Elliptical Lineages Artist Spotlight - John de Haan & Jason de Haan
Posted on
July 07, 2025
Elliptical Lineages presents the work of artists that engage in the creative practices of a family member or those whom they consider kin. Curated by Jacqueline Bell, Director, Walter Phillips Gallery and Collections at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Elliptical Lineages is on view from June 7 to September 7, 2025.
The exhibition complicates conventional ideas of artistic lineage and reflects on the exchange of knowledge between generations. Hear directly from a number of the artists exhibiting in Elliptical Lineages as they reflect on their work on view.
Installation view of Elliptical Lineages, Walter Phillips Gallery, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, 2025. Frank McKeough, Selection of untitled works, c. 1977-1997, courtesy of the Estate of Frank McKeough. Photo: Rita Taylor.
John de Haan & Jason de Haan
It's the first opportunity that we've had to show our work side by side. It’s been exciting and it's been really fun to plan. And after going through the process, we've also been like, wow, there's so much more that's connected in the work that we've done over the years. So I think we both feel like there's also potential to expand on some of the connections that we've made in this exhibition.
Jason de Haan
Jason did a great job of finding the pieces that matched and fit together. You can see the thread going through all of it and our connection. To me, I feel like it shows our love for each other too.
John de Haan
Installation view of Elliptical Lineages, Walter Phillips Gallery, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, 2025. From top to bottom: John de Haan & Jason de Haan, When the Last Earth-Tie is Sundered (My jacket and my Son's / My Father’s jacket and mine), 1975/2025, courtesy of the artists and Clint Roenisch Gallery; Jason de Haan, Proposals for a Maritime Monument, 2016, courtesy of the artist and Clint Roenisch Gallery. Photo: Rita Taylor.
This jacket—it was an object that I was always totally fascinated with as a kid. I was looking at it all the time. It’s just a masterpiece in my opinion so I decided to make my own embroidered jacket in response to my dad's and for the same burial purpose.
Jason de Haan
About John de Haan
John de Haan (Edmonton, 1954), the father of Jason de Haan, is an artist and caregiver settled on Treaty 6 territory, by the Sturgeon River, near Amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton). Through John’s automatic drawings and paintings, we traverse absurd dream spaces, the many pains of nature, magical wonders, primordial soups, and afterlifes.
About Jason de Haan
Jason de Haan (Edmonton, 1981), the son of John de Haan, is an artist settled on Treaty 7 territory, alongside the Rosebud River, near Drumheller. Jason adopts materially conceptual approaches to artmaking with calls for greater sensitivity to reflection, deep time, unfolding, broadcasts, activations, and unseen forces.
Elliptical Lineages
Walter Phillips Gallery at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
107 Tunnel Mtn Drive, Banff
June 7 to September 7, 2025
FREE