March 13 – April 25, 2026
Reality to Virtual Reality
Celebrating 120 Years of Abstract Art: 1906–2026
The Haakonson Family Gallery
Opening Reception: Friday March 13h, 7 – 9 pm *
Free admission
In Reality to Virtual Reality, Edmonton-based artist Giuseppe Albi – one of the artists associated with the renowned Edmonton School of Formalism – shares his studio journey through a selection of recent abstract paintings, video works, and an immersive virtual reality experience presented via a Meta Quest VR headset.
For centuries, artists have maintained a symbiotic relationship with the materials they use. The technological advancements of the 20th century, combined with artists’ creative experimentation, have resulted in a diversity of art forms unparalleled in human history. According to Albi, two of the most significant developments of this period are the invention of acrylic paint and the emergence of digital technology.
Reality to Virtual Reality is grounded in two central considerations. First, how is the subject matter of artwork affected by technological developments? Second, how do new art forms embody the continuity – or evolution – of imagery? This multimedia exhibition features a suite of four abstract paintings inspired by organic forms, a Digital Abstraction video work, and an immersive virtual reality experience.
The works exemplify the transfer of visual content from one medium to another. Abstract colour elements from the paintings are extracted, manipulated, and combined with an assortment of objects and materials that come alive in the video works. These videos are further transformed into an immersive environment that can only be experienced through a VR headset. A Meta Quest 3 headset is used for this presentation.
The paintings and videos offer a traditional viewing experience: familiar art forms that can be shared by multiple viewers simultaneously. In contrast, the VR work represents a new visual art form presented within a fully immersive environment, offering a singular, individual experience viewable by one person at a time.
Artist Biography
Giuseppe Albi is one of Edmonton’s most active artists and cultural activists. He was associated with the Edmonton School of Formalism during the 1980s.
Born in Grimaldi, Italy, Albi immigrated with his family to Edmonton as a young child. He studied at the Alberta College of Art in Calgary (now the University of Alberta Art & Design) and at l’École des Beaux-Arts in Montréal before moving to Europe in 1970. There, he maintained studios in London and Amsterdam and exhibited at KES Mosaics Gallery in Edinburgh and Galerie de Sphinx in Amsterdam. He returned to Edmonton in 1974.
Albi’s work has been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions in public and commercial galleries across Alberta and British Columbia. In 2012, his work was included in 7 Years in the City: Art from the Art Gallery of Alberta Collection, and he also exhibited at the Community Gallery of the Earlville Opera House in Earlville, NY. His video works Digital Abstractions and his VR experiences were featured at the 2023 and 2024 WORKS Festival of Contemporary Art + Design in Edmonton.
Since the late 1960s, Albi has taught drawing and painting and has worked as a consultant, producer, and project developer for conferences, festivals, and major art events in Edmonton. He has played a foundational role in several local arts organizations and served as the founding President of Latitude 53 Society of Artists in Edmonton.
In 2007, Albi won the competition to create the Italian-Alberta Centennial Monument, now installed on the grounds of the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton. In recognition of his distinguished artistic career, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. His work is represented in numerous public and private collections across Canada and internationally.
Top Image: Colour Foils (detail) 2025; video still.
Courtesy of the artist
*Opening Recetions are for Members and Guests
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