Graham Krenz
Wild Moon Cat
July 4–August 9, 2025
Sylvie Bélanger Gallery

Opening Reception: July 4, 7–10pm
Artist Talk: July 5, 2pm

Graham Krenz uses wood and other three-dimensional materials to reference unstructured play and the protective nature of cherished objects and icons. His work frequently incorporates toys and other items that serve as focal points for imagination, with a particular focus on mass-produced and affordable objects that speak to issues of class and value. By drawing on ubiquitous icons such as plastic swimming pools and sandboxes, Krenz opens up space for broad dialogue.

“My work frequently takes the form of sculptural objects, yet I feel drawn to working in less conventional ways. Work that must be worn has created new perspectives for me to view my own work, and to use my work as a lens itself. Sculpture that enables performance and movement has become a major component of my work—I feel the need to participate in my own work more directly, not just in the creation of it. I don’t want the conversation to end the moment a sculpture leaves my studio.

I have begun to include references to the aesthetics of sensory organs, tongues and eyes in particular. Their varied shapes and functions serve as inspiration for texture and shape. Representing the tools we use to interact with reality is critical to me, they are devices that build memories. The most vivid recollections start from a scent or taste, but the act of tasting is secondary by nature, a means to an end. Sensory organs are the boundaries of our personal universe.

Familiar objects are mythologized, transformed from inanimate to living beings. An allegorical approach to personal history allows simple moments to loom large, referencing the significance we associate with our pasts. By emphasizing vulnerability and trust as the opposing forces of childhood, my work approaches memory as a source of power.”

Graham Krenz is a sculpture artist working with wood as a primary medium and collaborator. His practice seeks to analyze the sensation of memory and the exaggerated way those moments present themselves when recalled. Since receiving his undergraduate degree in drawing from the Alberta University of the Arts, he has participated in group shows at Primary Projects, Hawkins HQ, Collarworks, Galerie Nicolas Robert, Truck Gallery, and Untitled Art Society. He is currently pursuing his MFA in Visual Arts at the Mason Gross conservatory at Rutgers University.

Krenz’s work has been generously supported by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation, and the Conseil des arts de Montréal.