An exhibition in Gallery I, August 1 – September 4, 2026

Artist Reception: Saturday August 1, 2pm-4pm

From August 1 to September 4, Sivarulrasa Gallery is delighted to present MICHAEL PITTMAN: DARK LANDS AND DISTANT SHORES, a new body of work by Newfoundland-based artist Michael Pittman, inspired by his recent residency at a former military installation in Donegal, Ireland.

“Much of my work for the past two decades has been informed by a relationship with the physical environment and culture of Newfoundland and Labrador”, he says. “This preoccupation, in fact, began during my studies in Ireland nearly twenty years ago.” The artist draws many parallels between the harsh coastal environment in both locations, and the resilience of residents in the face of adversity. While acknowledging his status as a “visitor”, his explorations delve into regional folklore and economic hardships, uncovering the secret narratives and hidden histories which inform regional identity.

Michael Pittman’s recent work visually explores the impact of trauma and grief through landscape. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Memorial University, and a practice-led research Masters degree on the visual culture of Newfoundland and Labrador from the Waterford Institute of Technology in Ireland. In 2012, The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery curated a significant solo exhibition of his artwork comprised of over 5 years of visual explorations. In 2013 he was a semi-finalist for the Sobey Art Award, Canada’s pre-eminent award for contemporary Canadian art and, in 2014, his work was included in a comprehensive exhibition of Newfoundland and Labrador artists at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. His work was exhibited in Venice, Italy as part of the Benetton Foundation’s Imago Mundi collection at the 2017 Venice Biennale, and in 2018 his work was included in Future Possible, an ambitious exhibition which culminated in the first major art historical survey of the province. In 2021, he was invited to participate in the Bonavista Biennale alongside some of the most exciting names in contemporary art. Over the past decade, Michael Pittman has been the recipient of multiple grants and awards for his artwork. His works are held in many private and public collections, including The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery, the City of St. John’s, the Waterford Institute of Technology, and Memorial University.

The artist gratefully acknowledges the support of ArtsNL, Artlink (Donegal, Ireland), and Crux Art Inc. (NL, Canada) in the creation of this artwork.

Artist Reception: Saturday August 1, 2pm-4pm. Artist Michael Pittman will be in attendance.

Contact the Gallery: For available works, call us at 613-256-8033 or email info@sivarulrasa.com, or visit our Virtual Gallery.