Artist Profile

Klara Elek was born in Budapest, Hungary. After the country was invaded by Russia she emigrated to Canada with her family. They settled in Winnipeg where she attended the University of Manitoba and obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. After graduating she moved to Toronto where she continued painting and exhibiting.

For a number of years she traveled to such exotic locales as Mexico, Thailand, Bali and Costa Rica. As a result of these visually stimulating travels, her imagination was fuelled by the dream-like, mythical images that became her signature later works.

In Asia she learned about ancient cultures and rituals in Indonesian art, drama and shadow puppet plays. In these art forms she recognized Jungian archetypes, the Hero, the Villain, the Trickster, the Goddess. On her return she took part in Shamanic journeys and studied the Tarot. These characters began to appear in vibrant jungles and water gardens in paintings such as "The Hero's Journey Into the Bone Forest I and II' and "The Garden of the Goddess".

Klara, as a painter, is a visual story-teller currently working on a series of paintings and canvas folding screens. She takes the viewer via myths and visual symbols on a magical journey into worlds of her imagination where they will experience spiritual/psychological transformations and celebrations.

She invites you to learn more about her and her art here and here.