For families in Canada and the USA, Jack Grunsky is a well-known name as an award-winning recording artist and children’s performer and like many musicians he has pursued a second career in the visual arts spanning a period of 35 years. After finishing High School in Toronto in 1964 he returned to his native Austria for art studies at the The Academy of Arts in Vienna. He embarked on numerous travels throughout Austria, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Sicily and Morocco where he absorbed the local art, architecture and music. 1967 he undertook an extended visit to Paris to study the Impressionists.
Simultaneously, during the years of 1966 – 1974, he launched a successful career as a performing singer/song-writer and recording artist releasing 10 LP’s. In 1974 he returned to Canada with his family and now lives back in Toronto. He has augmented his performing, recording and painting activities with painting classes at Three Schools. As a musician he developed a keen interest in music for children, recording 12 CD’s, and has since become a leading figure in this field, claiming 3 Juno Awards for Best Children’s Album. Lately he has also become involved with a number of jazz artists’ productions and in 2006 he released his own first NuJazz recording, ‘Coastlines’ and more recently another adult contemporary - jazz-a-nova CD, ‘Room To Move’.
As a visual artist, he continues to paint and exhibits his works regularly. For circa 20 years his preferred medium has been oil sticks, oil pastels, acrylics and mixed media. Jack’s art has been show-cased on CD covers, arts programs and posters. He has also been honoured with the City Of Toronto Purchase Award and many of his works have been acquired by corporations and private collectors.
He works out of his studio in Toronto.
In Montreal he is represented by Shayna Laing
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2006 Artist studio home show
2004 Number Nine Studio Gallery - Toronto
2000 Tusk Gallery – Queen St. W. Toronto
2000 Laidlaw Hall – Living Arts Centre, Mississauga, Ontario
1999 Here & Now Gallery - Toronto
1998 Mövenpick Gallery - York Street - Toronto
1997 Here & Now Gallery- Toronto
1995 Gallerie in der Schmiede - Hörsching, Austria
1995 Here & Now Gallery - Toronto
1993 Here & Now Gallery - Toronto
1991 Mövenpick Gallery - York Street - Toronto
1990 Earlscourt Gallery - Hamilton
1990 Oakham House Gallery - Ryerson University - Toronto
1990 Here & Now Gallery - Toronto
1990 Bolton Library Gallery - Bolton, Ontario
1989 Here & Now Gallery - Toronto
1988 Justina M. Barnicke Gallery - Hart House U.of T. - Toronto
1987 Here & Now Gallery - Toronto
1986 Gallerie im Hofkabinet - Linz, Austria
1977 Gallerie Herzog - Vienna, Austria
1977 Gallerie Feichtinger - Linz, Austria
SELECTED GROUP SHOWS
2008 ‘No Slouch’ - Modern Weave Gallery - Toronto
1999 Ashton-Evicta Gallery - Toronto
1998 Studio 21 Gallery - Halifax, NS
1997 Riverdale Art Show - Toronto
1989 John Simpson House Art Show - Toronto
1988 First Impressions Gallery - Toronto
1987 O'Keefe Centre Foyer Exhibition - Toronto
1987 John Simpson House Art Show - Toronto
1984 Studio 620 - Toronto
1983 Art Invesco - Toronto
1982 Ybbs Stadthalle Art Show - Ybbs, Austria
AWARDS, COMMISSIONS & WORKS IN COLLECTIONS
Ministry Of Culture Canada
Market Gallery - City Of Toronto Archives purchase award
Centenary Health Centre Foundation - Farano,Green - Strategies International Mollenhauer
Davis & Henderson - Mövenpick - Kulturfabrik,Vienna
CD cover art for Manteca -Nonet
CD cover art for Prologue To The Performing Arts - Schoolyard Jam
CD cover for Chris McKhool - Turtle Island
CD cover art to all (8) Jack Grunsky children's recordings
Art for 3 program covers - O'Keefe Centre, 1996 winter, spring & summer issues
Poster art for Mississauga International Children's Festival 1996,1997,1998,1999,2000
Program cover art for Prologue To The Performing Arts catalogue
Panels chosen as stage design for Toronto Dance theatre production
Cover art for Moyer's catalogue
CD cover art for Larry Folk
Private collectors in Canada, USA, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Japan, South Africa, Italy