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“His timeless paintings and drawings resonate with people, so much so that when
they purchase one, they tend to want to keep it; they enjoy having it around and
never tire of its image. Very few of his pieces come up for auction”.
In 1957 Wim was awarded the Dante Alighieri gold
medal by the Fine Arts Society of Florence
Wim was born in Germiston, South Africa on the 22nd of February 1927.
Wim received his Fine Arts MA degrees from the University of
Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, and did post-graduate work at the
University of Edinburg, Scotland, and at the University of Perugia, Italy.
Wim Blom taught at the University of the Witwatersrand and at the
Johannesburg School of Art.
Trained as an art historian he held the post of Research Curator at the
National Gallery of Canada and subsequently that of Curatorial
Administrator.
After leaving the museum world Wim Blom dedicated himself exclusively
to painting. For a number of years he lived in Italy and Spain.
Wim Blom was a devoted traveller and an inveterate reader in several
languages.
Wim Blom’s work is represented in public collections, such as the
National Gallery of Canada, the South African National Gallery in
numerous corporate and private collections in Canada, France, Great
Britain, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand,
Poland, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, and the U.S.A.
Wim Blom has exhibited internationally.
Wim Blom’s work is precise, of a timeless quality. He adopts an
intensely realistic approach to painting still lifes and images of
uninhabited interiors, exploring the intrigue of spaces.
Click to enlarge click again to minimize.
(†) Willem Adriaan Blom 22nd Feb.1927 - 18th Jan.2021
OBITUARY
Click to enlarge click again to minimize.
Wim Blom
WB-07-J-2023
Voted Best Private Art Gallery of Vancouver
Realism in painting is a movement that is deeply divided in its outlook. It embraces many contradictory aspirations and has generated much
controversy even in its own ranks. For these reasons, Wim Blom, who paints in a style which must be called Realist, mistrusts fashion and the
vagaries of critical taste. He has succeeded in maintaining his independence from the principal trends that can at present be included under
the heading of Realism.
Wim Blom’s work is conceived for private contemplation and makes it special appeal to those who wish to savour at close range the artist’s
particular way with form, colour, texture and light. If the size of his work invites intimate, meditative inspection, his subject matter - single
objects, still life, interiors - extend an analogous invitation. In this patient, selected and passionate search, the realism of his paintings is
faithful to the object represented, but it transcends reality and is submerged beneath poetic transformation.
Wim Blom’s training as an art historian has made him acutely aware of history, it’s meaning and heritage. The methods of historical research
instilled in him have blended with the connoisseurship he acquired as the research curator at the National Gallery of Canada. This conjunction
informs his work as a painter.
His paintings and drawings represent a quiet, unpublished vanguard of their own, so radically steeped in tradition as to be new and offers a
fresh artistic experience. In the context of contemporary art it is fascinating to see how Wim Blom’s exploration of the past produces results
with an emphatically modern flavour.
THE BEAUTY OF STILLNESS
Wim Blom has exhibited internationally.
His work is represented in public collections such as the
National Gallery of Canada, the South African National
Gallery, in numerous corporate collections and in private
collections in Canada, France, Great Britain, Germany,
Israel, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland,
South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and the U.S.A.
Click to enlarge click again to minimize.
(†) Willem Adriaan Blom 22nd Feb.1927 - 18th Jan.2021
Wim passed away in his sleep on Salt Spring Island, British
Columbia, Canada. OBITUARY
Click to enlarge click again to minimize.
Voted Best Private Art Gallery of Vancouver
Realism in painting is a movement that is deeply divided
in its outlook. It embraces many contradictory
aspirations and has generated much controversy even in
its own ranks. For these reasons, Wim Blom, who paints
in a style which must be called Realist, mistrusts fashion
and the vagaries of critical taste. He has succeeded in
maintaining his independence from the principal trends
that can at present be included under the heading of
Realism.
Wim Blom’s work is conceived for private contemplation
and makes it special appeal to those who wish to savour
at close range the artist’s particular way with form,
colour, texture and light. If the size of his work invites
intimate, meditative inspection, his subject matter -
single objects, still life, interiors - extend an analogous
invitation. In this patient, selected and passionate
search, the realism of his paintings is faithful to the
object represented, but it transcends reality and is
submerged beneath poetic transformation.
Wim Blom’s training as an art historian has made him
acutely aware of history, it’s meaning and heritage. The
methods of historical research instilled in him have
blended with the connoisseurship he acquired as the
research curator at the National Gallery of Canada. This
conjunction informs his work as a painter.
His paintings and drawings represent a quiet,
unpublished vanguard of their own, so radically steeped
in tradition as to be new and offers a fresh artistic
experience. In the context of contemporary art it is
fascinating to see how Wim Blom’s exploration of the
past produces results with an emphatically modern
flavour.
Wim Blom
THE BEAUTY OF STILLNESS
WB-07-J-2023
“His timeless paintings and drawings resonate with people, so
much so that when they purchase one, they tend to want to
keep it; they enjoy having it around and never tire of its
image. Very few of his pieces come up for auction”.
In 1957 Wim was awarded the
Dante Alighieri Gold medal by the
Fine Arts Society of
Florence.
Wim Blom’s work is precise, of a timeless quality.
He adopts an intensely realistic approach to painting still
lifes and images of uninhabited interiors, exploring the
intrigue of spaces. He received his Fine Arts degrees from
the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, and
did post-graduate work at the University of Edinburg,
Scotland, and at the University of Perugia, Italy.
Blom taught at the University of the Witwatersrand and at
the Johannesburg School of Art. After emigrating to
Canada, he was a curator at the National Gallery of
Canada. After leaving the museum world, Blom gave his
full attention to his painting. He has exhibited
internationally. His work is represented in public
collections, such as the National Gallery of Canada and
the South African National Gallery, in numerous corporate
and private collections in Canada, France, Great Britain,
Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, New
Zealand, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and the
U.S.A. Wim Blom lives and works on Salt Spring Island,
British Columbia, Canada.
