The art exhibit "Figured" is now on display at the Cochrane Public Library.

It features the works of several Canadian artists that focus on the study of the human body.

"They're all figure drawings, and some of them are watercolours, some of them are prints, and some of them are oil-based, so it's a wonderful collection of the theme of the human body, rather than of a specific artist," explains Jessie Pepin, Community Outreach and Program Librarian.

The human figure provides a vast window into humanity, allowing us to document culture and ideology. It has been a source of inspiration throughout history.

From Maureen Harvey’s bright watercolour painting Reclining Male Figure to Susan Bolinger’s contemplative black-and-white ink on paper Untitled, the figurative works in this exhibition are fascinating and invite us into a place of universal understanding.

The works featured spans five decades (1966 to 2004) and include 12 renowned Canadian artists: Deanna Boucher, Susan Bolinger, Pat Holland, Kay Angliss, Marion Nicoll, Illingworth Kerr, Andie Wicherts, Yuriko Kitamura, Maureen Harvey, Helen Mackie, Jonathan Knowlton, and Blair Brennan.

"So we get a wonderful impression of Canadian art for the past several decades," says Pepin.

This exhibition was curated by Xanthe Isbister and organized by the Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre for the Alberta Foundation for the Arts Travelling Exhibition program.

Twice a year, the Cochrane Public Library gets the opportunity to host a collection of prints through the Alberta Foundation of the Arts, which has four different quadrants across the province.

She says the collections hosted here are provided through the Alberta Society of Artists.

This collection will be on display until Jan. 19, and it's free to view without a library card.

A catalog with information on the artists featured is available at the front desk of the library.