Calgary's Uncommon Art Collective Seeks Harmony in Debut Exhibition
While the second exhibition by Calgary's Uncommon Art Collective is not expected to materialize until 2027, the five artists have already established two working titles for their upcoming show. The collective, consisting of four painters and one photographer, is considering either "One Ranch, Five Views" or "Alma's Legacy" for their next collaborative project.
Formation and First Exhibition
The five artists—Sheila Rowe, Christiane Haberl, Dixie Baum, Patricia Salat, and Lindsay Nichols—first gathered in August 2025 to discuss the formation of a collective. They moved quickly, submitting a proposal to the Alberta Society of Artists shortly after their initial meeting. Their debut exhibition, titled "Liminal Space," opened at the society's gallery on March 7, 2026, and will continue through May 9.
"We did not initially plan to form a collective, much less one made exclusively of female artists," explains Rowe, one of the collective's painters. "But we discovered we shared a vision and an interest in presenting nature in an abstract, non-representational way."
The artists range in age from their 40s to 70s and come from diverse professional backgrounds, yet found common ground in their artistic approach. While most of the artwork in "Liminal Space" was created before the collective formed, it represents their shared aesthetic vision.
Future Projects and Inspiration
In June 2026, the collective will hold a creative retreat at Rowe's property in the foothills outside Calgary. This land holds particular significance—it was purchased in the 1950s by Alma, the grandmother of Rowe's husband. The artists plan to use this location as inspiration for their next exhibition.
"It will be the first organized time that we will get together and just soak in the environment and create together," says Rowe. "We might work on field sketches or other preliminary pieces. We're considering using our property as a jumping-off point for the show."
The property features the headwaters of Pine Creek, elk herds, a pond, cropland, and extensive trails through wooded areas. Rowe notes the connection to local artistic history, pointing out that Barbara Leighton established the nearby Leighton Centre with a similar vision for artistic inspiration in natural settings.
Artistic Evolution and Collective Vision
Rowe describes her own artistic evolution as representative of the collective's shared journey. "I was painting landscape representationally for many years, but I started to become less excited by my own work," she explains. "Through instruction and exploration, I moved in a more intuitive direction and began seeking out other artists working similarly."
This search for new artistic expression led to the formation of the Uncommon Art Collective. The artists found they shared not only artistic approaches but also a desire to explore the liminal spaces between representation and abstraction, between individual vision and collective creation.
"We think it's interesting that a woman had the vision to buy this small ranch decades ago, and now we're being inspired by the same property," Rowe reflects. "There's a generational continuity there that resonates with our artistic goals."
As "Liminal Space" continues its run through May, the collective is already looking ahead to their June retreat and the creative work that will emerge from their time together in Alberta's inspiring foothills landscape.
