Entering Blackcomb Glacier - acrylic on canvas

Gary Haggquist was born in Vancouver in 1959. Now based in Cultus Lake, British Columbia. Haggquist explains as an artist, his “wellspring of inspiration” has always been derived from his profound affinity for the natural world. He writes, “to better understand our place within the natural order is arguably the most important issue of our age. This longing to touch the soul of nature and to examine our relationship with it has been the central theme in my work as an artist.”

In 1985 at the University of Victoria, Haggquist completed a Degree in Fine Arts with Honors. Previous to this he studied for four years at the David Thompson University Centre located in Nelson, B.C., a town known for having the most artists and creative professionals per capita in Canada. After his professional art education Haggquist began to travel. He is quoted, “the years after art school were a time of soul searching, of gathering experiences to fill my memory, along the path to finding my voice as an artist.” Job experiences based in remote parts of B.C. and Manitoba were part of that path, as he longed to find a deeper connection in nature.

Since 1998, Haggquist has been successfully exhibiting throughout British Columbia, as well, broadening his international profile with the overseas market. November 2001 he took part in a five day juried exhibition in Tokyo, titled Exposition d’Artistes Contemporain Franco-Japanais, and returned home with the Former Prime Minister of Japan Award.

Many of his paintings hint at the issue of better understanding our place within the natural order. Images that appear firmly grounded in physical reality, are simultaneously somehow ambiguous, clear and specific, yet vaguely questioning.

Additional works are metaphorical variations on nature, heightened in their symbolic intent.
Gary Haggquist’s paintings tug the viewer into the realm of memory, and dream.

Haggquist has exhibited at the following shows:

2002 “Three for Trees”. Langley Centennial Museum, Fort Langley, B.C.
2002 West Coast Gallery, Whistler, B.C.
2001 Plasket Gallery, New Westminster, B.C.
2001 Downstairs Gallery, Chilliwack Arts Centre, Chilliwack, B.C.
2001 Exposition d’Artistes Contemporain Franco- Japanais, Tokyo, Japan
2001 Artropolis 2001, CBC Building, Vancouver, B.C.
2000 Art Works Gallery, Chilliwack, B.C.
1998 Centreville Co-op Gallery, Chilliwack, B.C.
1998 Marshall Road Gallery, Abbotsford, B.C.

On Top of Blackcomb Galcier - acrylic on canvas

Forest Path - acrylic on canvas

Chehalis - giclee on canvas limited edtion print

Boarders, Whistler - acrylic on canvas