Joseph Kashetsky

Saint John’s Joseph Kashetsky (1941-1974) was an artistic genius, though his career was cut short by a tragic, early death at the age of 33. His modern graphic creations ranged from rich and sometimes disarmingly simple abstract drawings and paintings, to lovingly rendered pointillist landscapes.

A graduate of the art program at the Saint John Vocational School, he was important figure in the continued lineage of Saint John artists of national importance. Fred Ross, in fact, said that Joseph was the best art student he ever taught during his 20-year teaching career at the “Voc”.

Kashetsky’s ink and pencil drawings masterfully and confidently explored the limitless potential of order versus chaos and the human condition. The circle, which appears often as an organizing form in his compositions, fascinated him: they are sometimes cool and severe, and other times energized and buoyant.

Kashetsky’s art has been featured in many important group and solo exhibitions throughout the Maritimes and Canada, and his works are in the permanent collections of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, the New Brunswick Museum, and the University of New Brunswick. -Biography from the Beaverbrook Art Gallery