• born in 1948 in Ostrava, Czech Republic
• immigrated to Canada in 1971
• B.A. (1974) and M.F.A. (1976), York University, Toronto, Ontario

click on thumbnails at left to view larger images

Thomas Lax consistently examines in prints and drawings the forms and processes of nature with the close eye of a microscope, charting weather systems, mapping the human body, establishing connections between humans and science or machinery. Having been educated and begun his career in the former Czechoslovakia, Lax was instructed to approach printmaking traditionally, which changed when he continued his studies at York University in Toronto (1971 to 1976). Lax began to play with the processes of intaglio, pressing his own hand into ground and etching the imprint instead of using printmaking tools, gradually increasing his scale as well to accommodate his experimentation. His Fingerprints series (1972) was made of marks left by his fingers on the plates. In Running Men (1973), he created what appeared to be moving figures by making impressions with the heel of his hand. He has also ripped and sewn paper, as in Dry (1976), a technique that Bente Roed Cochran explained "partly takes the preciousness out of an artwork, and partly refers to the convention of cancelling a plate by defacing it" (1989). He also frequently adds collage elements to his prints and drawings, and numbers, symbols, and text to his work. Gallery One described the effect in 1977 when Lax took part in a group show there: "Lax uses different techniques of printmaking (etching, lithography, and drypoint) to achieve a varied textural sensitivity. His etching produces sharp, refined, speedy lines, which contrast and overlap the strong, robust and slow flowing lines of lithography. Combined with the forceful lines of drypoint, which accent the composition with more emphatic effect, the etching and lithography lend visual plasticity to the prints." This kind of effect takes place in Autumn Fall Out (1985), a dizzying background of lines with scattered leaves drifting across its surface, and Sand, Stones, Sun and Rain (1989), in which a consistently orange background is treated differently in several areas, sometimes etched with tiny lines, in other areas marked with big streaks of white, tiny black dots speckling part of the image. In the 1990s he continued this exploration of nature's forms and patterns in the Water series. Discussing the use of abstract and geometric forms in his work, Lax said: "geometrical circuits and wheels and gears are usually broken up into small patterns, surrounded by arrows, numbers, lines, or by other recognizable objects. These graphic elements are only touchstones for probing into associated visual imagery, an imagery intended to reflect deeper personal sensitivity and experience" (1985). Lax began his teaching career at the University of Ostrava, in the Czech Republic, and has continued to teach in Canada at York University, Toronto, Ontario, Fanshaw College in London, Ontario, and the Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, Alberta. He was awarded the Jury Prize at the Alberta Artists Association Exhibition in 1979, the Jury Selection Award for the Edition I Ontario Arts Council Printmaking Competition and Exhibition in Toronto, Ontario in 1974, and the Jury Selection Award for Printed Matter, the Printmaking Competition and Exhibition at Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick, that same year. He has been a visiting artist at numerous institutions in Canada and the Czech Republic, and is a member of the Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences in Washington, DC, and the Canada-Czech Republic Chamber of Commerce in Toronto.

Thomas Lax - Prints, Paintings and Drawings
The Old Court House Gallery, Red Deer, Alberta

Thomas Lax - Drawings
Paul Kuhn Fine Arts Gallery, Calgary, Alberta

Alberta Printmaking Cooperative Exhibition
SNAP Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta

Moving through the Ecosystems
Muttart Public Art Gallery, Calgary, Alberta

20th Anniversary - Exhibition of '97 Art Auction
Muttart Public Art Gallery, Calgary, Alberta

Gallery Artists Show
Virginia Christopher Galleries, Calgary, Alberta

Faculty Show
The Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, Alberta

1st Annual Members Exhibition
The Triangle Gallery of Visual Arts, Calgary, Alberta

Exhibition of '96 Art Auction
Muttart Public Art Gallery, Calgary, Alberta

Suncor Collects
Muttart Public Art Gallery, Calgary, Alberta

Art Lotto
Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Alberta

Faculty Show
The Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, Alberta

Continuing the Trust, Part 2
Tom Thomson Gallery, Owen Sound, Ontario

Navraty Z Vnitrniho I Zahranicniho Exilu
Gallery Wunsche, Havirov, Czech Republic

Hidden Values, Western Corporation Collections
Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta

Faculty Show
The Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, Alberta

Printmaking in Alberta 1970-85
The Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, Alberta

Pluralism in Alberta Prints 1970-85
McMullen Gallery, University Hospitals, Edmonton, Alberta

A.C.A. Faculty and Student Show
Ford Tower, Calgary, Alberta

Faculty Show
The Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, Alberta

Red
Paul Kuhn Fine Arts Gallery, Calgary, Alberta

Contemporary Western Canadian Printmaking
Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Alberta

Kontrast '90
Museum Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic

Faculty Show
The Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, Alberta

Printmaking in Alberta
Kitchener-Waterloo Gallery, Kitchener, Ontario

Inter-graphic '90
Berlin, Germany

Faculty Show
The Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, Alberta

Second Impressions
The Triangle Gallery of Visual Arts, Calgary, Alberta
Beaver House Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta

4th International Biennial Print Exhibit
Taipei Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan

Printmaking in Alberta
Wojtel/Udell Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta

3rd International Biennial Print Exhibit
Taipei Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan

11th International Exhibition of Original Drawings
Museum of Modern Art, Rijeka, Yugoslavia; Museum of Modern Art, Zagreb, Yugoslavia

Selection from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts
Mobil Oil Art Gallery, Calgary, Alberta

Artist Circle + Exhibition
The Triangle Gallery of Visual Arts, Calgary, Alberta

Faculty Show
The Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, Alberta

Survey Alberta '88
The Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, Alberta

A Canadian Collection '87
Calgary Jewish Centre, Calgary, Alberta

Gulf Canada ACA Staff Show
Gulf Canada Gallery, Calgary, Alberta

Faculty Show
The Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, Alberta

Intergrafik '87
Museum of Modern Art, Berlin, Germany

10th International Exhibition of Original Drawings
Museum of Modern Art, Rijeka, Yugoslavia

Viva Bharati
Visva Bharati University, Santinikettan, India

Faculty Show
The Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, Alberta

Contemporary Canadian Printmaking Exhibition
Art Gallery of Burnie Flinders, Ridoch, Latrobe, Opera House, Araluen, Orange, Darvin, Australia

Printed in Alberta
Prairie Art Gallery, Grande Prairie, Alberta; Beaver House, Edmonton, Alberta; Southern Alberta Art Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta

York University M.F.A. Alumni Exhibition
York University Galleries, Toronto, Ontario

6 Canadian Printmakers
Miriam Perlman Gallery, Chicago, Illinois

9th International Exhibition of Original Drawings
Museum of Modern Art, Rijeka, Yugoslavia; The Arts Council Gallery, Belfast, Northern Ireland; City Arts Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland; Mouton Art Gallery, Llandudno, North Wells, England; Axiom Centre Gallery, Cheltenham, England

Contemporary Canadian Printmaking Exhibition
Queensland College of Art, Brisbane, Newcastle, Australia

10th International Print Biennale Kracow
Kracow, Poland

In the Dark
Gallery 2, California State College, San Bernardin, California

An Exhibition of Fine Arts by Czech and Slovak Artists
The Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences, Toronto, Ontario

Images of Nature
Miriam Perlman Gallery, Chicago, Illinois

Staff Exhibition
ACA Gallery, Alberta College of Art, Calgary, Alberta

International Mail Art Show
College Grove Station, San Diego, California

Intergrafik '84
Museum of Modern Art, Berlin, Germany

A Canadian Collection '84
Calgary Jewish Centre, Calgary, Alberta

The Uncollege Exhibition
James Ulrich Gallery, Calgary, Alberta

Developmental Art: A Canadian Exhibit
Harding Mott Centre, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, Michigan

Gallery Artists
Gallery Moos Toronto, Ontario

Alberta Society of Artists Exhibition
Muttart Art Gallery, Calgary, Alberta

Printmakers '82
Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario

Collector's Choice
Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta

Staff Exhibition
ACA Gallery, Alberta College of Art, Calgary, Alberta

Six Printmakers
Graphica Art Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta

Alberta Society of Artists Exhibition
Beaver House, Edmonton, Alberta

Staff Exhibition
ACA Gallery, Alberta College of Art, Calgary, Alberta

Postcard Show
Art Center, Salt Lake City, Utah

Staff Exhibition
ACA Gallery, Alberta College of Art, Calgary, Alberta

Not Just Another Print Show
Art Centre, Leduc, Alberta; Keyano College, Fort McMurray, Alberta; Provincial Building, Peace River, Alberta; Bowman Art Centre, Lethbridge, Alberta; Prairie Art Gallery, Grande Prairie, Alberta; Art Gallery, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Calgary, Alberta; Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta

International Graphic Biennale
Gallery of Modern Art, Frechen, Germany

6th International Exhibition of Original Drawings
Museum of Modern Art, Rijeka, Yugoslavia

Homecoming '79
York University Galleries, Toronto, Ontario

A Canadian Collection '79
Calgary Jewish Centre, Calgary, Alberta

Dixie Postal Art Show
St. Andrew's Presbyterian College, Larinburg, North Carolina

Mail Art Exhibit
Museum Art School, Portland, Oregon

Staff Exhibition
ACA Gallery, Alberta College of Art, Calgary, Alberta

Intermedia
Arizona State College, Tempe, Arizona

Alberta Society of Artists Exhibition
Shell Centre, Calgary, Alberta; Southern Alberta Art Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta

Canadian Collection '78
Muttart Art Gallery, Calgary, Alberta

Staff Exhibition
ACA Gallery, Alberta College of Art, Calgary, Alberta

Graveurs Canadiens
Galerie des Beaux Arts, L'Académie des Beaux Arts Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium

3rd Cleveland International Drawing Biennale
Cleveland Art Gallery, Middlesborough, Cleveland, England

5th International Exhibition of Original Drawings
Museum of Modern Art, Rijeka, Yugoslavia

Gallery Artists
Gallery One, Toronto, Ontario

9th Burnaby Biennial Print Show
Burnaby Art Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia

Juan Miro XVI International Drawing Competition
Centre D'Estudis D'Art Contemporani, Barcelona, Spain

Mail Art Exhibit
Art Galery Utrecht, Utrecht, Holland

Postal Art Exhibit
Arts Centre, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario

First Annual Aalst Correspondence and Mail Art Show
New Reform Art Centre, Aalst, Belgium

Edition I
Art Gallery of London, London, Ontario

Articipation
Gallery of First Canadian Place, Toronto, Ontario

Group Show
O'Keefe Centre, Toronto, Ontario

Red Deer College Printmaking Exhibition
Red Deer College, Red Deer, Alberta

Canadian Printmakers 3
Gallery One, Toronto, Ontario

4th International Exhibition of Original Drawings
Museum of Modern Art, Rijeka, Yugoslavia

Annual Art Exhibition
Sir George Williams Art Gallery, Montréal, Québec

6th International Print Biennale
Kracow, Poland

On View
Ontario Wide Open Art Exhibition, Toronto, Ontario

5th Biennial International Matmedia Exhibition
Dickinson State College, Dickinson, California

Counter Show
IDA Gallery, York University, Toronto, Ontario

Print Show
Grimsby Art Gallery, Grimsby, Ontario

Spring Exhibition '75
Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario

Edition I
Brampton Art Centre, Brampton, Ontario; Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, Kitchener, Ontario; Stayner Collegiate Institute, Stayner, Ontario; Art Gallery, Brock University, St. Catherines, Ontario; Art Gallery, St. Lawrence College, Cornwall, Ontario; Humber College of Applied Arts, Toronto, Ontario

Printed Matter
Owens' Art Gallery, Sackville, New Brunswick

Graphex II
Brantford Art Gallery, Brantford, Ontario

Canadian Printmaking Showcase
Ottawa, Ontario

Exhibition of Graphic Art
Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Adams, R. "Thomas Lax: The healing process." Art Bridge (1993): n.p.

Ainsley, P. Impressions. Calgary, Alberta: Glenbow Museum, 1991.

Baxter, Eve, and Enid MacLachlan. Printmakers '82. Toronto, Ontario: Art Gallery of Ontario, 1982.

Brandoli, Susan. Thomas Lax - Prints - Two Decades. Vernon, British Columbia: Vernon Art Gallery, 1994.

Brooks, J. Thomas Lax: Recent Work. Calgary, Alberta: University of Calgary, 1979.

The Canada Council Art Bank Catalogue, 1972-1987. Ottawa, Ontario: The Canada Council, 1987.

Eliot-Los, Elyse. Printed in Alberta: An Exhibition of Ten Alberta Graphic Artists. Edmonton, Alberta: Alberta Culture, 1985.

"Gallery One." Press release. Toronto, Ontario: Gallery One, 1977.

McKay, Allen. Survey Alberta 88. Calgary, Alberta: Alberta College of Art Gallery, 1988.

Murray, Joan and Jennifer C. Watson. The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa: Permanent Collection. Oshawa, Ontario: The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, 1978.

Roed Cochran, Benta. Printmaking in Alberta. Edmonton, Alberta: University of Alberta Press, 1989.

Sturdy, Ken. Alberta College of Art Staff Exhibition. Calgary, Alberta: Alberta College of Art Gallery, 1980.

Tousley, Nancy. Alberta Soceity of Artists 1979 Exhibition. Lethbridge, Alberta: Southern Alberta Art Gallery, 1979.