Is an emerging artist living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
South Africa to Canada 1981 - 1995
Gareth was born in Durban South Africa and came to Canada with his mother Dawne Rudman, a quilt artist, when he was six. He is a Canadian Citizen and grew up in Oakville, Ontario. As a child Gareth drew constantly. His mother was very encouraging and kept every drawing he ever did.
In 2000 Gareth graduated from T. A. Blakelock High School in Oakville and won the Halton District Overall Excellence Award and the Art Scholarship. At age 16 in 1997 Gareth went on a Rotary International Youth Exchange to Grenoble France for one year. While there he had the opportunity to travel extensively in Europe and learn French.
House of Commons Page Program 2000 - 2001
After high school in 2000 Gareth moved to Ottawa as one of 39 students from across Canada chosen to participate in the House of Commons Page Program in parliament. The program was a first hand education in Canadian politics. He attended the University of Ottawa for one year before moving to Toronto. He received a University Entrance Scholarship.
Toronto & The Art Centre at Central Tech 2002 - 2005
In 2002 Gareth moved to Toronto where he was lucky to discover the adult art program at The Art Centre at Central Technical School. This was where Gareth first realized he wanted to devote himself to art. He was strongly influenced by the emphasis on working from life and drawing. While there he won the Outstanding Student in the 3-Year Art Program Award two years in a row, and also the Scott Gwilliams Award for Illustration. He led the fight to save the program from closing and founded the "Central Tech Art Alumni Network" where graduates of the program can be notified of exhibitions and events. He continues to organize events for alumni like bar nights, reunions etc. He graduated with a Diploma in 2005.
OCAD University 2005 - 2007
After Central Tech, Gareth finished his degree at the Ontario College of Art & Design (now OCAD University) in Toronto. He was particularly grateful for the opportunity to get a more theoretical base and to learn more about contemporary art. He graduated in 2007 from Drawing and Paintings Thesis with a Bachelor of Fine Arts with Distinction. For his "Plastic Painting Series" Gareth was the 2007 winner of The 401 Richmond Career-Launcher Prize a 500 square foot studio given to one graduate every year, the Ron Shuebrook Award for Painting, Edmund Morris Scholarship for Academics and the George A. Reid Award for Art Writing. His writing was published in "Line Break 2007: Winning Liberal Studies Essays".
401 Richmond Career-Launcher Prize 2007-2008
After OCAD Gareth moved to a beautiful 401 Richmond Street studio. Gareth's exhibition “Lament” and video Penance are the culmination of the work created while at 401 Richmond. He was greatly inspired by the building's beautiful roof garden and courtyard.
Galleries and Reviews 2005 - present
Gareth had a solo exhibition titled "Lament" at Gallery 260 at 401 Richmond . In November he will have a solo exhibition at Glendon Gallery at York University. Gareth has shown at Gallery 44, Loop Gallery, Bau-Xi Gallery, and Arcadia Gallery among others. He has participated in Scotia Bank Nuit Blanche, Contact Photography Festival, Queen West Art Crawl and Oakville’s World of Threads Festival. He has been reviewed in Now Magazine, Xtra! Magazine, The Annex Gleaner, SNAP Toronto, The Oakville Beaver , Liberty Gleaner, and Lyte Arts Online Magazine. He will soon be featured in Checkerspot's Art and Climate Change issue. Gareth has been published in "Line Break Winning Liberal Studies Essays" from OCAD and the feature review of Ann Hamilton’s time at OCAD in Canvas Magazine.
Employment 2005 - present
Gareth has worked as an assistant to OCAD University’s Professional Gallery, Permanent Collection and Student Galleries. He has interned at Loop Gallery. He currently works as a class assistant at OCAD University in Integrated Media courses and as a web designer for artist portfolio sites and creative organizations.
Recent News 2008
Most recently in 2008 Gareth received an Ontario Arts Council Emerging Visual Artist Grant for his role as Visual Artist/Designer for "Le Corps Intérieur" (The Inner Body) with David Pressault Dance Company, which will be performed at Le Monument National in Montreal from January 21 - 31, 2009. In June 2008 Gareth was made an Honourary Staff Member of The Art Centre at Central Technical School. In July Gareth will move to a new studio S17 at Toronto’s 401 Richmond Street West.Gareth will have a solo exhibition at Glendon Gallery at York University's Glendon Campus most likely in November 2008.Copyright Gareth Bate, 2008