About

Artist Statement

I make massive, colourful abstract paintings by injecting fluid paint to form vibrant, cellular structures. My work is inspired by the intricate inner workings of our bodies and the beautiful patterns of life at a microscopic level.

When people stand in front of these huge canvases, I don't want to tell them what to see. I want them to stop in their tracks, feel something deeply personal, and find their own meaning in my art.

I create these large-scale experiences because art should be a mirror for whatever the viewer needs to feel in that exact moment.

Biography

Kim Hancock has maintained a full-time independent studio practice for over thirty years, placing more than 5,000 original works in private and corporate collections across ten countries.

She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Printmaking from the University of British Columbia (First Class Honours, 1985) and completed graduate studies in lithography, ceramic sculpture, and painting at the Instituto Allende in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. She has held faculty and curatorial appointments in Mexico, Japan, and Greece, and taught visiting students from the Rhode Island School of Design and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Since 2024, her studio practice has narrowed to a single focus: monumental, museum-scale abstract expressionist paintings built on proprietary medium injection and structural canvas techniques. Her work has been exhibited at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Mackenzie Art Gallery, and in solo and group exhibitions across Canada, Europe, and Mexico.

In 2026, she was selected as a finalist in The People's Artist International Contemporary Art Competition.

She lives and works on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

Education & Academic Credentials

Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) — 1st Class Honors

University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC

 Graduate Studies & Specialized Studio Work

Specializations: Lithography & Sculptural Ceramics

Instituto Allende | San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Exhibitions

2026 — The People's Artist, International Contemporary Art Competition — Finalist
1995 — Art in Bloom, Mackenzie Art Gallery, Regina, SK
1995 — Bazzart (Juried Exhibition), Mackenzie Art Gallery, Regina, SK
1994 — Gallery Members' Show & Sale, Rosemont Art Gallery, Regina, SK
1992 — Group Exhibition Series, "The Bridge" Artists' Co-op, Regina, SK
1991 — Friendship Exhibition, Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan
1990 — Deseos (Two-Woman Show), Lahania Gallery, Rhodes, Greece
1989 — Maestros Installed (Faculty Exhibition), Galeria Pergola, Instituto Allende, Mexico
1988 — Open Studio / Aspects of Mexico (Solo Exhibition), Vancouver, BC
1988 — Environmental Installation, Galeria Pergola, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
1985 — B.F.A. Graduation Show, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
1984 — Third Year Printmaking Show, Faculty Club, UBC, Vancouver, BC

Professional Appointments & Institutional Experience

Founder & Principal Artist — Arts Afire Gallery & Studio, Coombs, BC — 2001–Present
Founder & Director — Potters & Dotters Gallery & Studio, Parksville, BC — 1995–2000
Resident Artist & Studio Instructor — Neil Balkwill Civic Arts Centre, Regina, SK — 1992–1995
Managed the Ceramic Department and Visual Arts printmaking studios. Instructed adults and children in sculptural ceramics, wheel-thrown pottery, calligraphy, experimental printmaking, and fabric design.
Faculty Instructor (Ceramics, Collage & Multi-Media) — Instituto Allende, Mexico — 1988–1989
Instructed visiting semester students from RISD and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Fine Art Consultant — Yumeshin Gallery, Tokyo, Japan — 1991
Gallery Director — Lahania Gallery, Rhodes, Greece — 1990
Art Instructor (Classroom In-Service) — Mackenzie Art Gallery, Regina, SK — 1992
Continuing Education Instructor (Life Drawing & Painting) — Vancouver School Board, BC — 1988–1989

 Fine Art Instructor (Ceramics & Mixed Media)

Instituto Allende | San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (Pre-1992)

 Taught multi-disciplinary studio courses in ceramics and mixed media for international student cohorts, bridging technical craft with contemporary visual arts.

 Resident Artist & Studio Instructor

Neil Balkwill Civic Arts Centre | Regina, SK (1992 – 1995)

 Managed daily studio operations, equipment safety, and layout optimization for both the Ceramic Arts and Visual Arts/Printmaking departments.

 Developed comprehensive public studio programming and spearheaded local cultural marketing initiatives.

 Taught masterclasses and advanced workshops in sculptural ceramics, wheel-thrown pottery, and multi-media visual arts.

 Fine Art Instructor & Gallery Docent

MacKenzie Art Gallery | Regina, SK (1992)

 Designed, curated, and delivered public educational workshop programming and interactive studio sessions directly tied to major gallery exhibitions.

 Served as an institutional docent, conducting critical analysis, facilitating public engagement, and translating complex curatorial concepts for diverse audiences.

Gallery Leadership & Core Practice

 Founder & Principal Owner

Arts Afire Gallery & Studio | Coombs, BC

 Establish and sustain a prominent local gallery footprint on Vancouver Island, acting as principal curator and primary artist.

 Manage all gallery inventory, public programming, community exhibitions, and specialized workshops—including the annual Play with Paint free summer community sessions.

 Contemporary Fine Artist

Abstract Painting Studio | Coombs, BC (Current)

 Specialize in large-scale abstract canvases exploring biological ecosystems, vibrant cellular structures, and the inner workings of the body.

 Developed a distinct fluid-injection technique, utilizing large-bore needles and syringes to introduce media under pressure through plastic membranes, creating complex, pressurized organic forms.

 Studio Ceramicist & Sculptor

Independent Studio Practice | Canada (30-Year Tenure)

 Maintained a prolific, highly successful multi-disciplinary studio practice spanning three decades, producing and placing approximately 5,000 original works into global collections.

 Executed a diverse portfolio encompassing functional pottery and standalone fine art sculptures.

Permanent Collections

Works held in private and corporate collections in:
Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Greece, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Japan, Mexico, Germany, and Spain.

Selected Milestones & Recognition

Quarter-Finalist – People’s Artist 2026 Global Fine Art Competition (Consistently ranked in top tier of competitive group).

 Artist-in-Residence – Solo Art Intensive & Creative Retreat | Tairua, New Zealand (Early 2026).

 Permanent Collections – Artworks held in numerous private, public, and corporate collections across Canada, the United States, Mexico, and internationally.