Roland Brener
Encyclopedia
Roland Brener was a South African-born Canadian artist.
He studied at St Martin's School of Art, now Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
, under Anthony Caro
and taught at St. Martin's, the University of California, Santa Barbara
and the University of Iowa
before being appointed Associate Professor at the University of Victoria in British Columbia in 1974. He retired from teaching in 1997 and continued to live and work in Victoria, Canada until his death in 2006.
Brener's early practice grew from the formalist innovations of his contemporaries at St. Martin's. During the 1980s his work developed a more playful individuality as he began to incorporate consumer items, most often toys, and experiment with kinetic sculpture driven by electronic motors or computers. In his later work he began to use the computer as a design tool to produce fantastical distortions of everyday images and objects which were then fabricated in wood or synthetic materials.
During his lifetime Roland Brener was one of the most distinguished sculptors and art educators in Canada and his work is represented in most of the major public collections in the country, including the National Gallery of Canada
in Ottawa. He also represented Canada at the Biennal Internacional de São Paulo in 1987 and the Venice Biennale
in 1988. More recently, Brener exhibited Swinger at Deitch Projects
(2000) in New York, and in Part Two, a duo exhibition with Mowry Baden
, at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (2006).
His public sculpture Radioville, a re-working of his earlier sculptures Endsville and Capital Z, was installed in 2005 on the site of an old CBC radio-antenna tower central Toronto
.
He studied at St Martin's School of Art, now Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London. The school has an outstanding international reputation, and is considered one of the world's leading art and design institutions...
, under Anthony Caro
Anthony Caro
Sir Anthony Alfred Caro, OM, CBE is an English abstract sculptor whose work is characterised by assemblages of metal using 'found' industrial objects.-Background and early life:...
and taught at St. Martin's, the University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
and the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
before being appointed Associate Professor at the University of Victoria in British Columbia in 1974. He retired from teaching in 1997 and continued to live and work in Victoria, Canada until his death in 2006.
Brener's early practice grew from the formalist innovations of his contemporaries at St. Martin's. During the 1980s his work developed a more playful individuality as he began to incorporate consumer items, most often toys, and experiment with kinetic sculpture driven by electronic motors or computers. In his later work he began to use the computer as a design tool to produce fantastical distortions of everyday images and objects which were then fabricated in wood or synthetic materials.
During his lifetime Roland Brener was one of the most distinguished sculptors and art educators in Canada and his work is represented in most of the major public collections in the country, including the National Gallery of Canada
National Gallery of Canada
The National Gallery of Canada , located in the capital city Ottawa, Ontario, is one of Canada's premier art galleries.The Gallery is now housed in a glass and granite building on Sussex Drive with a notable view of the Canadian Parliament buildings on Parliament Hill. The acclaimed structure was...
in Ottawa. He also represented Canada at the Biennal Internacional de São Paulo in 1987 and the Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
in 1988. More recently, Brener exhibited Swinger at Deitch Projects
Deitch Projects
Deitch Projects was a contemporary art gallery in New York City founded by Jeffrey Deitch.-History:Since opening with a performance by Vanessa Beecroft in February 1996, the gallery has presented nearly one hundred and eighteen solo exhibitions and projects, ten thematic exhibitions, and a few...
(2000) in New York, and in Part Two, a duo exhibition with Mowry Baden
Mowry Baden
Mowry Baden is an American sculptor who has lived and worked in Canada since 1975.-Background and Art Practice:A 1954 graduate of Redondo Union High School in Redondo Beach, California, Baden studied at Pomona College and Stanford University...
, at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (2006).
His public sculpture Radioville, a re-working of his earlier sculptures Endsville and Capital Z, was installed in 2005 on the site of an old CBC radio-antenna tower central Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.