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Name (English only)

Helen Palko

Brief_Bio

b. 1928 - d. 2006

Artist Detail - v3

Helga Palko, born in Austria in 1928, received her Master's Degree from the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. In 1954 she arrived in Canada and a year later was awarded a scholarship at the California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, where she studied enamelling and silver-smithing in 1955-56. After this, she became experienced with several techniques such as cloisonne, painted enamel and champleve - a technique considered to be the finest in craftsmanship.

She displayed as much variety in her work as in her methods. Aside from enamel dishes, this artist produced plaques, jewellery, ecclesiastical arts and murals. Two of these murals are located in Saskatchewan, one in a rural church in Lumsden and the other at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon.

Mrs. Palko exhibited both inside and outside of Canada: the first National Competitive Woodcarving and Metal Work, "The Brussels International and Universal Exhibition," the XXI Ceramic national, Jewellery 1963 International Exhibition in New York, Expo 67, and Ontario Craftsmen 67, to mention a few.
Palko also participated in several exhibitions organized by the National Gallery of Canada: the First National Fine Crafts Exhibition 1957, the Canadian National Exhibition 1962, where she was awarded the special prize for enamel, and the Canadian Fine Crafts 1966-67. She received the Award of Excellence at the Canadian Design 67 Exhibition.

Her professional career also involved teaching, sitting as a councillor on the Board of the Canadian Craftsmen's Association and other crafts organizations.

Artworks

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ImageTitleDate MadePlace MadeCollectionsMaterialsMeasurementsEditionCredit Line
Untitled (Enamelled Dish)Untitled (Enamelled Dish)1950-1960sSaskatchewan, Canada or Alberta, CanadaMetalworkCopper; enameloverall: 1.31 cm x 7.40 cm x 7.40 cm-Gift of A.H. and E. (Bessie) Fitzgerald
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