Knowledge Made Concrete

Shortly before becoming head of the institution that ultimately became Alberta University of the Arts (AUArts), artist J.W.G. Macdonald offered a subtle description of art as “knowledge made concrete.” This expression captures the essence of art education, where students and instructors collaborate to transform abstract ideas into tangible forms and experiences. Through traditional techniques, experimental approaches, and the exploration of unconventional materials, concepts are brought to life in the forms of shapes, textures, and colours. Macdonald’s insight also highlights the connection between art and public collections, like that of the Art Gallery of Alberta (AGA), which preserves works by numerous influential instructors, professors, and alumni of AUArts. 

As Alberta’s two oldest cultural institutions, AUArts and the AGA have enjoyed a century-long partnership. Their reciprocal relationship has played a key role in shaping Alberta's artistic landscape. The exhibition Knowledge Made Concrete draws from the AGA’s Permanent Collection, showcasing works by AUArts alumni and faculty. The exhibition also features new works by recent alumni, offering a reflection on the past while also looking to the future. Collectively, these works show us how AUArts artists see and comprehend society's complex problems and offer solutions through their diverse mediums and distinct expressions.    

This exhibition is just one in a series of AGA anniversary exhibitions that have featured hundreds of Alberta artists and is the first in a new series by AUArts, symbolizing a century of shared influence and cultural development. Through Knowledge Made Concrete, both institutions celebrate their collective legacy of fostering creativity and shaping Alberta’s vibrant art community. 

Organized by the Art Gallery of Alberta and the Illingworth Kerr Gallery in celebration of the AGA’s and Alberta University of the Arts’ 100th Anniversaries, respectively in 2024 and 2026. Curated by Tak Pham and Lindsey Sharman.