Urban Scenic

This project examines the 21st century, industrialized urban environment. I am compelled by the relentlessness of the city and the way we shape and decorate the places we inhabit. Cities are where most people in the western world live. In the nooks and cranies of these urban environments, so much is expressed about a society. It's interests, it's priorities, it's asthetic. Diverging from traditional street photography, I have turned my camera away from people, but to the streets themselves. This series examines the indelible fingerprint of human activity, sometimes new, sometimes long past, sometimes in transition.

The subject matter of these images is quite varied, from garbage cans to perfect lawns. All the images are unified by an overarching observation of the unexpected alignment of elements, colours and patterns. I see visual coincidence, and look for meaning.

About Stuart McCall

Stuart McCall is an artist creating primarily photo-based works. Living in Vancouver, BC since 1968, he has been making images for several decades.

Frequently examining our relationship with the natural environment, McCall’s work explores the unexpected arrangement of elements that occur from chance effect. Using a visual aesthetic reminiscent of contemporary commercial imagery, he challenges us to consider the significance of visual coincidence. He frequently makes use of unconventional perspective and scale offering the viewer a fresh look at the familiar in order to challenge preconceived notions about our surroundings.

He began his career as a commercial photographer in 1982. His images have been published widely, featured in such titles as Time Magazine, Fortune Magazine, Saturday Night, Photography Monthly, Boston Globe, Times of London, as well as in books by National Geographic and Douglas & McIntyre. His work has been recognized by Communication arts, the Lotus Awards, and International Photography awards. Since the 1990s he has worked with Vancouver artist Neil Wedman on various photo based projects which have been exhibited widely. These include "Every Bus Stop from My Place to the Racetrack" 1997, and "Movies ‘til Dawn" 2009.

Stuart’s work is represented in Vancouver by the Vancouver Art Gallery’s Art Rentals and Sales, and in Calgary by Newzones Contemporary Art. His work has been exhibited at the Surrey Art Gallery, Richmond Art Gallery, Vancouver Art Gallery, Port Moody Arts Centre, Blue Sky Gallery in Portland, the City of Seattle’s Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs - Portable Collection, and the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art in California.

Stuart McCall is married, has two children, and lives south of Vancouver, where he finds considerable visual inspiration for his work. His interests outside of making images include keeping fit, and building things.

Gallery representation

Vancouver Art Gallery Sales and Rentals

Newzones, Calgary, Alberta

  • Since 2014
  • Directors: Tamar Zenith, Helen Zenith
  • Newzones

Artist Talks & Presentations

  • 2016
    Vancouver Art Gallery Art Rentals and Sales. Artist Talk, “Indistrioglyphs.”
  • 2015
    Visual Space Gallery, Vancouver, BC. Artist Talk, “Edges of Light.”
  • 2012
    Richmond Art Gallery, Richmond, BC. Artist Talk, “Fantasy Gardens.”
  • 2012
    Visual Space Gallery, Vancouver, BC. Presentation on Fine Art relationship with Commercial Photography.

Exhibitions

  • 2021
    Abandoned. Artspace Gallery, Lake Oswego, OR, Group Show.
  • 2021
    Typologies, A Study. The Commotion Gallery, Vancouver, BC, Virtual Exhibition.
  • 2021
    Typologies. Blue Sky Gallery, Pacific Northwest Photography Viewing Drawers.
  • 2020
    OCCCA@40. Orange County Center for Creative Art, CA. Group Show.
  • 2019
    Perception. Newzones Gallery, Calgary, AB. Group Show.
  • 2019
    Qualities of Light. Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona, Tucson. Group Show.
  • 2018
    Industrial Landscapes II. Capture Photography Festival, Vancouver, BC. Slideluck V, digital Projection.
  • 2017
    Industrioglyphs. Capture Photography Festival, Vancouver, BC. Public Art Installation.
  • 2017
    Perceptions. Newzones Gallery, Calgary, AB. Group show.
  • 2016
    Landscape X 7. Newzones Gallery, Calgary, AB. Group show.
  • 2016
    Industrioglyphs. Vancouver Art Gallery Art Rentals and Sales, Vancouver, BC. Solo show.
  • 2016
    tXtMe. Orange County Centre for Contemporary Art, California. Group show.
  • 2016
    Marcia Rafelman Fine Arts, Annual Group Exhibit. Toronto, Ontario. Group show.
  • 2015
    “Views From the Southbank III, Information, Objects, Mapping.” Surrey Art Gallery. Group show.
  • 2015
    Marcia Rafelman Fine Arts. Toronto, Ontario. Group show.
  • 2014
    Rogers Cup 2014. Artwork in executive suites courtesy of AGO Art Rental & Sales. Marcia Rafelman Fine Arts. Toronto, Ontario.
  • 2014
    Home. Group show. Orange County Centre for Contemporary Art. Santa Anna, CA.
  • 2014
    Refresh. Group show. Marcia Rafelman Fine Art. Toronto, ON.
  • 2014
    Port Mann Bridge. Burnaby Art Gallery, Off Site Exhibition Space. Burnaby, BC.
  • 2013
    Port Mann Bridge. Coquitlam Art Gallery, Off Site Exhibition Space. Coquitlam, BC.
  • 2013
    Ruins. Culture Series Group show, Vancouver Art Gallery, digital image projection. Vancouver, BC.
  • 2013
    City of Seattle, Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, portable exhibition. Group show. Seattle, WA.
  • 2013
    Blue Sky Gallery, Pacific Northwest Photography Viewing Drawers. Portland, OR.
  • 2012
    Orange County Centre for Contemporary Art, Subdivision. Group show. Princeton, BC.
  • 2012
    Barrister Lounge, Vancouver Courthouse, selected works. Vancouver, BC.
  • 2012
    Fantasy Gardens. Richmond Art Gallery, exhibition with Neil Wedman. Richmond, BC.
  • 2011
    Rental House. Vancouver Art Gallery, Culture Series, digital slide show. Vancouver, BC.
  • 2009
    Industrial Landscapes. SFU Gallery, slideshow in McLean Park. Vancouver, BC.
  • 2009
    Works of Man. Center for Fine Art Photography. Fort Collins, CO.
  • 2009
    Inaugural group exhibition. NYAXE Gallery. Paulo Alto, CA.
  • 2009
    Axis Exposed. Group show. Axis Contemporary Art. Fort Calgary, AB.
  • 2008
    Gasoline Romance. Group show. Canvas Gallery. Vancouver, BC.
  • 2007
    Latitude of Colour. Vancouver Art Gallery Art Rentals and Sales. Vancouver, BC.
  • 2007
    Discontinuous Spectrums. Port Moody Art Gallery. Port Moody, BC.
  • 2006
    Beyond Belief. Group show. Surrey Art Gallery. Surrey, BC.
  • 2006
    Environmental Photography International. Group show. Art Wolfe Photographic Center. Seattle, WA.
  • 2003
    Quirky People. CBC Radio 3 Web Gallery.
  • 1992
    Faces of Canada photographic exhibition
  • 1990
    ASMP Seattle Chapter group show
  • 1987
    PPABC group traveling exhibit
  • 1984
    Gamma PROLAB / client’s exhibit
  • 1982
    Student exhibition / PNE photo & travel show