Katerina Mertikas (b. 1957)
Subject: Joy of Winter
Medium: Acrylic on masonite
Size: 8” x 10” (17 5/16” x 19 5/16” framed) …………… $590.00 Canadian
Dating to the mid-career period that made her famous as an international UNICEF artist, this work is a classic example of Katerina Mertikas’s “naïve expressionism” style. This piece represents a highly desirable, compact 8″ x 10″ format that packs in an entire winter scene—including a snowman, children, a sled, and a cottage. Collectors highly value small “jewel box” pieces like this because they display the artist’s full signature style and vibrant palette without requiring a massive amount of wall space.
On the back of the panel, the original paper gallery label and biography sheet provide clear documentation from Koyman Galleries in Ottawa, the primary dealer representing her work since her career took off in 1991.
The backing text chronicles the period when Mertikas became the first Ottawa resident chosen as an international UNICEF artist. Her festive winter scenes, specifically sharing this exact motif and title, were selected to be reproduced on international greeting cards to raise funds for children globally.
The painting is housed in its original, multi-matted ornate gold gallery frame. The frame shows slight, age-appropriate wear that naturally fits its vintage era, preserving the exact presentation chosen by the gallery during her peak promotional years. For collectors and appraisers, this combination of the untouched backing board, matching gallery stock codes, and historical UNICEF biography serves as a solid mark of authenticity.
Copyright of the artist and or the artist estate.
