Canadian Prophet: New retrospective mines the Apocalyptic Visions of William Kurelek

THE WALRUS
By Brett Grainger

"The Donkey Carrying God" by William Kurelek

CANADA -- William Kurelek’s commercial success was built on sweet scenes. To a public bemused by his strong religious convictions (one interested buyer said he would gladly purchase one of Kurelek’s landscapes if the artist would simply paint out the mushroom cloud), he responded clearly, “No religion: No Kurelek. And no Kurelek: No farm paintings.” He hoped eventually to devote himself entirely to religious subjects. But he remained a pragmatic prophet, striking a deal with his Toronto art dealer, Avrom Isaacs, to alternate one exhibit of “secular” works with each religious one. William Kurelek: The Messenger is the first retrospective of his art in a quarter century and the largest ever mounted. [link]