​Contemporary South African Art

John Sabourin was born and raised in the small northern community of Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories in Canada. John began experimenting with acrylics in 1989, but became serious about pursuing a career as an artist in 1995 after completing an art course in the Northwest Territories. He decided to continue formal studies of art and graduated in 1999 from the Victoria College of Art in Victoria, British Columbia.

 

John is both a painter and a sculptor. In his paintings he explores the relationship between human beings and nature. As a carver he feels close to his Dene cultural identity as he looks for stories or legends to bring to life in stone.

 

John has exhibited his carvings and paintings at Walkabout Art Gallery in Sydney, Australia in November, 2002, Arctic Artistry in New York June, 2002, The Great Northern Arts Festival in Inuvik, Northwest Territories in 2002 and 2001. In 1998, his carvings were exhibited at the "Spirits in the Sun" exhibit in Scottsdale, Arizona and in 1995, his carvings were part of a group exhibit in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

 

In 1999, along with two other artists, John completed a five foot marble sculpture that celebrated the cultural diversity of Canada's North. John has sold his paintings to private collectors in Canada and the United States.