IRENE SIRKO
I sculpt in soapstone, alabaster and limestone and develop my sculptures slowly to allow the material to direct my hands and reveal its form over time. My style is to create sculptures that are simple, diverse and organic in nature. People use their imagination to experience the sculpture on a personal level.
IRENE’S WEBSITE
Curriculum Vitae
Artist’s Statement
The basis for my creativity in stone can be summarized as FEEL, FLOW & FORM. Focusing on the abstract allows my creativity to find its own end. When working with stone, I am constantly feeling the curves and lines I am creating. Feeling the stone then dictates what follows next. The continuous flow of the work is critical. In the end, the form is pleasing to the eye and flows as a whole.
I sculpt in soapstone, alabaster and limestone and develop my sculptures slowly to allow the material to direct my hands and reveal its form over time. My style is to create sculptures that are simple, diverse and organic in nature. People use their imagination to experience the sculpture on a personal level. One of my admirers was holding one of my smaller works in their hands and said it brought them a sense of peace.
Awards
3rd Place Award Winner – ‘Noble’ 3 Dimensional Category for the ‘Open’ 2016 Art Exhibition
Special Recognition Award – ‘Rock & Roll’ Light, Space & Time Art Gallery
Distinguished Artist Award – ‘Stallion’ ‘Wild Call’ Art Competition
ArtAscent
Special Merit Award – ‘Ice House’ 3 Dimensional Category for the ‘Season’ 2016 Art Exhibition
Light, Space & Time Art Gallery
Honorable Mention – ‘Gibraltor’ 3 Dimensional Category for the ‘Nature’ 2016 Art Exhibition
Special Recognition – ‘Blowing In The Wind’ Light, Space & Time Art Gallery
Special Merit Award – ‘Father with Children’ 3 Dimensional Category for the ‘Figurative’ 2016 Art Exhibition
Light, Space & Time Art Gallery
5th Place Award Winner – ‘Serpent’ 3 Dimensional Category for the ‘Animals’ 2016 Art Exhibition
Honorary Mention – ‘Penguin’ Light, Space & Time Art Gallery
‘Penguin’ People’s Choice Award
Artworks Oakville
Award of Distinction Artscape
For Artistic Excellence
‘The Wave’ Show Sculpture Award
Biennial Open Juried Exhibition – Colour & Form Society
Commissions
‘Shades of Green’ Private Collection
‘The Crest’ Private Collection
Professional Affiliations
Sculptors Society of Canada
Ukrainian Association of Visual Artists of Canada
Toronto West Arts Collaborative
Education
Wilfrid Laurier University
Toronto School of Art
Haliburton School of Arts
Private Studies
Solo Show 2016
Living Stone – abstract sculpture by Irene Sirko
Bezpala-Brown Gallery in Yorkville, Toronto, Ontario
Group Shows & Exhibitions 2016
60th Anniversary Show Ukrainian Association of Visual Artists of Canada – KUMF Gallery
Open Competition Light Space & Time Gallery
Rock About Sculptors Society of Canada – Canadian Sculpture Centre
Wild Theme ArtAscent Gallery
Seasons Theme Light Space & Time Gallery
Canada Ukraine Friendship Evening Central Ontario Export Club
TWAC / CNE Juried Art Show Canadian National Exhibition Juried Art Show
No Boundaries Sculptors Society of Canada – Canadian Sculpture Centre
Nature Theme Light Space & Time Gallery
Figurative Theme Light Space & Time Gallery
In The Space of Colour – Landscapes Ukrainian Association of Visual Artists of Canada – KUMF Gallery
Animal Theme Light Space & Time Gallery
Biennial Open Juried Exhibition Colour and Form Society – Paper Mill Gallery
Celebrating The Arts Live Auction Gilda’s Club Greater Toronto
17th Annual Juried Show Artworks Oakville – QECCC Gallery
Contemporary Art Fair The Artist Project
2015
Holiday Treasures Sculptors Society of Canada – Canadian Sculpture Centre
Expressions in Art Show St. Volodymyr
Stone It! Sculptors Society of Canada – Canadian Sculpture Centre
Colours of Autumn Art Exhibition Ukrainian Association of Visual Artists of Canada – KUMF Gallery
Outdoor Art Exhibit Queen West Art Crawl
50th Art In The Park Oakville Art Society
Bizarre Bazaar BizBaz
53rd Annual Summer Show Muskoka Arts & Crafts
Capture A Moment Ukrainian Canadian Art Foundation – KUMF Gallery
18th Annual Art Show & Sale Kingsway Lambton United Church
200th Anniversary of Birth of Oseredok Gallery, Winnipeg MN
Taras Shevchenko Art Exhibit
2014
Holiday Joy Sculptors Society of Canada – Canadian Sculpture Centre
Christmas Marketplace St Joseph Catholic Church
36th Annual Juried Show of Fine Arts Visual Arts Mississauga – Art Gallery Mississauga
New Members Exhibition Sculptors Society of Canada – Canadian Sculpture Centre
200th Anniversary of Birth of Ukrainian Association of Visual Artists of Canada – KUMF Gallery
Taras Shevchenko Art Exhibit
17th Annual Art Show & Sale Kingsway Lambton United Church
15th Annual Juried Show Artworks Oakville – QECCC Gallery
Artfest at the Distillery Artfest Ontario
20th Anniversary Shevchenko Exhibit Ukrainian World Congress in Ukraine
Solid Ideas Sculptors Society of Canada – Canadian Sculpture Centre
Expressions in Art Show St. Volodymyr
Fall Art Exhibition Ukrainian Association of Visual Artists of Canada – KUMF Gallery
Annual Open Juried Exhibition Colour and Form Society – Etobicoke Civic Centre Art Gallery
2013
16th Annual Art Show & Sale Kingsway Lambton United Church
14th Annual Juried Show Artworks Oakville – QECCC Gallery
‘Toronto The Beautiful’ Juried Exhibit Ukrainian Canadian Art Foundation – KUMF Gallery
Expressions in Art Show St. Volodymyr
2012
34th Annual Juried Show of Fine Arts Visual Arts Mississauga – Art Gallery Mississauga
139th Annual Open Juried Exhibition Ontario Society of Artists – John B. Aird Gallery
Open Juried Show 2012 Beaux-Arts Brampton
CFS Biennial Art Exhibition Colour and Form Society – Paper Mill Gallery
Invitational Art Show World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organization
Fall Art Exhibition Ukrainian Association of Visual Artists of Canada – KUMF Gallery
Expressions in Art Show St. Volodymyr
Christmas Show Ukrainian Canadian Art Foundation – KUMF Gallery
2011
Our Summer Show Personal Show with L. Ireland & H. Klaassen – Visual Arts Mississauga
Fall Art Exhibition Ukrainian Association of Visual Artists of Canada – KUMF Gallery
Expressions in Art Show St. Volodymyr
Christmas Show Ukrainian Canadian Art Foundation – KUMF Gallery
2010
Open Juried Show Beaux-Arts Brampton
11th Annual Juried Show Artworks Oakville – QECCC Gallery
Biennial Open Juried Exhibition Colour and Form Society – Paper Mill Gallery
Expressions in Art Show St. Volodymyr
Christmas Show Ukrainian Canadian Art Foundation – KUMF Gallery
2009
Open Juried Show Beaux-Arts Brampton
Open Mind – 135th Annual Open Ontario Society of Artists – John B. Aird Gallery
Juried Show
Open Juried Show for Students Metallic Art Society of Canada
57th Annual Open Juried Exhibition Colour and Form Society – Etobicoke Civic Centre Art Gallery
