Eric Cameron

Since the 1960s, British-born artist Eric Cameron has explored new approaches to painting. Initiating his practice from the newly emerging field of conceptual art, he established the importance of process in determining the content of a painting. Between 1960 and 1970, he made “Process Paintings” by using adhesive tape, placing him in opposition to the dominant trend toward Abstract Expressionism. In 1969, Cameron moved to Canada and became known over the next decade for his video works and critical essays, which were published in many Canadian, British, and American magazines such as Artforum. At the end of the 1970s, he began his series of “Thick Paintings,” which are among his best-known works. For over twenty years, he applied thousands of coats of acrylic primer to both mundane or meaningful objects, not stopping until the work was either bought or he was physically incapable of continuing it. In parallel to his studio practice Cameron has taught at several universities including the University of Guelph (1969-1976), the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (1976-1987), and the University of Calgary (1987- ). As a teacher, he has had a decisive influence on Canadian video art. Since 2009, Cameron has been working on his series of “Dipped Paintings.”