Donald Andrus: The Shape of Desire

Published by: Goose Lane Editions
Pages: 140
Price: $45
ISBN: 9781773104102

Donald Andrus: The Shape of Desire is the inaugural compilation dedicated to Canada’s prolific abstractionist, Donald Andrus. For over 35 years, Andrus has defied artistic categorization, exhibiting extensively across Canadian galleries. This seminal collection features significant essays appraising his creative influence, accompanied by over eighty vibrant reproductions showcasing his abstract paintings and portraits.

Praised by Jon Tupper, former director of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Andrus’s work captivates the eye, providing a feast of optical pleasure. Contributors include notable art writers such as Roslyn Rosenfeld, Ihor Holubizky, and Pan Went, offering insightful analyses of Andrus’s diverse oeuvre.

Of particular interest are Rosenfeld’s exploration of Andrus’s early abstract work, Holubizky’s examination of his portraiture technique, and Went’s analysis of his contemporary abstract paintings. This comprehensive collection grants readers a profound understanding of Andrus’s career and influence.

 Accompanied by a major retrospective exhibition at the Confederation Centre Art Gallery in Charlottetown, this publication is an indispensable addition to any art lover’s library, offering a captivating journey through the enigmatic world of Andrus’s abstraction.

Ihor Holubizky is an art historian and senior curator. He has held several curatorial positions in public galleries, including curator at The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, Toronto, and the Art Gallery of Hamilton.

Pan Wendt has been Curator of the Confederation Centre Art Gallery since 2010. Previously a freelance curator and critic, he has written for journals such as C Magazine, Fillip, and Arts Atlantic, as well as numerous catalogue and critical essays.

Roslyn Rosenfeld taught art history for a dozen years at the University of New Brunswick. She has published reviews in Fuse and