HARDedge

The term hard-edge is often associated with a strict formalism—clean lines, flat colour, and an almost mechanical precision that emerged in contrast to the gestural urgency of Abstract Expressionism. Yet, as this exhibition demonstrates, the language of hard-edge abstraction is not confined to a singular visual or material approach. Instead, it is a conceptual framework that artists can push against, subvert, and redefine.

In HARDedge, nine Canadian artists engage with the aesthetic principles of hard-edged abstraction while deliberately bending its historical rigidity. The works in the exhibition span painting, fibre, and sculptural forms, each taking an unconventional approach to the call. Some artists introduce unexpected textures, disrupting the traditionally smooth, flat surfaces associated with the style. Others play with irregular geometries, where precision becomes a starting point rather than an end goal. Still others use unconventional materials, applying the language of hard edges to mediums that inherently resist it—soft fabrics, organic forms, or layered constructions.