Ann Harbuz (Napastiuk) (July 25, 1908 – April 29, 1989) was a Canadian artist. A self-taught artist, she is known for folk art painting depicting 20th-century Canadian Ukrainian prairie perspectives.[1][2] She drew inspiration from her rural and Ukrainian origins in Western Canada, reflecting her very personal vision of the social life of her community, a vision which is a combination of memories, dreams and reality.[3] While her art career began late in life, she produced more than 1000 paintings and painted objects.[4]
Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Harbuz spent her childhood near Whitkow, Saskatchewan. Her parents were immigrants from Ukraine.[4] and much of her adult life in the Saskatchewan communities of Richard and North Battleford, and Ponoka, Alberta.[5] She died in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, aged 80.
Career
Harbuz did not start painting until the late 1960s, when she saw the artworks of her North Battleford neighbour, Mike Peryewizniak.[5] When she started painting, she was still busy with home and community life and she would often have to integrate her art-making into the daily activities of the home.[6] Her works blur traditional distinctions between 'folk', 'vernacular', 'popular', and 'fine' art categories.[7] Her artistic style shows little adherence to formal/technical considerations and focuses instead on content and subject matter.[8]
She was commissioned to do a painting for the 1976 Montreal Olympics, which was presented a painting to Thomas Douglas. Her work is exhibited across Canada and collected in many collections including the Mendel Art Gallery (Saskatoon), The Saskatchewan Arts Board, and The Mackenzie Gallery (Regina).[1]
Several of her works have been sold at auction, including NIKOA KOWALSKI'S FARM, which sold at Hodgins Art Auctions in fall 2006.[9]
Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
1983 - Art Centre, North Battleford
1982 - Art Placement, Saskatoon Southern Alberta Art Gallery, Lethbridge
1981 - Ukrainian Museum of Canada, Saskatoon
1978 - Art Centre, North Battleford
1975 - Art Centre, North Battleford
Group Exhibitions
1991 - Work, Weather and the Grid: Agriculture in Saskatchewan, Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina
1988 - Prairie Folk Artists, Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina
1983 - Saskatchewan Naive/Folk Artists, Le Marchand Gallery, Edmonton // Seven Saskatchewan Folk Artists, Mendel Art Gallery (toured provincially) // From the Heart: Folk Art in Canada, National Museum of Man, Ottawa (toured nationally)
1982 - Prairie Folk Art, University of Saskatchewan Library, Saskatoon (organised for a Canadian Library Association conference)
1981 - Saskatchewan Images and Objects by Ann and Mike Harbuz, Ukrainian Museum of Canada, Saskatoon
1980 - Canadian Folk Artists, Thomas Gallery, Winnipeg Rosemont Art Gallery, Regina & Susan Whitney Art Gallery, Regina
1979 - Ann Harbuz and Fred Moulding, Kesik Gallery, Regina // Ukrainian Themes: Four Folk Artists, Shoestring Gallery, Saskatoon (toured provincially)
1978 - Three Primitive Painters, Gallery One, Saskatoon & Don Callandar Gallery, Winnipeg // The Saskatchewan Arts Board Collections, Norman MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina
1976 - Grassroots Saskatchewan, Norman MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina (toured provincially) // The Grain Bin, Saskatchewan Art at the Olympics, Montreal (toured provincially)
1975 - Saskatchewan Primitives, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon