Jim Verburg is a Dutch/Canadian artist currently based in Toronto.
With a practice stemming from film and photography, Verburg’s work is visually inspired by the nuanced, and fleeting affects of light. Employing materials such paint, ink, charcoal, and powdered graphite to interact with paper, newsprint, mylar, and fabric. Verburg creates captivating compositions that mimic the delicate nuances of reflection, absorption, opacity, and translucence. Through an experimental process rooted in mindfulness and intentionality, Verburg explores the dynamic interplay between the physicality and emotionality of his materials. Tight geometric compositions are contrasted with layered planes of transparency to create quiet, meditative and subtle representations of a complex introspection.
Notable solo projects and exhibitions include Whatever Form This Moment Takes, Galerie Nicolas Robert, Montréal (2018), Still at Zalucky Contemporary (2018), Shape and Light #1, a choreographed work for the Toronto Dance Theatre (2016), and One and Two at Galerie B-312, Montreal for Mois de la Photo Festival (2011) which received the Dazibao Prize. Verburg has been included in group exhibitions at The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, Toronto (2013), Luciana Caravello, Rio de Janeiro (2014), Access Gallery, Vancouver (2014), Inman Gallery, Houston (2015), Paul Kuhn Gallery, Calgary (2016), and Cydonia Gallery, Dallas Texas (2017). He’s shown at Expo Chicago (2018), Untitled Miami (2016 and 2018), and featured solo projects at VOLTA NY (widmertheodoridis Zurich, 2015), and at the Texas Contemporary Art Fair (2015).
His film For a Relationship won the 2008 Jury Prize for the Best Canadian Short Film a the Insideout Film Festival (Toronto) and was nominated for the Iris Prize (UK). His book O/ Divided/Defined, Weights, Measures, and Emotional Geometry was shortlisted for Best Printed Publication at the Gala des Arts Visual, Montreal (2014). Another book project A New Relationship Between Reflective Sides was launched at MoMA Ps1 with the New York Art Book Fair (2015). He recently installed The shape this takes to get to that, a public art installation for the city of Ottawa (2019). Verburg was among several recipients of the prestigious Chalmers Arts Fellowship. His work appears in several private and corporate collections.