North Island College鈥檚 Artist Talk Series is back for 2020, kicking off Jan. 23 with Vancouver-based painter Kim Dorland.

The series features distinguished local and international artists who share their insights and practices with NIC students, local artists and community members.

Dorland, known for his striking use of western Canadian landscape in his work, will lead off a roster of four speakers for the series鈥檚 winter 2020 return.

鈥淲e鈥檙e honoured to have Kim Dorland start the 2020 series,鈥� said Sara Vipond, series co-ordinator and NIC Fine Arts + Design department chair. 鈥淗is reputation as one of Canada鈥檚 leading painters is well-earned and we鈥檙e looking forward to hearing his insights.鈥�

Hailed by some as the 21st-century answer to Canada鈥檚 Group of Seven, Dorland鈥檚 striking style pushes the boundaries of painted representation through an exploration of memory, material, nostalgia, identity, and place.

His use of identifiable scenes is mixed with heavy abstract impasto technique and combined with the artist鈥檚 refusal to stick to only one medium or approach, often to eerie effect.

Dorland has exhibited globally, including shows in Milan, London, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

His work is featured in the Contemporary Art Foundation (Japan); The Sander Collection (Berlin); Mus茅e des beaux-arts de Montr茅al; Mus茅e d鈥檃rt contemporain de Montreal; Glenbow Museum (Calgary) and numerous important private collections.

He is set to speak from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Stan Hagen Theatre on the Comox Valley campus. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

The 2020 Artist Talk Series is possible thanks to community gifts and corporate sponsorship. If you are interested in supporting future Artist Talk events, please call 250-334-5074 or visit

The series continues with additional guest speakers Connie Michele Morey (Feb. 6), Frances Tr茅panier (March 12) and Jeremy Borsos (March 19).

Visit for more information.