The artists represented in this exhibition entitled “4” first became acquainted as work colleagues in the film industry in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The demanding and collaborative nature of working together as artists for decades often brought them together as a team, forging strong friendships and a deep mutual respect for each other’s artistic talents.

Though each of them works with different subjects, media, and artistic preoccupations, their paintings reveal a common and dedicated interest in exploring the limits of representation—of space, volume, light, atmosphere. At the heart of their work is a drive to create visual poetry and meaning--they are “painters’ painters”.

Gillian Richards’ canvases, for example, may depict quiet, seemingly ordinary views of the urban landscape, but they radiate a remarkable light, and draw the onlooker into lush brushstrokes of colour layers.

Jean-Paul Costaz creates mysterious places and spaces in lower tonal registers, masterfully evoking abstract tableaux that exist somewhere halfway between concrete and ethereal forms.

Gordon Hughes’ paintings bring together intricately rendered textures and shapes juxtaposed with areas of flat, precisely chosen fields of colour. The resulting paintings, presented with intriguing titles, are elegant and poetic visual statements.

Joyce Woods’ current body of work draws inspiration from nature— specifically, the mesmerizing surfaces, patterns, and rhythm of water. This visual exploration sparked an immersive inquiry into the ways nature stirs and reflects the human psyche.

A catalogue with artist’s statements and images of the art will be available at the exhibition. Also, please see Art Perry’s exhibition preview piece attached.

Details:

• Duration: One Week Sep 10 – Sep 17th, 2026

• Location: VIVA Alliance, 401-353 Railway Street, Vancouver, BC