PROVENANCE
Loch Mayberry Fine Art Inc., Winnipeg
Private Collection, Saskatoon
Canadian Post-War & Contemporary Art, Heffel Fine Art Auction House, November 28, 2013, lot 9
Private Collection, United States

William Kurelek’s art captures the essence of Prairie life, often drawing from his vivid memories of a Manitoba childhood. His works recall with authenticity the everyday rhythms of farm life—feeding animals, harvesting crops, and doing other familiar chores. But it is his depictions of children’s simple, unstructured play that hold a particular charm.

Children Dancing in the Manitoba Rain depicts a joyful moment of unrestrained delight during a summer downpour. Three children revel in the rain under an expansive, cloud-laden sky that feels both dramatic and nurturing. A boy with his shirt open dances with abandon, arms spread wide and head bowed, while another lifts his face and hands towards the heavens. A girl in the distance stands ankle-deep in pooled water, playfully raising the hem of her dress.

This scene is classic Kurelek—painted in meticulous detail with vibrant yet balanced colours, and a sensitivity to the emotional tenor of the moment. The distant farm buildings mirror the palette of the children’s attire and stand as steadfast witnesses to this fleeting, carefree moment. A celebration of innocence, spontaneity and the restorative power of nature, Children Dancing in the Manitoba Rain is an exceptional example of Kurelek’s capacity to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.

All prices are in Canadian Dollars