Click to download GAAC Collective Manifesto 2026 .pdf document
Announcing the Formation of Geometric Abstraction Artists Canada [GAAC Collective]
Carol Cooper (Thunder Bay), Blaise DeLong (Toronto), and Heidi Spector (Montreal) are proud to announce the establishment of a new Canadian art collective: Geometric Abstraction Artists Canada [GAAC Collective], officially founded on March 19, 2025.
[GAAC Collective] unites Canadian artists dedicated to the exploration and advancement of geometric abstraction. The collective was initiated by geometric abstraction artist Carol Cooper, who serves as its coordinator, alongside Blaise DeLong and Heidi Spector, both prominent figures in Canadian geometric abstraction. Together, they form the trio of the [GAAC Collective] founding members.
DeLong and Spector were former Canadian participants in GEOFORM, the international scholarly art project curated by Julie Karabenick, PhD. GEOFORM, active from 2005 to 2020, was a remarkable international platform that illuminated the work of nearly 300 contemporary artists exploring geometric form and structure within abstract art. With over 40 in-depth artist interviews, it became an invaluable archive and dialogue space, deeply enriching the discourse around geometric abstraction. The project was envisioned and meticulously curated by Julie Karabenick, a curator, writer, and artist based in Michigan, USA, whose insight and dedication profoundly shaped the field. Her passing on August 8, 2020, was a great loss to the global art community,
In Memoriam: Julie Karabenick – Geometricae
In founding [GAAC Collective], we honour Julie Karabenick’s enduring legacy and the spirit of GEOFORM by nurturing a growing community of Canadian artists devoted to the continued exploration of geometric abstraction in contemporary practice.
Canadian Geometric Abstraction Trailblazers
In founding [GAAC Collective], we also honour the artists whose courage and clarity of vision helped develop and shape Canadian geometric abstract art. Jack Bush, Ric Evans, Guido Molinari, Françoise Sullivan, Rita Letendre, Milly Ristvedt, Claude Tousignant, Yves Gaucher, and Fernand Leduc, amongst others, were not content to follow the well-trodden path. At a time when landscapes and realism still dominated, they turned toward pure form, geometry, and abstraction as an intellectual and spiritual pursuit. Their works, grounded in structure and sensation, helped define a new era in Canadian modernism. With their disciplined lines, vibrant colour fields, and philosophical depth, they challenged us to see differently. They brought Canada into the modernist conversation by forging a language uniquely their own. Each of them brought a rigorous approach to composition and an unyielding belief in the power of colour, shape, and form to express truth.
Their contributions were not just aesthetic, they were philosophical. In breaking with tradition, they asserted that Canadian art could be as conceptually rich and visually experimental as any in the world. They gave us a new lens through which to see not just art, but perception itself. We honour them not just for what they created, but for the space they opened; a space where art became idea, and colour became a voice. Their legacy endures in every artist who dares to think in form and light….and we thank them for inspiring us as we create our own messages to the world through our art and build a collective that honours their memory through [GAAC Collective].
Vision / Mission Statement:
Geometric Abstraction Artists Canada [GAAC Collective] is a dynamic art collective committed to fostering innovation and collaboration within the field of geometric abstraction. Championing bold, contemporary voices across Canada, [GAAC Collective] presents fresh, avant-garde work while honouring the legacy of Canada’s trailblazers in the genre. Through exhibitions, partnerships, and public engagement, the collective aims to connect with new audiences both nationally and internationally, expanding the conversation around geometric abstraction in Canadian art today.
Purpose: The Rationale for Geometric Abstraction Artists Canada [GAAC Collective]
Geometric Abstraction Artists Canada (GAAC Collective) exists as a selective and juried collective dedicated to advancing the discourse and practice of geometric abstraction within the context of contemporary Canadian art.
• It functions as a centralized nexus for professional engagement among artists recognized for their innovation in the field, fostering a community grounded in shared artistic inquiry.
• It provides a platform for intra-collective discovery, encouraging the exchange of methodologies, materials, and conceptual approaches across diverse practices.
• It supports the organization of curated group exhibitions, both within Canada and internationally, to present experimental and forward-thinking work that reflects the evolving nature of geometric abstraction.
• It seeks to establish strategic alliances with peer organizations and artist collectives, promoting intellectual exchange and expanding networks of influence and collaboration.
• It aims to contribute substantively to the historical and theoretical development of geometric abstraction in 21st-century Canada, situating its members within broader contemporary art discourses.
General criteria used for the selection of potential members of the collective:
Being a Canadian Citizen and the following criteria as set out by the Canada Council for the Arts:
According to Canada Council for the Arts a “professional artist” is an artist who:
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- Has specialized training in the artistic field (not necessarily in academic institutions)
- Is recognized as a professional by his or her peers (artists working in the same artistic tradition)
- Is committed to devoting more time to artistic activity
- Has a history of public presentation or publication.
Geometric Abstraction Artists Canada [GAAC Collective] will welcome a maximum of no more than 12 members from across Canada, and as an informal group, there will be no membership fees charged. Due to being dispersed across Canada, we will not have a brick & mortar art space, but we will gather virtually via Zoom periodically for meetings.
Geometric Abstraction Artists Canada [GAAC Collective] Members:
Sydney Blum – Tatamagouche, NS
Carol Cooper – Thunder Bay, ON
Blaise DeLong – Toronto / Rockport, ON
Richard Martin, Kingston, ON
Walter Procska, Toronto, ON
Brigitte Radecki, Montreal, QC
Heidi Spector, Montreal, QC
Gillian Turnham, Peterborough, ON
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