“It has been such a pleasure to share a studio space with Daniel and to see how his paintings develop. His thoughtful and dedicated approach, sense of colour and skill inspire me.”
“My mother’s influence on my artistic journey is profound. She was the first artist I was introduced to and her art was all around me during my childhood. Margarets admiration for the works of Matisse and Cezanne inspired her painting, drawing and later, her pottery. Her artistic spirit and approach to painting inspired my own pursuit of art and I thank her from the bottom of my heart for that.”
Margaret & Daniel Hughes
Sept. 27 - Oct 26, 2024
Kingston’s distinguished artists, mother and son Margaret and Daniel Hughes, are exhibiting a collection of new works that is a reflection and tribute to their combined accomplished artistry and creative styles.
Opening reception Friday, Sept. 27, 7-10 pm
MARGARET HUGHES Born in South Africa. Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts, University of Cape Town. 1958 Post Graduate Certificate in Art Education, University of London UK, 1959 Courses in Ceramics at Penn State University, 1967-68. Immigrated to Kingston Ontario in June 1968. Established a practice in pottery/ceramics in Kingston in the 70's and 80's. Sold and exhibited my work locally, provincially and nationally for about 35 years.
My work was shown in juried provincial and national shows such as Fireworks and The Perfect Setting, a show of dinner ware. During the latter years of that period I began to pick up painting again and working in pastels. My favourite medium has been large soft hand rolled pastels for the most part. I usually work on black, coloured and sanded papers. I've exhibited work on paper and canvas mostly in Kingston. My subject matter includes still life, often using my own work in clay, and landscape Long time member of the Organization of Kingston Women Artists. Have often exhibited with them. Was a founding member of Cornerstone Fine Arts Fine Crafts and finally co-owner, leaving the business in 2005. I have served on a number of boards in Kingston including the Kingston Arts Council of which I was President for about 5 years.
SHOW STATEMENT Coming from a country of much sunlight and colour and influenced by artists such as Cezanne in my early years I embraced colour and made attempts to simplify form. Later when I had three small children and found painting took all my concentration I fell in love with clay for its malleable properties and colour. Glazes fascinated me along with striving to make beautiful forms. Use of the potters wheel was a discipline that I embraced fully. I strove to include a palette of colour in my work in clay.
Returning to painting and drawing again after many years and once more influenced by post-impressionists, I have concentrated on Still Life and Landscape subjects. The subject matter has often included pitchers, vases and bowls that I made during my years as a potter. I am very attracted to colour in fabrics some of which appear in my work. Still Life is a perennial theme but continues to present challenges sufficient for a lifetime.
Margaret Hughes - ARTWORK
DANIEL HUGHES completed his undergraduate degree at OCAD University and pursued graduate studies at The New York Academy of Art, studying under Eric Fischl and Vincent Desiderio. As a figurative painter, Hughes focuses on deconstructing traditional representational painting and drawing. His work has been exhibited across Canada and the U.S. in cities such as Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal, Los Angeles, New York City, Santa Fe, and Chicago. Additionally, he has held several solo exhibitions in London, UK.
Awards and recognitions include:
Two-time recipient of the Elizabeth Greenshields Award for Figurative Art
Eric Freifeld Scholarship
David Stephenson Award
Runner-up in the Kingston Portrait Prize
Finalist in the BP Portrait Prize at The National Portrait Gallery of England and The National Portrait Gallery of Scotland
Museum group shows include:
The Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock, AR
The Baker Museum, Naples, FL
The JCS Museum, Auburn, AL
Previous teaching positions include: OCADU, Nipissing University, and The Toronto School of Art. Currently, Hughes is an adjunct assistant professor at Queens University and sessional instructor in Rome, Italy with theromeworkshops.com.
SHOW STATEMENT For years, my work has centred around themes of flux, alienation, memory, surface and mortality. I utilize traditional techniques as my painting vocabulary, but I am not bound to them. For the most part, I tend to use more contemporary approaches to properly articulate my ideas in my paintings. The use of tools not commonly associated with painting have become more common in my practice.
My interest in paint surfaces, light, and traditional techniques reflects a deep engagement with the elements of painting that I am interested in on a visceral level.
This series of paintings “The Travellers and explorers” centres on the themes of exploration and discovery. The work is twofold: it represents change and growth of the individual, but also is a metaphor for discoveries in the processes within painting. I am exploring and discovering new ways of applying surface and paint while I am painting my subjects.
