Bill McCarroll
Bill McCarroll’s paintings and prints show his interest in the procedural based art of post-minimalism – paint applied layer by layer on canvas to build textured surfaces, sometimes employing corrugated cardboard, in an attempt to maintain perfect control, leaving as few physical traces of the artist’s hand as possible. The artist also has an orientation with Pop Art’s appropriation or referencing as seen in his editioned, hand colored silkscreen and lithographic prints – the attempt to bridge the gap that otherwise separates high art from mass culture. Born in California, McCarroll’s work bears the imprint of his admiration for the mechanisms and inclinations of the art sprung out of the sixties. However, his imagery and presentation maintains an exploration in contemporary life and its constructs.
Recent Artwork
Video Interviews
Artist Information
Billy McCarroll played competitively in the sport of golf during his youth in Santa Barbara, California. Receiving a golf scholarship to the California State University, McCarroll changed his direction and left with an MA in Visual Art in 1969.The multi media artist has spent that last 30 years as an instructor, artist and jazz musician at the University of Lethbridge, Alberta Canada. In 1983, McCarroll came upon the 1953 Dell paperback edition of Sam Snead’s Natural Golf, a how to book of instructions from the famous golfer which became an ongoing influence in the artistic course of McCarroll’s art. Through the artist’s forays into eccentric abstraction and structural-procedural geometric abstraction, McCarroll’s appropriations of the rough graphics and text from the book allows the artist to preserve his reverence of the game of golf while balancing it with a subtle sense of humor, giving his work namely a unique visual presentation.
BILLY J. MCCARROLL
Born: 1937 Santa Barbara, California USA
1971-1995 Professor of Art University of Lethbridge
2000- Present Professor Emeritus University of Lethbridge
Residence: Lethbridge, Alberta Canada
Education
B.A. California State University, San Francisco 1967
M.A. California State University, Humboldt 1969
Solo Exhibitions
2023 Recent Works, CASA Art Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta
2022 The Golf Lesson Continues, Edge Gallery, Canmore, Alberta
2022 Fiolds/Cover Up Series, Trianon Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta
2022 RAG/Cover Up Series, Norberg Hall Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
2019 Aftermath, Jarvis Hall Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
2017 Return/nruteR, Trianon Art Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta
2016 Notations, Jarvis Hall Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
2013 Pablo’s Grid/Dropcloth, Jarvis Hall Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
2012 Billy J. McCarroll Survey 1974-2011, Jarvis Hall Fine Art, Calgary, Alberta
2011 How To Play a Winning Game Your Way: A Survey 1971-2011, Southern Alberta Art Gallery, Lethbridge, AB
2005 Bill McCarroll, Golf Lesson, Jennifer Kostuik Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
2002 Several works are featured at the Angus Glen Golf Club, Markham, Ontario, site of the 2002 Canadian Open.
2002 Fore, Jennifer Kostuik Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2002 New Works, Paul Kuhn Gallery, Calgary, AB
2002 The Golf Lesson, Appleton Museum, Ocala, Florida
2000 Forewarning, Trianon Art Gallery, Lethbridge, AB
1993 How to Play a Winning Game Your Natural Way: A Continuing Metaphor,
1983-1993, Sir Wilfred Grenfell College Art Gallery, Memorial University, Corner Brook, Newfoundland
1991 Sam: The Portraits, Trianon Art Gallery, Lethbridge, AB
1990 Curtains, Installation, Stride Gallery, + 15, Calgary
On the Green, touring exhibition, Alberta Art Foundation Extension Exhibition Program, Southern Alberta Art Gallery and Edmonton Art Gallery
1988 New Drawings/ Paintings, Canadian Art Galleries
1987 How to Play a Winning Game Your Natural Way: Part III, Kelowna Art Gallery,
Kelowna, British Columbia
1986 How to Play a Winning Game Your Natural Way: The Metaphor Continues, Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
1984 How to Play a Winning Game Your Natural Way: a Continuous Metaphor, Off-Centre Centre, Calgary
1983 Recent Work, Torbolton Oaks Gallery, Ottawa, Ontario
1981 New Paintings, Southern Alberta Art Gallery
1978 Recent Paintings and Works on Paper, Red Deer College Art Gallery, Alberta
1977 Geotape Compositions, University of Calgary Art Gallery
1974 Bill McCarroll/ Jeff Olsen, Glenbow-Alberta Art Gallery
1973 Bill McCarroll/ Jeff Olsen, The University of Lethbridge Art Gallery
1969 M.A. Graduate Exhibition, California State University Art Gallery, Arcata, California
Selected Group Exhibitions
2022 25th Anniversary Exhibition, Kostuik Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2011 Bill McCarroll: A Survey 1971-2011, Jeffrey Spalding, Peter White
2011 Bring the Noise, Jarvis Hall Fine Art, Calgary, AB
2010 On Your Marks, Southern Alberta Art Gallery, collaboration with Denton Fredrickson and Glenn
McKinnon, Lethbridge, AB
2006 The McIntyre Ranch Project, Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Alberta College of Art and Design,Calgary AB
2005 The McIntyre Ranch Project, Southern Alberta Art Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta
2004 Break Away, Kelowna Art Gallery, Kelowna, BC
2004 Bill McCarroll, Barry Lorne and Robert Clifton, Trianon Art Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta
2004 Toronto International Art Fair (represented by Michael Gibson Art Gallery, London ON)
2003 “Untitled”, Trianon Art Gallery, Lethbridge, AB
2002 Variety Pack: Pop Art’s Legacy in Canada, Glenbow Museum, Calgary, AB
2002 Several works are featured at the Angus Glen Golf Club, Markham, Ontario, site of the
Canadian Open
2001 Zippity Zip, Jennifer Kostuik Gallery, Vancouver, B.C.
2001 Exhibitions, Acquisitions and Commissions 1981-2001, University of Lethbridge Art Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta
2001 Gardens, Paul Kuhn Art Gallery, Calgary, AB
2001 Avantgardening, Trianon Art Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta
2000 Fresh, Jennifer Kostuik Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
2000 ABC’s of Pop Art, Appleton Museum, Ocala, Florida
1999- present represented by Paul Kuhn Art Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
1999 Stumble, Trianon Art Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta
1998 25th Anniversary Alberta Art Foundation, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
1995-99 Represented Canadian Art Gallery, Calgary- Various Group Exhibitions
Gallery Artists, Canadian Art Galleries
1994 Contemporary Canadian Abstraction: A Selection, Kenderdine Gallery, University of
Saskatchewan, Saskatoon
Adrian Cooke, Bill McCarroll, Jeffrey Spalding, Canadian Art Galleries
Seattle International Art Fair, represented by Canadian Art Galleries
1993 Artist Proof, Canadian Art Galleries
1992 Alberta Survey: New Landscape, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, AB
From Soup to Nuts: Pop Art, It’s Legacy and the Culture of Consumption, organized
by the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery, WORKS Visual Arts
Festival, Edmonton; Visual Art Week, Calgary
Gallery Artists, Barret Post Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver
The McIntyre Ranch Project, Southern Alberta Art Gallery
1991 The Oldman River Exhibition, Southern Alberta Art Gallery
Selections from the Alberta Art Foundation, University Art Gallery,
University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
1990 Los Angeles International Art Fair, represented by Canadian Art
Galleries
Gallery Artists, Canadian Art Galleries, Calgary
1989 Gallery Artists, Canadian Art Galleries, Calgary, AB
bridge, organized by The University of Lethbridge Art Gallery
and presented in Lethbridge
1988 Survey Alberta 88, Alberta College of Art, Calgary, AB
Five Artists from the Stride Gallery, THE WORKS Visual Arts Festival, Edmonton, AB
Visions of Alberta, Muttart Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
1987 Aspects of Contemporary Alberta Painting, Glenbow Museum
Transference, Walter Phillips Gallery, Banff, Alberta; Charles H. Scott
Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
Focus ’87, Southern Alberta Art Gallery
John Clark, Bill McCarroll, Jeffrey Spalding, Stride Gallery, Calgary, AB
1985 Southern Exposure, Southern Alberta Art Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta
1983 Recent Acquisitions, Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Alberta
1977 Alberta Works, Alberta College of Art Gallery, Calgary, AB
New Abstract Art, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, AB
1976 Alberta Artists, Canada House, London, England; Brussels, Belgium; Paris, France; and New York, N.Y.
1973 Contemporary Alberta Artists, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, AB
1971 West ’71, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
1970 Design IIX, Pasadena Art Museum, Pasadena, California
1969 Sculpture ’69, Ester Bear Gallery, Santa Barbara, California
1969 Sculpture ’69, Ester Bear Gallery, Santa Barbara, California
1966 Crafstman ’66, Los Angeles County Museum, Los Angeles, California
1962 Young Americans ’62, New York Contemporary Craft Gallery, N.Y.
CollectionsAlberta Foundation for the Arts, Edmonton Government of Alberta, Edmonton Banff Centre for the Arts, Alberta Canada Council Art Bank, Ottawa Dunlop Art Gallery Energy Resource Conservation Board, Calgary Glenbow Museum J.S. Charles, Santa Monica, California Kenderdine Gallery, University of Saskatchewan Lethbridge Regional Hospital | Morrison Petroleums Limited Nickle Art Museum, University of Calgary Norcen Energy Resouces Limited RAPPORT, Toronto Sir Wilfred Grenfell College Art Gallery Sun Life of Canada, Toronto The Leonard and Bina Ellen Art Gallery, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec The Collections of The University of Lethbridge Angus Glen Golf Club The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia Private Collections |
Bibliography
2002 Ferdie De Vega, “Master strokes: Golfer, artist, Billy McCarroll combines his passions in new exhibit”, Star-Banner, Ocala Florida, March 17.
2002 Mary-Beth Laviolette, “Golf the subject of artist’s passion”, Calgary Herald, May 25.
1991 The Oldman River Exhibition, catalogue, Southern Alberta Art Gallery
1991 On the Green, catalogue, Southern Alberta Art Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta;
Alberta Art Foundation Extension Exhibition Program
1991 Mary-Beth Laviolette, ‘Oldman River Expedition,’ review, Artichoke, Vol. 2, No.3 (Fall/ Winter) 32-4.
1991 Nancy Tousley, ‘Window Projects,’ review, Calgary Herald, January 25
1988 Elizabeth Beauchamp, ‘Sam in Orange: Hole in One,’ review, The Edmonton Journal, July 3
1988 Nancy Tousley, ‘New Drawings/Paintings: Canadian Art Galleries’ review, Calgary Herald, May 26
1987 Nancy Tousley, ‘Alberta Artists Turn Mass Culture Back On Itself,’ review, Calgary Herald, January 13
1987 Nancy Tousley, ‘John Clark, Bill MCCarroll, Jeffrey Spalding,’ review, Calgary Herald, November 19
1986 Meta Perry, ‘How to Play a Winning Game Your Natural Way: The Metaphor Continues,’ review, Regina Leader Post, May 1
1986 ‘Mr. Tee,’ Canadian Art, Vol.3, No.3 (Fall) 23-4.
1986 Grant Arnold, ‘Billy J. McCarroll,’ review, Vanguard, Vol.15, No.4 (September) 42.
1984 Nancy Tousley, ‘How to Play a Winning Game Your Natural Way: a Continuing Metaphor,‘ review, Calgary Herald, November 20
1988 Survey Alberta 88, catalogue, Alberta College of Art Gallery, Calgary
1987 Vince Varga, Aspects of Contemporary Alberta Painting, catalogue, Glenbow Museum, Calgary
1987 Daina Augaitis, Transference, catalogue, Walter Phillips Gallery, Banff, Alberta
1986 Peter White, How to Play a Winning Game Your Natural Way: The Metaphor Continues, catalogue, Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan
1974 Bruce Ferguson, Bill McCarroll/Jeff Olsen, catalogue, Glenbow Alberta Art Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
1070 Homer Street,
Vancouver, BC, V6B 2W9, Canada
T. 604.737.3969
E. info@kostuikgallery.com
