Irene Klar. Irene was born in Montreal in 1950 and after completing degrees in Physical Therapy and Science at McGill University, she moved to Alberta and received a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Alberta in 1977. Irene Klar was an instructor in water colours at the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Extension during 1978 – 1987 and lectured in Art History at Grant McEwen Community College in 1978.
People, their textiles, pattern decoration and colours serve as inspiration for Irene Klar. Her interest in universal design elements has taken her on far reaching travels around the world from Alaska to Australia, from Guatemala and Peru to Morocco.
These themes are incorporated into her paintings and prints, which are full of the intense colours of the marketplaces.
Irene Klar was commissioned to do the paintings for the Amnesty International Canada 1993 calendar and six for the 1994 Amnesty USA pocket calendar. In 1998, Irene Klar created an image for a poster in support of the Trans-Canada Trail.
Irene Klar’s paintings have been exhibited in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Ottawa (Canada); Palm Springs, Scottsdale, Santa Fe, Dallas, Memphis (USA); Auckland (New Zealand) and Sydney (Australia). In 1998, three of her etchings were selected for the Agart World Print Festival, Slovenia.