Katherine Ylitalo + Katie Ohe
Katie Ohe photo by Shane Arsenault

Join us for a conversation between artist Katie Ohe and curator Katherine Ylitalo of MONSOON at 6pm before the exhibition’s opening reception, 7-9pm.

Katie Ohe is considered one of Alberta’s pioneers of abstract art. Her six-decade career working in sculpture in a range of materials including steel, concrete, epoxy and chrome has spearheaded the abstract sculpture medium in Alberta. Ohe has exhibited extensively throughout Canada and internationally, and her sculptures are found in numerous public collections. Ohe has had significant positive influence as an artist, educator and philanthropist and is a fiercely beloved teacher and mentor. She has taught sculpture at the Alberta College of Art and Design since 1970, and her students include many successful and high-profile artists with international careers. Now in her 82nd year of a very diverse, creative and exceptionally giving and nurturing life, she continues to experiment and remains an influential and driving force in Alberta’s contemporary art scene.

Katherine Ylitalo is a Calgary-based curator, writer, educator, garden historian and gardener, and curator of Griffin’s MONSOON exhibition. As an independent curator, she has organized and written for exhibitions for several museums, galleries and artist-run-centres such as the Glenbow Museum, Nickle Galleries, the Art Gallery of Peterborough, Dunlop Gallery and Stride. Usually, she has a number of projects on the go. Currently, she works at Founders’ Gallery, a remote site of the University of Calgary at The Military Museums of Calgary, is curator of the art collection of Bow Valley College, Calgary, is a monthly contributor to Avenue magazine and stewards the Mike MacDonald Butterfly Garden at the Banff Centre.