About

Evan Broens, born in 1983, graduated with Distinction as a Sculpture major from the Alberta College of Art & Design in 2005. With a portfolio spanning over two decades, he has cultivated a thriving creative career marked by national and international exhibitions and residencies. Alongside his artistic pursuits, Broens brings over eight years of project management experience, overseeing the successful execution of more than thirty retail, restaurant, and commercial spaces across North America. Currently based in Vancouver, Canada, he continues to nurture and develop his studio practice at his 236 East Pender studio.

Broens' creative process involves an exploration of diverse shapes and forms, aiming to construct a unified body of work. He holds the belief that objects possess an inherent essence, driving his efforts to comprehend our relationship with them. Through his sculptures, Broens endeavors to evoke vulnerability and intrinsic logic, establishing dynamic connections with other objects and our interactions with them. His signature style exudes serenity and tranquility, reflecting a contemplative approach to sculptural expression. Broens seeks to elicit a peaceful and calming response from the audience, prioritizing the aesthetic, poetic, and introspective observation of physical forms. By maintaining simplicity in his sculptures, Broens aims to foster a broad and diverse connection with viewers.

At the heart of Broens' artistic practice lies an exploration of the aesthetic, poetic, and philosophical dimensions of sculpture. His work delves into the tranquility of observation and the profound impact of physical forms. Rooted in the belief that objects possess an intrinsic essence, Broens seeks to unravel this essence, striving to understand our existential connection with them. His sculptures articulate this concept by pursuing autonomy, eschewing external references, and presenting themselves within their own intrinsic logic.

Broens' exploration of form involves investigating a wide range of possibilities for each shape, constructing a cohesive body of work through this exploratory approach. While his practice retains elements of Formalism by integrating formal elements to achieve autonomy and self-sufficiency, it diverges from Formalist theory by infusing restrained expressive intentions into the form. Grounded in process and material, Broens' artistic practice nurtures a deep connection with the specific shapes under examination, fostering dynamic connections with other objects in the world.

Education

2005 Bachelor of Fine Arts (with Distinction), Sculpture Major, Alberta University of the Arts (formerly Alberta College of Art & Design)

Public Art

2024 - 2027 TransLink Public Art Roster - Selected Artist Participant

2022 "G" Sculpture for Giovane Cafè - 400 West Georgia, Vancouver, BC
Concept, Design, 3D Modelling, Drawing Set, Project Management, Consultant and Fabrication Coordination

2022 Retail Facade Motoretta Gelato - 1001 W Cordova, Vancouver, BC
Concept, Design, 3D Modeling, Drawing Set, Project Management, Consultant and Fabrication Coordination
2015 "String Lines" Interior Retail Installation for Oak + Fort - 150 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10012
Concept Design, 3D Modeling, Shop Drawings, Project Management, Fabrication, and Installation

Exhibitions

2023 Present Tense - group exhibition - Gibsons Public Art Gallery, Vancouver, Canada
2020 Grammar of Bone – two person exhibition – Gibsons Public Art Gallery, Vancouver, Canada
2019 The Invisible Realm of Possibility – group exhibition - Drawing Research Residency - FIAP Paris, France
2014 Post Rem - group exhibition, Burrard Arts Foundation, WAAP, Vancouver Canada
2014 Beyond the walls of intelligence, life is defined, group exhibition, Avenue Gallery, Vancouver Canada
2014 Time Place Light Smell - group exhibition, Platform Stockholm, Stockholm Sweden
2013 Hard As Soft – two person exhibition, Dynamo Arts Association, Vancouver Canada
2013 Permanent as Permanence - edition launch, WAAP, Vancouver Canada
2013 Art Toronto – Toronto International Art Fair, group exhibition, Wil Aballe Art Projects, Toronto Canada
2013 Monomania 2 – Trench Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver Canada
2013 Stenten: The Resilience of Line, Locale, and Intuition – group show, Trench Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver Canada
2012 Untitled – Drawings from Caylus, solo at window gallery, DRAWinternational, Caylus, France
2011 15th Annual Eastside Culture Crawl, open studio review, Vancouver, Canada
2008 Drawn Upon A Shoreline, solo at Bilton Contemporary Art Gallery, Red Deer, Canada
2007 Dwelling Along, group show, TRUCK Contemporary Art, Calgary
2006 Presence Affirmed, solo at Art Central Complex-Gallery 213, Calgary, Canada
2005 Kicking Stones, solo at Art Central Complex - Gallery 213, Calgary, Canada
2005 Coming Forth By Day, solo at Marion Nicoll Gallery, Calgary
2004 And Death I Think Is No Parentheses, solo at Birds and Stone Gallery, Alberta, Canada

Professional Practice Development

2015 Artist in Residence (Declined), SÍM (Samband Islenskra Myndlistarmanna), Reykjavík Iceland
2014 Artist talk, Canadian Art Foundation - Gallery Hop, Vancouver Canada
2013 Artist in Residence, The Banff Centre, “Another World in the Studio” Thematic Residency, Banff Canada
2013 All the Artists are Present, Thom Sokoloski Installation at Art Toronto, Toronto Canada
2012 Artist in Residence, DRAWinternational, Caylus France
2012 Grant, British Columbia Arts Council, Professional Development Project Assistance, Vancouver, Canada
2011 Event, Pecha Kucha #05, Artistic Practice Presentation, Whistler, Canada
2010 Assistant to Hannah Jickling, “Summerhill Revised”, Access Gallery, Vancouver, Canada
2008 Artist Talk, Bilton Contemporary Art Gallery, Red Deer, Canada
2007 ArtCity Visual Arts Festival, Programming Facilitator, Calgary, Canada
2007 Grant, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Individual Project Grant, Calgary, Canada
2006 Award, Art Central Studio Prize, Awarded One-year Studio Space, Calgary, Canada
2005 Award, Jason Lang Scholarship, Selected Recipient based on academic achievement, ACAD
2004 Award, Grain Exchange Building Award, Selected Recipient by Sculpture Faculty, ACAD
2003 Award, Jason Lang Scholarship, Selected Recipient based on academic achievement, ACAD

Publications

2024 The Enigma of Objects - Edition 3 “Records” - Curated by Prachi Cnidaria
2014 Review - “Post Rem Exhibition” - The Georgia Straight, April Issue, Robin Laurence
2013 The Dream Issue, Exhibition Catalog - “To Become Whole (The Whole Issue) The Banff Centre, Danielle St. Amour and Robin Simpson
2012 Revista Marvin 98 Magazine, Mexico
2010 “Writings 2004-2009”, self published book, Vancouver Canada
2007 N+D Issue 7 - “Structure/Anti Structure” - Published drawings
2007 Anthea Black,”Clever Architecture” FFWD Weekly
2007 Adriana Barton “Escape Clause” - Western Living
2007 Kim Neudorf, “Evan Broens at Truck - An Interview”- Beatroute
2007 Sarah Adams, “Dwelling Along” - truck.ca
2006 Canadian Art - Preview - Winter

Private Collections