Memorial Exhibition for kerry ferris

kerry ferris was a beloved and admired local artist in London. kerry passed away on September 20th, 2016 at age 67. An exhibition is being held in honour of kerry at Westland Gallery in Wortley Village. 

The exhibition will continue until Saturday November 19th. The show features work from throughout kerry’s career including acrylics and watercolours in her distinct style.

kerry grew up on Tecumseh St., attended H.B. Beal Secondary School, and later earned a degree at Fanshawe College in cinematography. Still, kerry was by her account a self-taught painter, and it would be in this medium that her works found life.

green storms/ golden souls by kerry ferris

While London always provided a home base for kerry, she traveled extensively. She drew influence from environments large and small, from the natural world of the Galapagos islands to the butterflies in her own backyard which she viewed as equally important.  Her art works reflected her cyclical belief in the interconnectivity of the universe and everything in it. The environment, landscapes and animals and personal identities are ever evolving; ancient yet modern. kerry presented this duality in her work in refreshing and invigorating ways. With a career spanning five decades, her works are as vast as the places she visited, but are unified by her signature style.

​“Kerry Ferris was a wonderful artist and a good friend and we are honoured that she asked for one more show at the Westland gallery,” says Al Stewart, co-owner of Westland Gallery. “We would like to thank Andrew Lewis for giving up a week of his scheduled show to allow us to honour kerry's last wishes. Please come and enjoy the beauty that kerry left us.”

kerry was an artist, a mother, a sister and a friend to many. She worked for Western Libraries for 29 years, and was a founding member of the London’s artist-run centre, the Forest City Gallery. kerry’s works are in the permanent collections of the McIntosh Gallery, Western University, Museum London, the Art Gallery of St. Thomas-Elgin, the Art Gallery of Ontario and many other public and private collections.

Donations in memory of kerry ferris can be made to Museum London where she received early support for her art.

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