Peter Dušek is an award-winning Canadian artist who uses photography to explore visual art as a universal language to evoke emotion using abstraction of landscape elements and colour. His work embodies the Japanese aesthetics of shibumi (quiet elegance), yūgen (subtly profound grace, not obvious), seijaku (feeling of serenity) and ma (empty space). His signature minimalist design goal is "as little as possible, as much as necessary".
shibumi – a quiet elegance
In today's world, the eyes and the soul are assaulted by a myriad of things, causing us to lose our focus, become scattered, and even blinded to the simple beauty hidden around us. Peter Dušek is an award-winning Canadian photographer whose photographs give us a glimpse of this beauty, hidden like a special shell amongst the pebbles on a beach. Inspired by the philosophy of Zen, Peter places a strong emphasis on balance and negative space and his artistic design goal is "as little as possible, as much as necessary", giving an abstract quality to his intimate landscapes. His style embodies the Japanese design aesthetic shibumi, which means "a quiet elegance". In this simplicity can be found the serenity and perhaps even the happiness that often eludes us.
As little as possible, as much as necessary.
Gallery Representatives
Abbozzo Gallery (Toronto, ON)
Peter Dušek Gallery (Creemore, ON)
Westland Gallery (London, ON)
Paul Paletti Gallery / Naomi Stuecker (Louisville, Kentucky)
Corporate and Public Collections
Global Furniture Group – 12 works
Saks Fifth Avenue – 38 works
Smallrock Capital – commissioned work
Multimatic Inc. – 4 works
HLS Therapeutics
JRB Group
Government of Ontario Art Collection – Archives of Ontario
Finding Zen
A three minute, inspirational short film about Peter's process and motivations:
Peter's first solo exhibition, Tranquility, at Abbozzo Gallery in 2015, sold out almost two and a half times over, with Saks Fifth Avenue acquiring 38 pieces to represent Canadian Art at their Toronto stores. He was awarded "Best of 2015" by the American Society of Media Photographers and "Best Work by an Emerging Artist" and "The President's Medal" by the Ontario Society of Artists. His work has been shown at the Affordable Art Fair in New York City, alongside art from 70 international galleries. Articles about Peter and his work have been published in magazines and newspapers, including a feature article in Arabella Art and Design magazine with North American distribution.
Peter had his second major exhibition, Serenity, at Abbozzo Gallery in 2017 as part of the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival, the largest photography event in the world. Serenity was the location for an exclusive gathering of Ontario's top architects and designers, hosted by Global Furniture Group, who hold ten of his pieces.
He has exhibited in numerous galleries across Canada and the USA, including:
Abbozzo Gallery (Toronto)
Paul Paletti Gallery (Louisville, Kentucky)
John B. Aird Gallery (Toronto)
Arts & Letters Club (Toronto)
The McMichael Canadian Art Collection (Kleinburg)
Robert McLaughlin Gallery (Oshawa)
Peter's work is held in private and corporate collections throughout North America as well as the Government of Ontario Art Collection.
Peter was elected to the Ontario Society of Artists in 2015 (where he serves on the board of directors) and the Society of Canadian Artists in 2016. He is also involved in the community as a proud member of the Rotary Club of Etobicoke.
Great photography is the rare marriage of the creativity of art with the technique of craft and the precision of science. If any one of these elements is missing, a photograph falls short of its full potential. Peter's photography benefits from his experience as a computer consultant and programmer, building sophisticated database systems, which requires a similar blend of creativity, craft, and extreme attention to detail.
Born in Bratislava, Slovakia, Peter moved to Canada when he was seven years old. He lives in the beautiful Hockley Valley, Ontario with his wife, dog and cat, exploring the countryside by motorcycle, bicycle, or on foot, often accompanied by his dog, Daisy. His frequent excursions give him a deep familiarity and affinity with some of Ontario's most beautiful lands.
2019 The President's Medal, Ontario Society of Artists
2018 Honorable Mention, IPA International Photography Awards 2018
2017 Best Landscape Award, RMG Exposed, Art auction, The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa, ON
2017 People's Choice, Ontario Greenbelt / McMichael Canadian Art Collection / Professional Photographers of Canada
2016 Elected to the Society of Canadian Artists
2016 Honourable Mention, IPA International Photographer Awards 2016
2016 Honourable Mention, Ontario Society of Artists Members' Exhibition of Selected Works, Toronto, ON
2016 Curry's Award, Ontario Society of Artists, Toronto, ON
2015 Elected to the Ontario Society of Artists
2015 ASMP Best of 2015, American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP), USA
2015 Best Work by an Emerging Artist, Ontario Society of Artists, Toronto, ON
2015 International Photographer of the Year, Honourable Mention, International photo contest held by IPOTY
2015 Neutral Density Photography Awards 2015, Honorable Mention, International photo contest held by ND Magazine
2015 Juror's Choice Second Place, Orangeville Art Group, Orangeville, ON
2014 Juror's Choice, Headwaters Arts, Headwaters Arts Gallery, Alton, ON
2023 More With Less, On The Bay Magazine
2022 Hockley Artist brings Shibumi to Creemore, Creemore Echo
2020 'Art is as important as anything' during COVID-19 madness, Orangeville Citizen
2019 Photographer Peter Dusek is Finding Art's Way in Business, Orangeville Citizen
2019 Noir/Chroma Spotlight: Peter Dušek, Connections Gallery
2018 Headwaters Inspired Profile: Peter Dušek, Headwaters Tourism
2017 Living in the Interval, Artist to Collect: Peter Dusek, Arabella Magazine, Summer 2017 issue
2017 Peter Dusek: Poet Photographer, Orangeville Citizen
2017 Photo contest highlights Ontario's Greenbelt, Toronto Star
2017 Portrait of Orangeville dog at Island Lake wins Ontario Greenbelt photo contest, Orangeville Banner
2016 Finding Zen, Short film by Stephen Vacheff, YouTube.com
2016 Photographer has Zen-inspired work in gallery at Alton Mill, Orangeville Citizen
2015 Peter Dusek, ASMP Best of 2015, American Society of Media Photographers
2015 Artist in Residence, In The Hills Magazine
2015 Rotary Etobicoke Photographer Named 'Emerging Artist' by Ontario Society of Artists, InsideToronto.com and the Etobicoke Guardian
2015 Hockley Valley Artist Offers Unique Views, The Orangeville Banner
2014 Headwaters Arts Festival Show & Sale: Autumn's Canvas, In The Hills Magazine
Tranquility, A Slideshow Of Peter's First Solo Exhibition
Time to watch: 1 minute, 55 seconds
Tranquility960X540 from Peter Dusek on Vimeo.