Fredrick W. Lemke has been in the Yukon since 1979. Originally born in Germany, the visual artist calls Whitehorse his home, as well as an endless source of inspiration to create. Over the years here, he’s made quite a few connections in the Yukon’s artistic community—enough that he feels confident hosting his own exhibition and sale of art from his own home.

“The space available in a mobile home is limited, but it still works,” Lemke admitted. “Whitehorse is an artistic place, with many shows taking place over a year. I had shows in the ’80s and ’90s, with an art gallery here, and this is my second exhibit from home.”

Lemke’s art largely focuses on landscape visuals that capture the serenity of the Yukon’s nature and wilderness, without shying away from showing what the winter weather can be like—Lemke even laments to What’s Up Yukon that it’s already -15 degrees out in early November.

“I always appreciated creation and its beauty; to reflect that in my art was only natural,” Lemke explained. “I like to paint the natural way, not abstract.”

Lemke had some arts training at vocational school, growing up in Germany, but considers himself mostly self-taught as a painter. He always leaned towards artistic expression and found he had a skill for it. He has honed creating and working on his own projects over the years.

“The inclination and enjoyment to paint was there from early childhood on,” he said. “I chose watercolour as [the] medium, rather than oil or aryl.”

Lemke’s exhibition and sale of original watercolour paintings will be taking place Saturday, November 19, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Lemke’s home, located at 108 Lobird Trailer Park. The new pieces on display and for sale are from Lemke’s National Landscapes & Wildlife collection, and Lemke will also be selling prints for 50 per cent off. As for what people can expect to see in these new works, Lemke says “mostly northern landscapes, where we live, as well as its wildlife; not so much people.”

Lemke’s original paintings have made their way into private collections all around the world, and his prints are available for purchase in many galleries in Western Canada, as well as some in Alaska.

Though he’s been in the Yukon for decades, Lemke doesn’t get tired of it as there is always artistic and creative inspiration to be found in the landscapes of the territory.

“I love nature and creation and like to paint,” he said. “I love the outdoors, and the Yukon has endless motives to offer.”
To read more about Lemke and see more of his original artwork, visit yukonart.ca/collections/fredrick-lemke.

Leave a Comment

Scroll to Top