From the time he was just 14 years old, Charles
Carson’s passion for visual art inspired him to connect with audiences on as deep a level as possible.
Acknowledging that abstract art does not always appeal to everyone, he strove to make it more accessible.
“To me, artistic expression is so much more than a trite gesture or a red dot on a
black background. An artist who has something to say must surpass and reinvent himself,” says Carson. “My
profound desire is to bequeath a body of work that resonates with future generations.”
During his time as an emerging artist in his
hometown of Montreal, his artistic heroes included Renaissance greats Leonardo de Vinci and Michelangelo, as
well as the modern masters Turner and Matisse, all of whom Carson says “devoted their lives to the pursuit of
excellence and whose art continues to move people generations after their passing. Their genius is a constant
source of inspiration.”
However, it was after residing in South America for 10 years that Carson began developing his true
inspiration for his groundbreaking art — the environment.
“Art should not only capture the beauty of the environment but instill a desire in others to preserve that
beauty. I am very sensitive to ecological and environmental issues and for this reason, my subject matter is
mostly derived from nature. Nature is the source of my inspiration and I strive to represent it in different
forms transformed by the mind’s eye,” he explains. “Through my paintings, I try to create a space where the
artist and viewer meet and lose themselves, a vehicle for communication, communion, a living work.”
Carson has had a highly influential role in the art world, creating Carsonism, a term coined in 1992 by art
historians including Louis Bruens, co-founder of Académie Internationale des Beaux-Arts du Québec
(AIBAQ), for his
expressive art technique that surpassed the traditional categories of impressionism, expressionism and
surrealism. In 2007, he was inducted into the AIBAQas “Master of Fine Arts,” and has been the
recipient of numerous prestigious awards including Artist of the Year at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Academia XXI Gala in 2009. His list of high-profile collectors includes Bill Clinton.
“I was determined to not offer my work for sale until I had achieved my goal of creating a new pictorial
language without any direct resemblance to an existing style or technique,” he says in describing the
creation of the Carsonism movement. “This gave rise to many years of disciplined research and experimentation
to create and develop the pictorial language to which I have become identified and that is marked by its use
of vivid colours, luminosity and spontaneity.”
Carson is featured in a permanent exhibition at
Inglewood Fine Arts, where more than 40 of the artist’s works showcasing the Carsonism movement and mosaic
movement can be viewed. Located in Calgary, the gallery focuses on spotlighting a select few artists in an
effort to give visitors a more enjoyable visual experience.
Carson’s close friendship with Michel
Arseneau, owner and director of Inglewood Fine Arts, began over 20 years ago when Arseneau was pursuing his
professional career in Montréal.
“Michel purchased one of my paintings through my
agent at the time while I was still living in South America. We met shortly thereafter during one of my trips
to Montreal and kept in touch over the years, sharing our passion for art,” says Carson. “His recent
relocation to Calgary provided an ideal occasion for him to become my representative there and introduce my
work to the evolving art market of Western Canada.”
» inglewoodfinearts.com•
Photo Courtesy: Inglewood Fine Arts
