October 9- November 21, 2026
The Haakonson Family Gallery
Opening Reception *: Friday, October 9, from 7 pm to 9:30 pm
Free admission
The exhibition Urban Portraits showcases a suite of paintings by Raymond Thériault, a renowned Edmonton-based visual artist and educator whose vibrant, meticulously detailed works capture the essence of contemporary urban life. His paintings blend architectural elements – concrete and glass, brick and stonework, curbs and doorways – with the subtle presence of people, creating richly layered compositions that celebrate the energy and character of the city.
Echoing the spirit of urban scenes explored by artists associated with French Post-Impressionism and German Expressionism, Thériault’s work transforms familiar streetscapes into compelling visual experiences. Each of Thériault’s cityscapes invites viewers to step inside and explore. They are places where one longs to linger, wander, and become immersed. The exhibition includes both luminous daytime scenes and evocative nocturnal views, each capturing a fleeting moment while rewarding slow, thoughtful observation. These paintings reveal new details and relationships the longer they are contemplated. Our city, like many others, has undergone dramatic change, prompting us to ask: What have we lost? What have we gained? And what do we want our cities to look like in the future?
Artist’s Biography
Raymond Thériault is a distinguished visual artist and educator based in Edmonton. A graduate of the Department of Fine Arts at the University of Alberta, he has enjoyed a professional career spanning more than 30 years. During that time, he has presented 16 solo exhibitions and participated in numerous group and juried exhibitions. In 1994, he received First Prize in the national Visual Arts Competition presented by the Department of Canadian Heritage. A former member of the Alberta Society of Artists, where he served as both president and board member, Raymond has taught figure drawing and currently serves as a monitor for the life drawing program at Harcourt House Artist Run Centre in Edmonton. He has also illustrated bilingual textbooks in Montréal.
Raymond’s work is represented in the collections of public and commercial art galleries throughout Alberta and British Columbia, as well as in the permanent collections of major corporations, including Suncor and Canadian Utilities; professional firms such as Ernst & Young and Bennett Jones Verchère; and numerous private collections across Canada, the United States, and overseas.
Top image: Raymond Thériault – Left Turn II: The Last Migration, 2024; oil on canvas; 36” x 84”. Image courtesy of the artist.
