AbAbout the estate
- On exhibition
Contemporary
New York
Jan 10–Mar 8
2025
On screen Jaan Poldaas: New Work
Dir. by Patrick Barfoot
26 minutes, 2019
From the archiveOfficial home of the
digital Catalogue Raisonne
On view This website is the digital edition of E.G Series 1978
2018
1800s series
1800s series
2018
Media
Enamel on canvas
Enamel on canvas
Dimensions
60 x 60cm
Series
1800s (or the “Flag” series): 12
60 x 60cm
Series
1800s (or the “Flag” series): 12
Collections
On exhibition
2017
Black Square/7 Surfaces series
Black Square/7 Surfaces series
Bakuseli, Bapaneli, Bapaseku, Bocenali, Habakuro, Jebebuli, Kuhasije, Kulibase, Kuzibapo, Lirebero, Mabequxi, Paberoli, Perasequ, Pofalise, Raneliku, Requboma, Tebobali, Tikurane, Wequpace, Yipocena
2017
Media
Enamel on canvas
Enamel on canvas
Dimensions
60 x 60cm; 120 x 120 cm
Series
1–20
Collections
Cadillac Fairview
Numerous private
60 x 60cm; 120 x 120 cm
Series
1–20
Collections
Cadillac Fairview
Numerous private
2014
Passages as Pauses and Endpoints
222 BAY STREET
Passages as Pauses and Endpoints
222 BAY STREET
Passages as Endpoints and Pauses
2014
Media
Acrylic on canvas
Acrylic on canvas
Dimensions
Four panels, each panel 108 x 108 inches
Location
Lobby of 222 Bay Street, Toronto
Collection
Cadillac Fairview, private commission for the lobby of 222 Bay Street, Toronto Dominion Centre designed by Mies Van Der Rohe
Four panels, each panel 108 x 108 inches
Location
Lobby of 222 Bay Street, Toronto
Collection
Cadillac Fairview, private commission for the lobby of 222 Bay Street, Toronto Dominion Centre designed by Mies Van Der Rohe
2012
10/12/8 (1200s series)
10/12/8 (1200s series)
1201 Red Five, 1202 Blue Five, 1203 Yellow Five, 1204 Blue Ten, 1205 Red Eight,1206 Black Eight, 1207 Yellow Eight, 1208 Blue Eight
2012
Media
Enamel on canvas
Enamel on canvas
Dimensions
60 x 60 cm
Series
1200s (12)
60 x 60 cm
Series
1200s (12)
Collections
Numerous private
2011
E.G Series 1978 - 2011
E.G Series 1978 - 2011
E.G Series
1978 to 2011
Media
Various paints on masonite panels
Various paints on masonite panels
Dimensions
35 panels, each panel 24 x 8”
Series
Edition of 8, & AP
35 panels, each panel 24 x 8”
Series
Edition of 8, & AP
Collections
National Gallery of Canada
2010
1000s series
1000s series
1000, 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, 1005, 1006,1007, 1008, 1009, 1010, 1011, 1012, 1013, 1014, 1015, 1016
2010
Media
Enamel on canvas
Enamel on canvas
Dimensions
60 x 60 cm
Series
1000s (16)
60 x 60 cm
Series
1000s (16)
Collections
McCarthy Tétrault
Numerous private
Numerous private
1997
12 Colour Pair
12 Colour Pair
12 Colour Pair (#1-12)
1997
Media
Enamel on canvas
Enamel on canvas
Dimensions
Dyptic, each painting 80.5 x 80.5 cm
Series
1–12
Dyptic, each painting 80.5 x 80.5 cm
Series
1–12
Collections
Numerous private
Numerous private
1995
8 Colours series
8 Colours series
8 Colours
1995
Media
Enamel on canvas
Enamel on canvas
Dimensions
66 1/2 x 49 1/2 inches
Series
5 of ?
66 1/2 x 49 1/2 inches
Series
5 of ?
Collections
Numerous private
Numerous private
1994
Nominal Four
Nominal Four
Nominal Four (#1-9)
1997
Media
Oil on canvas
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
42 1/8 x 39 3/8 inches
Series
1–9
42 1/8 x 39 3/8 inches
Series
1–9
Collections
Art Gallery of Windsor
McCarthy Tétrault
Numerous private
Art Gallery of Windsor
McCarthy Tétrault
Numerous private
1993
Four Corners Series
Four Corners Series
1993
Media
Oil on canvas
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
80 x 63 inches
Series
1–6
80 x 63 inches
Series
1–6
Collections
Art Bank, Ottawa
McCarthy Tétrault
Art Bank, Ottawa
McCarthy Tétrault
1992
Surface Design for Tempered Windscreens
PUBLIC ART
METRO HALL
Surface Design for Tempered Windscreens
PUBLIC ART
METRO HALL
Surface Design for Tempered Windscreens
1992
Media
Tempered glass
Tempered glass
Dimensions
36 Panels, 60 cm x 2.2 m
Location
55 John Street, Metro Hall, Toronto
Collection
Public Art & Monuments collection, City of Toronto
36 Panels, 60 cm x 2.2 m
Location
55 John Street, Metro Hall, Toronto
Collection
Public Art & Monuments collection, City of Toronto
1992
Twelve Areas series
Twelve Areas series
Twelve Areas (BNYR),
(BRNY),
(BYRN),
(RBYN), (RYBN), (RYNB), (RYNB), (YNRB)
1992
Media
Oil on canvas
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
41 3/4 x 30 inches / 106 x 76 cm
Series
8
41 3/4 x 30 inches / 106 x 76 cm
Series
8
Collections
Musée des Beaux Art de Sherbrooke
Musée d'Art Joliette
Numerous private
Musée d'Art Joliette
Numerous private
1991
Inverse Squares series
Inverse Squares series
Inverse Squares
1991
Media
Oil on canvas
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
100 x 210 cm
Series
12
100 x 210 cm
Series
12
Collections
Art Bank, Ottawa
Art Museum of Estonia (KUMU)
Art Gallery of Hamilton
Kenderdine Art Gallery
Art Bank, Ottawa
Art Museum of Estonia (KUMU)
Art Gallery of Hamilton
Kenderdine Art Gallery
1991
False Target
False Target
False Target (#1-24)
1991
Media
Enamel on panel
Enamel on panel
Dimensions
19.75 x 32.75 inches
Series
24 (rbyK; rybK; bryK; byrK; etc)
19.75 x 32.75 inches
Series
24 (rbyK; rybK; bryK; byrK; etc)
Collections
Museum London
Numerous private
Numerous private
1990
Vertical Composition series
Vertical Composition series
Vertical Composition
Black Blue, Black Red, Black Yellow, Blue Black, Blue Red, Blue Yellow, Red Blue, Red Yellow, Yellow Black, Yellow Red
Black Blue, Black Red, Black Yellow, Blue Black, Blue Red, Blue Yellow, Red Blue, Red Yellow, Yellow Black, Yellow Red
1990
Media
Oil on canvas
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
36 x 90 inches
Series
10
36 x 90 inches
Series
10
Collections
Albright Knox Art Gallery
Art Museum of Estonia (KUMU)
McCarthy Tétrault
Art Museum of Estonia (KUMU)
McCarthy Tétrault
1990
Square Composition series
Square Composition series
Square Composition
Black over Blue, Black over Red, Black over Yellow, Blue over Black, Blue over Red, Blue over Yellow, Red over Black, Red over Blue, Red over Yellow, Yellow over Black, Yellow over Blue, Yellow over Red
Black over Blue, Black over Red, Black over Yellow, Blue over Black, Blue over Red, Blue over Yellow, Red over Black, Red over Blue, Red over Yellow, Yellow over Black, Yellow over Blue, Yellow over Red
1990
Media
Oil on canvas
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
43 x 39 1/2 inches
Series
12
43 x 39 1/2 inches
Series
12
Collections
Art Bank, Ottawa
Carleton University
Carleton University
1988-89
4 Panel paintings
4 Panel paintings
Act as we Act;
Axe;
Axiom of Appearance;
Change of State;
Cleopjas at Home;
Feel As We Feel;
Green Void;
Gun; Holly Terror;
Look as We Look; Mirror as First Principle;
Mirror at Smithson's Flats;
Mirror of Opposite Facts;
Night and Day; Quidditas; Tatlin Visits Tallin; Think as We Think; Tree; Wing and a Prayer
1989
Media
Oil on canvas, dacron, linen
Oil on canvas, dacron, linen
Dimensions
Various; from 46 to 81 cm x 160 to 263 cm
Series
20+
Various; from 46 to 81 cm x 160 to 263 cm
Series
20+
Collections
Art Gallery of Ontario
National Gallery of Canada
Various private
National Gallery of Canada
Various private
1989
9-Part Painting series
9-Part Painting series
Nine Part Painting (#1-3)
1989
Media
Oil on canvas
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
30 x 178 inches
Series
3
30 x 178 inches
Series
3
Collections
Jaan Poldaas estate
Unknown
Unknown
1987-89
The Geraldton paintings (or “top alligned polyptychs”)
The Geraldton paintings (or “top alligned polyptychs”)
Auden Road; Beardmore; Devilfish Bay; Geraldton;
Greta Lake;
Kenogomisis;
Lahti's Road;
Macdiarmid; MacLeod Lagoon; Magnet Creek; McElvie Lake;
Mosher;
Nakina;
Station 80;
Tansleyville;
Tooth and Piston;
Wintering River
1987-88
Media
Oil on canvas, dacron, linen
Oil on canvas, dacron, linen
Dimensions
Various; from 18 to 28 x 78 to 104 inches
Series
16+
Various; from 18 to 28 x 78 to 104 inches
Series
16+
Collections
Various private
Jaan Poldaas estate
Jaan Poldaas estate
Frieze
1983-1987
Media
Alkyd and acrylic on wood; Alkyd on duraply panels; Oil on wood
Alkyd and acrylic on wood; Alkyd on duraply panels; Oil on wood
Dimensions
Various; 42.2 x 480 x 1.2 cm
Series
7
Various; 42.2 x 480 x 1.2 cm
Series
7
Collections
AGO
Art Bank, Ottawa
Doris McCarthy Gallery
National Gallery of Canada
Vancouver Art Gallery
Art Bank, Ottawa
Doris McCarthy Gallery
National Gallery of Canada
Vancouver Art Gallery
1982
(2,1,3) 5 Colours
(2,1,3) 5 Colours
(2,1,3) 5 Colours
1982
Media
Alkyd and acrylic on wood; Alkyd on duraply panels; Oil on wood
Alkyd and acrylic on wood; Alkyd on duraply panels; Oil on wood
Dimensions
80 x 72 inches
Series
7
80 x 72 inches
Series
7
Collections
Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
Art Gallery of Hamilton
Agnes Etherington Art Centre
Carleton University Art Gallery
Art Gallery of Hamilton
Agnes Etherington Art Centre
Carleton University Art Gallery
1980-1
Entropy
Entropy
Entropy Black Yellow Blue;
Blue Black Green;
Blue White Black; Blue Yellow Red; Green White Red;
Green Yellow Blue;
Green Yellow Red; Green, White, Black;
Red Black Blue;
Red Black Blue;
Red Black Green;
Red Blue Green;
Red White Blue;
Red, White, Black;
Yellow Black Red;
Yellow Blue Green;
Yellow Blue White;
Yellow Red White
1982
Media
Enamel on board
Enamel on board
Dimensions
63 3/4 x 14 inches
Series
20
63 3/4 x 14 inches
Series
20
Collections
Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
Art Gallery of Hamilton
Carleton University Art Gallery
Collection U Lethbridge
Art Gallery of Hamilton
Carleton University Art Gallery
Collection U Lethbridge
1978-79
E.G. Series
E.G. Series
E.G Series
1978 to 1979
Media
Various paints on masonite panels
Various paints on masonite panels
Dimensions
40 panels, each panel 2 meters x 2 feet
Series
3
40 panels, each panel 2 meters x 2 feet
Series
3
Collections
National Gallery of Canada
1976Colour Xerography series
Colour Xerography (CYM; MYC; Double Random Reflected)
1976
Media
Ink on Xerox paper
Ink on Xerox paper
Dimensions
Legal sized paper, diptychs
Series
3
Legal sized paper, diptychs
Series
3
Collections
Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
1974 - 1976MSC Series
MSC Series (#1-6)
1974-6
Media
Alkyd on masonite
Alkyd on masonite
Dimensions
55 panels; 48 x 48 inches
Series
6
55 panels; 48 x 48 inches
Series
6
Collections
Art Gallery of Ontation (AGO)
1972-73
Paintings on Paper
Horizon Series;
Large collage series;
Root 2 paintings;
Paintings on Paper
Horizon Series;
Large collage series;
Root 2 paintings;
Paintings on paper:
Horizon series (#1-5); Collage series (Blue Brown); Window series (#1-3); 3 x 2 series (Yellow, Red, Blue);
1974-6
Media
Lacquer and enamel paint on cover stock paper
Lacquer and enamel paint on cover stock paper
Dimensions
23 x 35 inches; 23 x 28 inches
Series
6
23 x 35 inches; 23 x 28 inches
Series
6
Collections
Agnes Ethertington Art Centre
b. in Kristianstad, Sweden, d. in Toronto, Canada
Jaan Poldaas (1948-2018) was born in Sweden to Estonian refugees. He came to Canada as an infant and grew up in Northern Ontario. Initially trained as an architect at the University of Toronto, Poldaas began painting in 1971 in the geometric abstract style for which he is known, but from a consistently experimental and conceptual perspective. He was a founding member of Mercer Union, an artist-run centre in Toronto that is still in operation. Work by Jaan Poldaas can be found nationally in major Canadian museum collections, such as the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the National Gallery of Canada, and internationally such as the Buffalo AKG Art Museum in New York, U.S.A (formerly the Albright Knox), and the KUMU (Estonian Art Museum).
E.G. Series 1978-2011, Digital edition, 2024
E.G. Brown after Robert Jacks
E.G. Flesh after Parness
E.G. Yellow after Via Rail
E.G. Green after Gardiner Expressway
E.G. Yellow after Traffic
E.G. Grey after Canadian Navy
E.G. Red after CP Rail
E.G. Maroon after TTC
E.G. Beige after Toronto Transit Commission
E.G. Green after Park Bench
E.G. Blue after Art Gallery of Ontario
E.G. Blue after McNealy
E.G. Red after Coca-Cola
E.G. Green after Ford
E.G. Blue after Toronto Star
E.G. Red after Toronto Sun
E.G. Orange after Globe and Mail
E.G. Aluminium after Bell Telephone
E.G. Yellow after Metro Works
E.G. Grey after Gardiner (proposed)
E.G. Yellow after Jamie Lyons
E.G. Copper after Ric Evans
E.G. Yellow after School Bus
E.G. Red after Toronto Hydro
E.G. Mist Blue after Chevrolet
E.G. Yellow after Metro Police
E.G. Orange after CP Freight
E.G. Red after Toronto Fire Department
E.G. Green after Bell Telephone
E.G. Yellow after Cab/Caterpillar
E.G. Green after Middelburg
E.G. Blue after Ford
E.G. Green after GO Transit
E.G. Blue after Via Rail
Photo: Toni Hafkenscheid
Contact Info
Jaan Poldaas estate
Jaan Poldaas estate
Estate and exhibition enquiries
infoatjaanpoldaas.com
Archive and research enquiries
archiveatjaanpoldaas.com
Sales
Arsenal Contemporary New York
Jill Mintz, Sales Director
jmintzatarsenalcontemporary.com
21 Cortlandt Alley (2nd Floor), New York, NY 10013 USA
infoatjaanpoldaas.com
Archive and research enquiries
archiveatjaanpoldaas.com
Sales
Arsenal Contemporary New York
Jill Mintz, Sales Director
jmintzatarsenalcontemporary.com
21 Cortlandt Alley (2nd Floor), New York, NY 10013 USA