Lee Matasi Gallery

About the Lee Matasi Gallery

Diploma students at the Ottawa School of Art are independent, strong-willed and determined. Their determination has led them to establish a non-profit, student-run gallery. This charming space is located at the front of the building to the right of the main entrance. The gallery gives third-year Diploma students an opportunity to exhibit their work in an attractive, public and high traffic space. OSA students go beyond the call by contributing to Ottawa’s artistic community through creating, promoting and exhibiting their works in the Lee Matasi Gallery.

 

Lee Matasi, 1981-2005

The student gallery is named in honor of 2005 Diploma graduate, Lee Matasi. Lee passed away suddenly on December 3, 2005. He was the victim in a fatal shooting in Vancouver, British Columbia. As a rapidly ascending artist and popular skateboarder, his legacy continues at Leeside Skateboarding Park in Vancouver and at the Lee Matasi Gallery in Ottawa. Lee adored the OSA, its community and the opportunities it offered.
Here are Lee’s words:

“During my time at the Ottawa School of Art I have learned many things, some simple lessons such as trying new forms of art and the notion of producing as much as possible with the goal of experimentation and not worrying about the final outcome… My art has evolved through to abstraction, which has been the most gratifying to develop.”

 

In 2006, after renovations to the space, the gallery opened with a memorial exhibition of Lee Matasi’s paintings. Those who knew and respected Lee were on hand for the opening event. Visitors and collectors of Lee’s paintings paid tribute to him in the company of Lee’s mother, Susan Jessop, and a large gathering of people from the arts community. Also in 2006, Ms Jessop established a scholarship available to OSA third year students titled, The Lee Matasi Memorial Scholarship.

 

In 2007, it was established that the gallery will serve principally students who have completed at least one of the two apprenticeship requirements for all graduating OSA students. The apprenticeship courses offer OSA students a unique one-to-one learning experience with established artists reputed in specific disciplines or mediums who teach in the school or work as artists in the region or elsewhere. This gallery opportunity permits OSA students the completion of their project in a professional manner.

 

It is important to have a student-run gallery for the creative development of the students themselves. Being an artist is understanding, through the experience and manipulation of materials, how to communicate in a visual way. Communication for an artist happens in the studio and is completed by the exhibition of the works in a public forum. Exhibiting the artwork resulting from the apprenticeships completes the mentoring experience for the student and enriches the creative life of the school. Students learn how to be a professional from A to Z.

 

Solo Exhibition: Pulse by Patricia Kenny

Since 1983, the Ottawa School of Art has been developing its pre-professional fine arts program. The most recent addition to its long history of invention is the Lee Matasi Gallery. What is most important about a space expressly for students is not only its location and charm but also its function of introducing OSA student work to the greater arts community. Having a place for students to show serves the purpose of offering the viewer an opportunity to reflect on what is fresh and vibrant coming out of the school.

 

 


For current exhibition information click here

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