…and the virus made everything a bit strange by Keith Turnbull
Keith Turnbull
…and the virus made everything a bit strange
March 6, 2026–June 15, 2026
The Westin Edmonton (10135 100 St NW, Edmonton
About The Artist
Keith Turnbull, following a long career in public library and cultural administration, now works as a sculptor. He works primarily in clay and papier mache clay, specializing in figurative work, with both people and animals. His sculpture education has been primarily self-directed, taking as many available sculpture classes as possible, including through the University of Alberta Extension Department, Edmonton City Arts Centre, Harcourt House Artist Run Centre and the Sculptor’s Association of Alberta (SAA).
He has participated in public art projects and many group shows, including membership and figurative exhibits at Harcourt House. He has also shown at various venues with the SAA, including Visual Arts Association Alberta, Visual Arts St. Albert, Gallery@501 in Sherwood Park, the Old Strathcona Art Walk and The Night of Artists. He has participated in shows at the Alberta Craft Council and holds an annual fall show and sale at his home studio. His works are in collections across Canada. resilience.
Artist Statement:
I started these strange creatures in the spring of 2020 when the first wave of the pandemic was underway, and we were hunkered down with no clear understanding of what was going to happen, or how long it would last. My cousin had died in a Tokyo hospital after being infected on the “Diamond Princess” cruise ship in March. It was hitting older people hardest and there were no vaccines or treatments except oxygen and intubation. It was a scary time, and everything felt very mixed up. For a while I did no art, but during the summer of 2020 my wife Kathy and I walked through many urban areas where we were astounded at the number of homes that had three-dimensional pieces in their front yards. They ranged from commercial rabbits to sophisticated sculptures, and this made me realize that what I wanted to do most was to get my hands back into the clay.
So, in spite of the lockdowns and the lack of opportunities to continue with figurative sculpture from live models, I started working. I had no real plan in mind. Over time, the sculptures grew almost organically, about one for every month of the pandemic. This exhibit shows 8 of the sculptures from my collection of “Mixed Up Animals”. These mixed-up pieces continue to represent the uncertain times we are living in now.
For More information:
www.keithturnbull.ca