Kevin Bigelow transforms pop culture icons and cherished memories into vibrant visual stories
In 2014, Kevin Bigelow committed to displaying his art publicly for the first time and set out with a goal to complete 12 paintings in 12 months, thereby rationalizing his reservation of a spot at Edmonton’s renowned Whyte Avenue Art Walk. Spoiler alert: he met his goal and then some—but not without learning something along the way.
It wasn’t until he was unloading at his designated spot that he noticed he was the only exhibitor without a canopy tent to shield him from the harsh July sun. “Amongst all these tents filled with great art, my setup was a grid wall, my paintings and some prints. It was a bit embarrassing,” he admits, “but the day still turned out to be a good one.”
After the first of three tiring days of the Art Walk, Bigelow drove straight to the nearest department store and bought himself a tent to use over the course of the weekend. “It was a good lesson that not everything has to be perfect to be successful.” Modest and patient, Bigelow fondly reflects on the journey that got him where he is today, recognizing that everything happens for a reason.
The line on Bigelow’s resume of which he is most proud is a series titled, The Throwback Childhood Memories—15 paintings, each exploring a nostalgic theme from his adolescence. Each painting offers a unique piece of Bigelow’s imagination along with a high dose of childhood nostalgia. Something about the specificity of the motif paired with the eclectic colours makes it hard to look away without feeling something. Artists Jani Galarneau and Kelsey Nowaczynski Baker also collaborated on the series, which travelled throughout Alberta for a year.
Visually, the rest of Bigelow’s portfolio is not unlike The Throwback Childhood Memories series. Pop culture icons and nostalgic memorabilia in the foreground extend a blast from the past usually driven by a collection of contrasting colours. Meanwhile, the subject’s background is just as interesting to the eye with occasional hidden symbolism and icons embedded within the design.
While he considers himself a self-taught artist, Bigelow still credits the Edmonton arts community for much of his career growth. “The one thing about Edmonton is that the arts community is really great. We aren’t competitive, and we help each other,” he says.
While support from the local art scene helped Bigelow to remain faithful to his career as an artist, his mother played an undeniable role in fostering his positive outlook on life and creativity. He describes her as someone who was always kind to others and in a good mood, despite battling cancer up until she passed away in 2012. “Many times I ask myself, ‘What would Mom tell me to do?’ She’s my moral compass. I think of [her] whenever I make decisions.”
These days, you’ll still find Bigelow selling his art under a tent alongside other artists. Aside from various Art Walks, his eclectic original paintings, postcards, and prints can be found in galleries and gift shops throughout the city and beyond.
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