This winter, the Varley Art Gallery presents three interconnected exhibitions exploring the art of printmaking.

Karen Kar Yen Law, Melon Render No. 1 (detail), 2024, acrylic, oil, and aerosol paint on canvas, 121.92 cm x 91.44 cm. Courtesy of the artist.

Karen Kar Yen Law: Better Bitter

January 25 to May 4, 2025
Curated by Anik Glaude

Markham-based artist Karen Kar Yen Law 羅加欣 works primarily with monoprints, blending the structured layers of printmaking with the fluid expressiveness of painting.

Hand-cut stencils are central to her process, creating precise shapes and patterns that build visual layers and reveal or mask parts of the composition. Through colour layering, she forms negative and positive spaces that enhance or obscure underlying forms. Law also incorporates experimental techniques, like using stencils to expose parts of her canvases to the sun.

Law’s work is deeply shaped by her Chinese heritage, particularly its cuisine, where balance in flavour—such as the transformation of bitterness—is essential. In her latest work, the bitter melon serves as a symbol for exploring the concept of bitterness, both as a flavour and an emotional experience.

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Images: (left to right): Emma Nishimura, An Archive of Rememory (detail), 2017, photo-etching on flax and abaca, 7.62 cm x 7.62 cm x 6.35 cm. Photo: Emma Nishimura. Courtesy of the artist. Gayle Uyagaqi Kabloona, Tunngasugiit (You’re Welcome Here), 2023, linocut, 25.4 cm x 25.4 cm. Courtesy of the artist.

Beneath the Surface: Stories of Kinship and Connection

January 25 to May 4, 2025
Curated by Anik Glaude

Beneath the Surface features the evocative works of Emma Nishimura and Gayle Uyagaqi Kabloona, who use printmaking to explore culture, family, and identity.

Nishimura’s practice explores themes of memory, loss, and resilience, focusing on her family’s experiences during the internment of Japanese Canadians in World War II. Her work reflects the enduring impact of this history across generations. Kabloona, inspired by her Inuit heritage and artistic lineage, celebrates her identity while questioning it, blending tradition with contemporary exploration.

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David Blackwood, Two Scouts from the S.S. Eagle (detail), 1975, colour etching and aquatint, Edition 5/50, 50 cm x 60.1 cm [sheet], 40.5 cm x 50.5 cm [plate]. Collection of the Varley Art Gallery of Markham. Gift of Wallace Joyce, 2011.4.3

The Printmaker’s Matrix: Process, Image, and Innovation

January 25 to May 4, 2025
Curated by Anik Glaude

This group exhibition showcases prints from the gallery’s permanent collection, exploring three interconnected themes. Process unveils the techniques and behind-the-scenes efforts that bring each print to life. Image celebrates the finished works, focusing on their compositions, forms, colours, and meanings. Innovation highlights how artists push the boundaries of printmaking—whether through adopting cutting-edge techniques or reimagining traditional methods.

As with all our collections-based exhibitions, The Printmaker’s Matrix provides a chance to delve deeper into our holdings, uncover lesser-known pieces, and bring attention to works on display for the first time.

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Associated Programs

Winter Exhibitions Opening Reception
Saturday, January 25 | 2 to 4 pm
Free | Registration not required

Engage with talks by the artists and curator, printmaking activities, and Chinese lion dance performance while connecting with the Varley community.

Lunch and Learn with artist Emma Nishimura
Wednesday, February 5 | 12:30 to 1:30 pm
Free | Online | Registration required

Exhibiting artist Emma Nishimura will share insights into her work, creative processes, and reflections on navigating generational memory, exploring the experience of her paternal grandparents and Japanese Canadians during and after World War II.

Curator’s Corner
Sunday, February 23 | 2 to 4 pm
Free | Registration required

Join gallery curator Anik Glaude for an engaging discussion on selected works from the gallery’s collection. Gain insights into the stories, themes, and techniques behind the art, and enjoy light refreshments in an intimate setting.

Lunch and Learn with artist Karen Kar Yen Law
Wednesday, March 5 | 12:30 to 1:30 pm
Free | Online | Registration required

Exhibiting artist Karen Kar Yen Law will explore the intersection of mediums, abstraction, and Chinese cuisine, reflecting on Chinese diasporic experiences and cultural practices through the theme of bitterness.

Artist Workshop: Printmaking with Karen Kar Yen Law
Sunday, March 16 | 2 to 4 pm
Free | Registration required

Discover the art of printmaking with exhibiting artist Karen Kar Yen Law. Learn step-by-step techniques to create your own unique prints in a hands-on environment. All materials included.

Lunch and Learn with artist Gayle Uyagaqi Kabloona
Wednesday, April 9 | 12:30 to 1:30 pm
Free | Online | Registration required

Inuit artist Gayle Uyagaqi Kabloona will share her research and art making practice.

About the Varley Art Gallery of Markham

The Varley Art Gallery of Markham is a vital cultural hub for artists and diverse communities. A municipal gallery, we create critical conversations about Canadian art and society. We inspire local and national audiences to engage with art through outstanding exhibitions and rich public and educational programs relevant to the communities we serve. We support artists from York region and seek to broaden access to the arts for diverse artists and cultural groups. We also share and celebrate the life and work of F. H. Varley, a founding member of the Group of Seven.

The Varley Art Gallery is situated on the traditional territories of Indigenous Peoples including the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe. We are committed to reconciliation, partnership and enhanced understanding.

Varley Art Gallery of Markham
216 Main Street Unionville
Markham, ON L3R 2H1
varley@markham.ca
905.477.7000 ext. 3261

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Public Hours
Tuesday to Friday | 12 pm to 4 pm
Saturday and Sunday | 10 am to 5 pm
Monday | Closed

Admission:
Free

Accessibility:
Our venue is accessible, with automatic door openers to enter the building and exhibition spaces. One accessible washroom is available.

For more information, please contact:
Jessica Li, Communications
jessicali@markham.ca