May 14-123, 2016.
SALT SPRING NATIONAL ART PRIZE FINALIST EXHIBITION (SSNAP). Mahon Hall, Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada. September 26 – October 24, 2015.
INTEGRATE ARTS FESTIVAL. Unit 228C 1150 Douglas St. Victoria, BC. August 28 – September 12, 2015.
ART NOW. (group show). Atrium Building, Victoria, BC. May 7-10, 2015
101 UNFRAMED – 29 FOREVER. (group show). Gallery 101, Ottawa, ON. December 1, 2012.
ART CRAWL. Gallery 16 1/2, Victoria, BC. June 8th 2011.
HOBNOB (group show). Polychrome. Victoria, BC. July 19th – September 8th, 2011.
QUEERTOPIA. (group show). Presented by Pride In Arts. Exhibition Hall at the Roundhouse, Vancouver, BC. July 27 – August 14, 2010.
HOBNOB (group show). Polychrome. Victoria, BC. July 11th – August 26th, 2010.
AURORA (group show). Polychrome, Victoria, BC. January 31st – February 25, 2010.
ARTS AND CRAFTS (group show). Boucherat, Victoria BC. December 4 – January 15, 2010.
SMALL WORLD. (group show). Open Space. Victoria, BC. October 9, 2009.
LIGHT AND FLUFFY. (group show). Studio 16 1/2, Victoria, BC. December 12 – January 30, 2009
ABRACADABRA. (group show). Little Mountain Studios. Vancouver, BC. September19 – October19, 2008
LUST. (group show). Gallery 101, Ottawa, ON. December 4 – 6, 2008.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. (group show). Headbones Gallery. Toronto, ON. January 11 – February 20, 2007.
TEN SMALL QUARRELS. (solo show). Gallery 101. Ottawa, ON. September 7 – October 5, 2006.
DOMESTIC BLISS (3 person show). Open Space. Victoria, BC. June 2 – July 8, 2006.
STELLERINE. (solo show). Deluge Contemporary Arts. Victoria, BC. October 21 – November 25, 2005.
STRANGE BEDFELLOWS: KARINA KALVAITIS AND THE LIONS (group show with the Lions drawing collective). Truck Gallery. Calgary, AB. July 8 – August 6, 2005.
SHAPESHIFTER HOTSPOT. NOW. (group show). Open Space. Victoria, BC. June17 – July 30, 2005.
ANIMALIA DONATIONAISER. (group show). Ministry of Casual Living. Victoria, BC. November 26 – December 2, 2004.
TEN SMALL QUARRELS. (solo show). Rogue Art. Victoria, BC. August 1 – September 24, 2003.
THE RESIDENTS. Solo Show. July 10th to July 26th, 2020. Arc.hive Artist Run Centre. 2516 Bridge St. Victoria, BC Canada.
WATER BABIES AND VEGETABLE LAMBS. (solo show). Rogue Art. Victoria, BC. August 17 – September 2, 2001.
EYE CANDY – VICTORIA OPEN. (group show). Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Victoria, BC. March 9 – May 21, 2001.
MOMENTARY ANATOMY. (solo show). Truck Gallery. Calgary, AB. July – August 3, 1996.