JOHN HARTMAN ISLANDS
May 31st – June 27th
Nicholas Metivier Gallery is thrilled to present Islands , a major exhibition of new paintings and watercolours by acclaimed Canadian artist John Hartman. This latest body of work is inspired by his recent travels to Sikinos (Greece), Bermuda, and Newfoundland and marks an exciting continuation of his exploration into the connection between people, place, and memory.
In the summer of 2024, John Hartman visited Sikinos, a small island in the Cyclades between mainland Greece and Crete. He brought along his watercolour supplies and sketched en plein air, taking advantage of the elevated vantage points from the hilly terrain. Upon returning to his studio in Lafontaine, Ontario, he discovered a compelling link between the visual and atmospheric qualities of Sikinos, Bermuda, and Newfoundland — particularly the luminous light and unique characteristics that have been shaped by their insular geographies.
Islandsmarks a much anticipated return to Hartman’s use of narrative in the way of the fgures, animals and boats. In the 90s, his vignettes of specifc stories and histories of the places he encountered could often be found foating across the skies of his paintings; now these elements play out on the land, in the sea and in the perceived space between the viewer and the landscape. The captivating details along with Hartman’s ability to convey colour and light transcends the specifcity of place and presents us with one of his most exuberant bodies of work to date.
Detail: John Hartman, Jobson'sCove,Bermuda , 2025
Jobson'sCove,Bermuda , 2025 oil on linen
46 x 40 in.
$ 22,000.00
$ 26,000.00
Detail: John Hartman, TheRoadtoKastro,2025
TheRoadtoKastro , 2025 oil on linen
40 x 46 in.
$ 22,000.00
CowHeadandSalvage , 2024
watercolour on Arches paper
22 1/2 x 30 in.
SOLD
SunlightonSouthernHead,Salvage , 2025 oil on linen
22 x 24 in.
$ 12,000.00
Detail: John Hartman, ThePortdeGravePeninsula,2025
SOLD
“I have always been fascinated by islands. They have beautiful light, as sunlight bounces of the surrounding water into the moist air, then bounces back down to land. They often have a unique culture, being isolated from their most immediate neighbours. Getting to most islands means getting in a boat, which I love to do.”
- John Hartman
CowHeadandSalvageHarbour , 2025
48 x 68 in. SOLD
SalvageFromAbovetheFishPlant , 2024
watercolour on Arches paper
22 1/2 x 30 in.
$ 10,000.00
, 2024 oil on linen
48 x 68 in.
$ 28,000.00
Detail: John Hartman, BaydeVerde,Newfoundland,2025
BaydeVerde,Newfoundland , 2025
66 x 60 in.
$ 32,000.00
, 2025
22 x 24 in.
$ 12,000.00
