Derek McLarty was raised in London, Ontario where he developed an early interest in all forms of visual art. He studied painting, drawing, printmaking as well as art history at the University of Western Ontario before graduating with an Honours Visual Arts degree. His paintings take an intimate look at these ordinary spaces. Devoid of the human subject these works elicit quiet and the notion of privacy. It has been stated that, “Derek McLarty’s work examines the ambiguity surrounding public and private spaces brought on by the constantly shifting boundaries between the two spheres.” Others have observed that his preference for subject matter such as deserted halls, stairwells, offices, classrooms and other familiar public spaces allows the viewer to comprehend the nature of the increasingly blurred territory between the public and the private. Recently, one observer argued that, “Frequently, his views of evacuated institutional interiors are imbued with a kind of contemplative familiarity”.
