MARLENE HOWELL (nee Seki)
marlenehowellgallery.com
Marlene was born in Toronto, and lived in Ottawa in 1993-1996 before moving to Vancouver Island. Since then she has lived in and has exhibited her artwork in Khartoum, Sudan, New York City, and Phnom Penh, Cambodia before settling back in Victoria, BC.
Her first sold painting was in 2002 while living in Khartoum Sudan, during an interview for an art teacher’s assistant at the American School. This inspired her to seek out other artists to help create the Khartoum Khalendar which sold over 1500 copies, of which a third of the proceeds were donated to Mother Teresa’s orphanage.
Her artistic development is credited to attending a four year art course at a Toronto high school. While living in New York she attended the Art Student League of New York. She found the art classes and inspirational artists in British Columbia provided her an ample source for development in the arts.
Visual experiences are her inspiration, so she generally works from photographs, using various techniques, and experimenting with medium choices such as graphite, charcoal/watercolour/pastels, acrylic and Kroma Crackle.
Marlene won the 2006-2007 City of Victoria Banner competition of which a set were on display for Canada Day in Phnom Penh on request by the Canadian Ambassador to Canada. She helped to organize and exhibit in Art Shows held at the Royal Colwood Golf Club in support of Soroptimist International of Greater Victoria in 2017 and 2018, as well as in 2019 to benefit Soroptimist International of Victoria Westshore. The centennial celebration of Royal Colwood Golf Club in 2013 displayed two at pieces specifically created for the Club, and can be seen at the entrance of the Clubhouse. She was also the sole artist in residence at the Chateau Victoria Hotel, Hotel Grand Pacific, and the Coast Victoria Hotel and Marina.
Marlene was asked by the Maritime Museum of British Columbia to create art work pertaining to the LOST FLEET EXHIBITION. “A Series For Contemplation” exhibited from January 12 to March 31, 2019. “The Lost Fleet Exhibition” illustrated the confiscation of West Coast Japanese Canadian fishing boats during World War II.
Marlene is an Active member of the Federation of Canadian Artists and many of her works have been accepted and displayed in FCA exhibitions held in Vancouver and Victoria. As well, her works have been accepted at the “Sooke Fine Art Show” and the “Sydney Fine Art Show”. She can also be found in the directory of Japanese Canadian Artists.
EXHIBITED ARTWORK:
2023 Federation of Canadian Artists Juried Fall Exhibition "Huggables"
2023 Federation of Canadian Artists, Juried Expressions Exhibition, “Grace”
2022 Federation of Canadian Artists, Juried Limitless Exhibition, “Willow on the Gorge”.
2021 Federation of Canadian Artists, Victoria, Juried Passages Exhibition, "There is Life Everywhere"
2021 Sooke Fine Arts Show, "Strength in Numbers"
2021 Federation of Canadian Artists Juried Virtual Exhibition, "Somewhere in Time", "Afterglow" and "Currently Preoccupied", Honourable Mention.
2021 Federation of Canadian Artists Juried Active Members Show, "Currently Preoccupied".
2020 Federation of Canadian Artists Juried Spring Show, "Fisgard Lighthouse", Honourable Mention.
2019 Federation of Canadian Artists Juried Fall Show "HOWE SOUND IV", "The Way They Were".
2019 Federation of Canadian Artists Juried Spring Show, "Sunning Rhinos", "Welcome to my World".
2019 Maritime Museum of British Columbia, "Lost Fleet" Exhibition solo artist.
2018 Federation of Canadian Artists Fall Juried Art Show, "Fi Fie Foe Fum", "Patience".
2018 Federation of Canadian Artists Spring Juried Art Show, "Little Drummer Jaden" (Honourable Mention).
2018 Ministry of Health, "Girl With a Mirror", "Glory Days", "Blue on Blue".
2018 Royal Colwood Golf Club, "Willow on the Gorge", "Fi Fie Foe Fum".
2017 Federation of Canadian Artists Juried Scenes From Western Canada Art Show, "Coast Victoria Hotel & Marina # 1", and "Willow on the Gorge".
2017 Sooke Fine Arts Show, "Little Drummer Jaden".
2017 Royal Colwood Golf Club Juried Art Show, "Komodo Dragon", "Little Drummer Jaden" and "Sunning Rhinos".
2016 Federation of Canadian Artist's Juried 75th Anniversary Exhibition, "Komodo Dragon", "Glory Days".
2016 Federation of Canadian Artist's Juried Spring Exhibition, "Willow on the Gorge", "Fisherman's Wharf #4".
2015 Federation of Canadian Artist's Juried Fall 2015 Show, "Blue on Blue".
2015 Federation of Canadian Artist's Juried ICON Art Show, "Komodo Dragon".
2015 Federation of Canadian Artist's Juried Annual International Representational Show (A.I.R.S), ”Fisherman’s Wharf Series #4”.
2015 Artist in Residence at “ARTISHOW 2015” Coast Victoria Harbourside Hotel and Marina.
2015 Federation of Canadian Artist’s Spring Show, “Girl with a Mirror” ( Honourable Mention), and, “Fisherman’s Wharf Series #3”.
Marlene Howell
marlene.howell@shaw.ca
250-474-9910
www.marlenehowellgallery.com
