Branch Art Exhibit: Works by Michael Kaplan

In Progress

Throughout the month of September, works by artist Michael Sydney Kaplan will be on display at the Forest Hill branch.

Michael was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. At birth, he was given the nickname Mickey, and that has been with him ever since. His extended family includes a number of professional artists, actors, authors, and politicians. The arts are in his genes. At the age of 7 or 8, he was enrolled in painting classes at The Art Gallery of Ontario upon the insistence of his aunt, Chip Feldman, a professional artist herself. Since then, his artistic teachers and mentors have included Jay Dampf and Sam Kara at Dreams Studio, and currently, Gelen Golrokh at Art Wish.

On his first trip to Paris in 1962, Mickey fell under the spell of the Impressionists. He loves the light, bright images and revealing brush strokes of Monet, Manet, and Pissarro, as demonstrated in his work. His many travels and Jewish heritage have also been significant influences on his work. He often uses as many as a dozen brushes on the same painting to achieve his desired effect. A teacher once told him to paint “as if somebody else was paying for [his] supplies."

Mickey's work has been distributed to friends and family as well as a number of his accounting clients. Much of his work is part of the permanent collection at the Baycrest Centre. He has participated in a number of group exhibits, and he has donated paintings to numerous fundraising initiatives. This is his first solo show.

This exhibit is part of TPL's Art Exhibit Space program. Toronto Public Library provides space for local artists to exhibit their work at locations across the city. These exhibits aim to reflect the diverse cultural interests of the city and its neighbourhoods.

The exhibit can be viewed during the Forest Hill branch's open hours. Please check the Forest Hill branch page before you visit.

Free. All are welcome.

Image credit: Michael Kaplan; "Shtettle"; oil.