Who: Kevin McKenzie
What: Honky Tonk Chapel exhibition
Opening Reception: Wednesday, June 5, 5:00 -7:00 PM
When: May 10 to August 22, 2024 (open weekdays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM and weekends from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM)
Where: FINA Gallery in the CCS building on campus, 1148 Research Rd.
Celebrated Cree/Métis artist Kevin McKenzie will open his first exhibition in the Okanagan at the FINA Gallery on UBC Campus Friday, May 10 with an opening reception to follow on Wednesday, June 5th at 5:00pm.
The exhibition Honky Tonk Chapel curated by UBC Okanagan Gallery Curator, Dr. Stacey Koosel will feature Kevin McKenzie’s well known series of resin-cast, neon glowing buffalo skulls, in an installation which juxtaposes pop culture, muscle cars, hot rods and honky tonk bar references with sacred icons intrinsic to Indigenous traditional beliefs and spirituality, such as buffalo skulls and religious motifs.
Kevin McKenzie, 2024
McKenzie was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and is a member of the Cowessess First Nation on Treaty 4 territory. He rose to prominence in the early 2000s with his self-described ‘lowbrow’ buffalo skull series 426 Hemi (2010), Hot Rod Buffalo (2003), Red Voodoo (2010) and Immortals (2010) which were acquired by the National Gallery of Canada.
“The exhibition Honky Tonk Chapel combines some of Kevin McKenzie’s best known works with new paintings from his Indigenous comic book hero series, two of which are brand new paintings made for this exhibition, which is super exciting.” says UBC Okanagan Gallery curator Dr. Stacey Koosel.
Kevin McKenzie’s exhibition marks the fourth exhibition and collaboration between UBC Okanagan Gallery and the Indigenous Art Intensive with artists such as Krystle Silverfox, Tiffany Shaw (2023), Manuel Axel Strain (2022) and Whess Harman (2021) having summer exhibitions on UBC Okanagan campus as part of the annual Indigenous Art Intensive, that runs public programs of keynote speaker and artist talks every Wednesday from May 15th to June 12th, from 12:00 – 3:30 in the university theatre on UBC Okanagan Campus.
Kevin McKenzie’s exhibition Honky Tonk Chapel is open to the public from May 10 to August 22, at the FINA Gallery in the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies building on UBC Okanagan Campus. Join us for a free opening reception event on Wednesday June 5th at 5pm.