A Photo History

Arnold Mikelson was born in Rauna, Latvia in 1922. He was the son of a cabinetmaker, and showed promise as an artist at a very early age. He studied at the Riga College of Arts, and in 1939 he was awarded a gold medal for his work in the arts. His formal education was as a mechanical engineer.

Mr. Mikelson spent 1947 to 1953 as the chief modeler for the Royal Crown Derby Porcelain Company of England. It was he who was responsible for the modeling of the birds and animals, still popular amongst collectors.

Shown below are some of the pieces designed by Mr. Mikelson. 

Arnold arrived in Canada in 1953 and spent the next thirteen years working as an architect in Edmonton, Alberta and Vancouver, British Columbia.

In 1966 Arnold together with his wife Mary opened the Mind and Matter Gallery in South Surrey, British Columbia. The mind creates the art and the hand illustrates it, he would say.

Over the next 18 years Arnold would tour England with many other prominent wood sculptors, and partake in exhibitions across Canada, United States, and Europe. His sculptures are in corporate and private collections all over the world.

In the spring of 1969 Arnold and his gallery were featured in the Beautiful British Columbia magazine, picture below is a copy of that feature..

Over the years Arnold was featured in newspapers and magazines nation wide. 

In 1971 Mr. Mikelson was commissioned to do three pieces for the Amy Ryan Fine Arts Center in Abilene, Texas. A roadrunner attacking a rattlesnake was one of the pieces, depicting the state bird of New Mexico. The Mockingbirds, the state bird of Texas (shown below) along with a seven foot angel completed the set.

As well in 1971 the provincial government of British Columbia ordered 20 pieces, twelve geese, four rams, and four white tailed deer. The sculptures were presented as gifts of appreciation to people outside of Canada who did their most to promote British Columbia in 1970. Shown below are recipients

Throughout the 1970's Arnold entered and won many international carving contests. He traveled all across North America taking place in exhibition's and displaying his figures. 

Arnold was kept busy at home creating more than 300 figures yearly. 

His passions to the day that he passed, was opera music and fishing. On the Mikelson estate, until recently, was Mr. Mikelsons life long dream - a 45 foot catamaran that he hand built; but never had a chance to sail.