Kal Opre

Kal Opré was born in Hungary, brought up and educated there in the classical cultural traditions of Europe. In 1949 he immigrated to Canada and settled in North Vancouver, B.C.
After a succesful career in the graphic arts, publishing, engineering and cultural resources development in Canada and abroad, he retired in 1985.
An active artist throughout his life, Kal Opré has taught drawing and painting privately, and in various educational institutions on Vancouver's North Shore since 1988.

“When drawing or painting the figure, I’m always thrilled by the emotional complexity of my first touch upon the canvas. I find this moment to be the most satisfying and, at the same time, the most terrifying one in the act of making art. For this touch immediately augurs the success or failure of my intent of creating art out of an image not yet fully perceived (…) it satisfies my psychological need to create (…) it commits me to continue the inevitable struggle towards a satisfactory conclusion: to capture the elusive magic of the figure. I have strived to capture the essence of the human form in line, tone and colour (…) I constantly experiment with media, style and technique (…) I am deeply satisfied, when my work reflects my creed: the elegant line, less is better than more, and there is mystery and there is passion.”

1979 solo The Engineers’ Club, Vancouver, BC
1979 solo Queen Charlotte City, Q.C.I
1982 solo The Engineers’ Club, Vancouver, BC
1985 solo Harrison Galleries, Vancouver, BC
1986 solo The Engineers’ Club, Vancouver, BC
1986 group, juried EROTICA Buttler Galleries, Vancouver, BC 1986 solo Sharlie Galleries, North Vancouver, BC
1987 solo KLONDIKE BC. Yukon Chamber of Mines, Vancouver, BC 1987 group, juried WEST COAST LANDSCAPES Sharlie Galleries, North Vancouver, BC
1988 solo FIRST POUR BC. Yukon Chamber of Mines, Vancouver, BC 1988 solo EDGEMONT VILLAGE North Vancouver District Gallery, BC 1989 solo Italian Cultural Centre Gallery, Vancouver, BC 1989 solo North Vancouver Civic Centre, BC
1989 solo BC. Yukon Chamber of Mines, Vancouver, BC
1989 solo Seymour Art Gallery, North Vancouver, BC
1990 solo Il Barino Galleria, Vancouver, BC
1990 solo BC. Yukon Chamber of Mines, Vancouver, BC
1991 group, juried THIS WOUNDED EARTH Italian Cult. Centre, Vancouver, BC
1991 solo WHILE IN ITALY Il Barino Galleria, Vancouver, BC 1991 group, juried Centennial Theatre, North Vancouver, BC 1991 solo GOLDRUSH BC. Yukon Chamber of Mines, Vancouver, BC
1992 group, juried SONGS OF INNOCENCE Gallery Alpha, West Vancouver, BC
1992 group, juried Georgia’s Studio Gallery, West Vancouver, BC 1992 gallery artists Georgia’s Studio Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1995 solo North Vancouver District Gallery
1995 solo North Vancouver City Gallery
1996 VIA NOVA group North Vancouver District Gallery, BC
1996 group Marika, Banff, Alta
1997 VIA NOVA group North Vanc. District Gallery, BC
1997 group Crown Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1998 VIA NOVA group Silk Purse Gallery, West Vancouver. BC 1998 group NORTH SHORE OPTIMIST’S ART SHOW
1998 gallery artists Graham Sayell Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1998 VIA NOVA group Frewer Residence, West Vancouver, BC
1999 group Silk Purse Gallery, West Vancouver, BC
2000 solo THE FIGURE, IN TONE, LINE AND COLOR at Simon Fraser University Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2000 solo THE FIGURE IN MINING Can. Inst. of Mining & Metallurgy, Calgary, Alta
2001 group NUDE - GO FIGURE Stone Images Gallery, North Vancouver, BC
2002 solo A RETROSPECTION Silk Purse Gallery, West Vancouver, BC
2002 gallery artists Gala Galleries, North Vancouver, BC
2003 group, juried WOMAN, IN THE EYE OF THE ARTIST Bfly Atelier, Vancouver, BC
2003 gallery artists Gala Galleries, North Vancouver, BC
2004 group, juried A STUDY OF THE HUMAN FORM CityScape. North Vancouver