A Semblance of Place: Alex R.M. Thompson | Main Gallery Exhibition
A Semblance of Place: Alex R.M. Thompson | Main Gallery Exhibition
-
A Semblance of Place presents a vivid representation of the city, rendered primarily in copperplate etching. The works use urban interiors and exteriors to describe a landscape frozen in some state of tumultuous change; towers totter skywards, harvesting components of their own foundations to drive their upward (and ultimately perilous) growth, while vast halls hold isolated monuments to deeply flawed power structures. The spaces, largely bereft of occupants, invite the viewer to explore the darkly Romantic cityscapes, winding between crumbling brick walls, through yawning arches, and into incomplete apartment blocks. Within these architectural remnants, questions of climate, political upheaval, and resource consumption linger in the challenging tension between beauty and destruction.
-
-
We are thrilled to present Edmonton-based print artist, Alex R.M. Thompson's first solo exhibition with Abbozzo Gallery, A Semblance of Place. Predominantly working through copperplate etchings, Thompson explores the permanence of change in urban landscapes. Immortalizing the ephemeral into his images, Thompson collapses and collages the histories, objects, and subjects of disparate places into the singular landscape of his prints.
Obliterating conceptions of time and scale, we see collated modern construction materials and tools anachronistic to the Euro-centric classical architecture and monuments-- simultaneously blown up in size and miniaturized as seen in San Pietro, Overshadowed or Eternity is a Convincing Myth.
Often concerned with spaces and the structures within them being in a state of perpetual change, Thompson uses the motif of the construction site: the artworks occupying the space between old and new, and new and old, between disorder and order, ultimately revealing the organized chaos of process. We see scaffolding construction wrap and machinery sitting amongst completed apartment towers and city institutions jutting out at odd angles, some reflected, or mirrored, and for us, becoming entirely unique and unreal structures fabricated from the mundane industrial infrastructure such as in So Much More to Take (III) or Divide.
Following in the tradition of other great Abbozzo Gallery plate etching artists such as Dan Steeves and David Blackwood, Alex R.M. Thompson brings an incredible level of technical ability, and high level of multi-texturality to his work, along with a highly contemporary and unique approach to image building, both surreal and grounded in a universal familiarity.- Blake Zigrossi, Associate Director
-
- Alex R.M. Thompson, Abyss 5/5, 2023CAD 2,400.00%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EAlex%20R.M.%20Thompson%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EAbyss%205/5%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2023%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
- Alex R.M. Thompson, All Roads 4/6, 2023CAD 600.00%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EAlex%20R.M.%20Thompson%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EAll%20Roads%204/6%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2023%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
- Alex R.M. Thompson, Communications 4/10, 2022Reserved%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EAlex%20R.M.%20Thompson%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3ECommunications%204/10%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
- Alex R.M. Thompson, Crossing 6/8, 2023CAD 600.00%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EAlex%20R.M.%20Thompson%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3ECrossing%206/8%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2023%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
- Alex R.M. Thompson, Decay Suite, 2020CAD 1,200 Each%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EAlex%20R.M.%20Thompson%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EDecay%20Suite%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2020%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
- Alex R.M. Thompson, Divide 3/7, 2023CAD 600.00%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EAlex%20R.M.%20Thompson%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EDivide%203/7%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2023%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
- Alex R.M. Thompson, Eternity is a Convincing Myth 1/5, 2023CAD 2,800.00%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EAlex%20R.M.%20Thompson%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EEternity%20is%20a%20Convincing%20Myth%201/5%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2023%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
- Alex R.M. Thompson, Ever Upwards 5/5, 2023CAD 2,600.00%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EAlex%20R.M.%20Thompson%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EEver%20Upwards%205/5%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2023%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
- Alex R.M. Thompson, Fantasia on the Kirkfield Lock, 2023CAD 2,800.00%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EAlex%20R.M.%20Thompson%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EFantasia%20on%20the%20Kirkfield%20Lock%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2023%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
- Alex R.M. Thompson, Gatehouse II (Daimler Plant) 5/8, 2023Sold
- Alex R.M. Thompson, In the Mist 3/6, 2022CAD 900.00%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EAlex%20R.M.%20Thompson%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EIn%20the%20Mist%203/6%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
- Alex R.M. Thompson, Is Change a Suitable Affirmation? 4/5, 2022CAD 2,600.00%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EAlex%20R.M.%20Thompson%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EIs%20Change%20a%20Suitable%20Affirmation%3F%204/5%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
- Alex R.M. Thompson, Laying the Groundwork 2/6, 2022Sold
- Alex R.M. Thompson, New Foundations in the Sky 6/6, 2024CAD 2,800.00%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EAlex%20R.M.%20Thompson%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3ENew%20Foundations%20in%20the%20Sky%206/6%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2024%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
- Alex R.M. Thompson, Praxis 5/5, 2023CAD 2,800.00%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EAlex%20R.M.%20Thompson%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EPraxis%205/5%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2023%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
- Alex R.M. Thompson, Preserve 1/3, 2020CAD 1,200.00%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EAlex%20R.M.%20Thompson%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EPreserve%201/3%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2020%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
- Alex R.M. Thompson, San Pietro, Overshadowed 2/5, 2023CAD 2,800.00%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EAlex%20R.M.%20Thompson%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3ESan%20Pietro%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3EOvershadowed%202/5%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2023%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
- Alex R.M. Thompson, So Much More to Take (I) 3/5, 2020€ 1,800.00%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EAlex%20R.M.%20Thompson%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3ESo%20Much%20More%20to%20Take%20%28I%29%203/5%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2020%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
- Alex R.M. Thompson, So Much More to Take (II) 2/5, 2020€ 1,800.00%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EAlex%20R.M.%20Thompson%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3ESo%20Much%20More%20to%20Take%20%28II%29%202/5%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2020%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
- Alex R.M. Thompson, So Much More to Take (III) 1/5, 2020€ 1,800.00%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EAlex%20R.M.%20Thompson%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3ESo%20Much%20More%20to%20Take%20%28III%29%201/5%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2020%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
- Alex R.M. Thompson, Subject to Change 1/5, 2019CAD 1,200.00%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EAlex%20R.M.%20Thompson%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3ESubject%20to%20Change%201/5%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2019%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
- Alex R.M. Thompson, The Belly of the Beast 2/6, 2024Sold
- Alex R.M. Thompson, Truck 1 2/16, 2023Sold
- Alex R.M. Thompson, Truck 2 5/10, 2023Sold
- Alex R.M. Thompson, Truck 3 5/10, 2023Sold
- Alex R.M. Thompson, Truck 4 5/10, 2023Sold
- Alex R.M. Thompson, Truck 5 5/10, 2023Sold
- Alex R.M. Thompson, Turning Point 6/6, 2024CAD 2,800.00%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EAlex%20R.M.%20Thompson%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3ETurning%20Point%206/6%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2024%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
- Alex R.M. Thompson, Untitled (pipeline w/ tree) 4/5, 2023CAD 2,600.00%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EAlex%20R.M.%20Thompson%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EUntitled%20%28pipeline%20w/%20tree%29%204/5%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2023%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
- Alex R.M. Thompson, Waiting 5/8, 2022CAD 350.00%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EAlex%20R.M.%20Thompson%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EWaiting%205/8%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
- Alex R.M. Thompson, Waste 5/5, 2022CAD 2,600.00%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EAlex%20R.M.%20Thompson%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EWaste%205/5%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2022%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
- Alex R.M. Thompson, Whatever Comes 5/5, 2023CAD 2,800.00%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EAlex%20R.M.%20Thompson%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EWhatever%20Comes%205/5%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2023%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
- Alex R.M. Thompson, Working Documents, 2021-2024€ 105.00%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EAlex%20R.M.%20Thompson%3Cspan%20class%3D%22artist_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title%22%3EWorking%20Documents%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_comma%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22year%22%3E2021-2024%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E
-
Photo by: Alexandra StoutAlex R.M. Thompson's creative practice is rooted in the communicative potential of architecture. Through nearly familiar landmarks, he encourages dialogue exploring our reciprocal relationship towards place, portraying hybrid sites that interrogate how power, socio-economic priorities, and systemic values are embedded within space.Alex R.M. Thompson is a Brantford, ON-born, Edmonton-based artist working primarily in print and installation. After completing a BFA at OCAD University in 2013, he worked in Toronto at Open Studio, among other places, before moving to Edmonton to pursue his MFA in 2019. He is now an active member at SNAP (Society of Northern Alberta Print-Artists). His practice has brought him to numerous cities in Canada and Europe through residencies and conferences, and these sites in turn start to collapse into his compositions. The gradual, process-focused quality of etching draws him, allowing space to contemplate each adjustment to the imagery and mirrors the slow unfolding of cityscapes over long timespans. When not in the studio, he teaches printmaking and drawing, and is an avid rock climber, cyclist, and cross-country skier.
-
This website uses cookies
This site uses cookies to help make it more useful to you. Please contact us to find out more about our Cookie Policy.
Join our mailing list!
Newsletters update subscribers on our latest exhibitions, events and exclusive offers.
* denotes required fields
We will process the personal data you have supplied to communicate with you in accordance with our Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe or change your preferences at any time by clicking the link in our emails.