Bierk immigrated to Canada in 1972 and began teaching in Peterborough ON. Two years later, he founded Artspace, an artist-run centre, and remained its director until 1987 when he devoted himself to his artistic career full-time. His technique explores the relationship between traditional paintings and modern art-making practices – juxtaposing steel and concrete framing with nods to the work of Old Masters such as Vermeer, Caravaggio and Leonardo da Vinci and nineteenth century painters such as Édouard Manet.

Bierk’s work has been exhibited and collected internationally. His work can be found in numerous museum and corporate collections including the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario, Canada Council Art Bank and the Harvard Law School collection. Bierk was a member of the Royal Canadian Art Academy, and in 2002 he was posthumously awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal. He continued to paint right up until his untimely death. Bierk died in Peterborough ON, in August 2002. Four of David Bierk’s eight children are respected artists in their own right – Alexander Bierk, Jeffrey Bierk, Nicholas Bierk, and Charles Bierk.