RESUME

SANDRA SMIRLE

Sandra Smirle is a multidisciplinary project-based Canadian artist living in Montreal, whose practice focuses on our fraying relationship with nature. Using conservation as a lens through which to survey the landscape, she strives to create works that reflect and advance ideas of stewardship and balance.

Smirle holds an MFA (2015, Fibres and Material Practice) and BFA (1990) from Concordia University, Montreal. Her work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally and is held in private and corporate collections in Canada, Australia, and Europe. Smirle has been featured in The Map as Art: Contemporary Artists Explore Cartography, published by Princeton Architectural Press, in addition, her work was included in “Deviant Devices,” a series by The Site Magazine, 2020, and most recently in the documentary The City Island by filmmaker Elizabeth Littlejohn, 2022.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS  

2024     upcoming, Colis Suspect, centre AdMare, Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC

2024     Wrought, Artsplace Gallery, Annapolis Royal, NS

2018     Stellar Baby, Loop Gallery, Toronto, ON    

2018     String Theory, Warren G. Flowers Gallery, Dawson College, Montréal, QC

2014     String Theory, Loop Gallery, Toronto, ON

2012     Turvy, Loop Gallery, Toronto, ON

2011     Like/Unlike, and other circular decisions, Loop Gallery, Toronto, ON   2010            Spot On, Women’s Art Resource Centre, WARC Gallery, Toronto, ON  2009      Been & Gone, Board of Directors, Toronto, ON

2007     way to go, Fly Gallery, Toronto, ON  

2006     any place is better than here. Eastern Front Gallery, Toronto, ON 

2005     Gradually off in all directions. Eastern Front Gallery, Toronto, ON                

SELECTED COLLABORATIVE AND GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2023   Mississippi Valley Textile Museum, Almonte ON

2020    (as IFPP Collective), La Centrale Galerie Powerhouse Vitrine, Montreal, QC

2019   Winter Island, Artscape Youngplace, Toronto, ON 

2018    The Dollhouse at the End of the World, with IFPP Collective, Ymuno Gallery, Montréal, QC   

2017      Soft Launch (Incubator of Phantom Pregnancies Collective), Montréal, QC

2016     Transmission Art Festival; Athens – Karlsrhue, Athens Biennale, Athens Greece.  

2016     Vous êtes ici, Maison des arts et de la culture de Bromont, QC  2013        Ignition 9, Leonard & Bina Ellen Art Gallery, Montreal, QC  2013     Labarithe, Art Souterrain, Montreal, QC

2012     Spectrum/Spectro, Museo Textil de Oaxaca, Mexico 2012 14, LaGalerie d'art Stewart Hall, Point Claire, QC  2012           Sortie, FormerÉcole des beaux-­‐arts, Montreal, QC

2011     Plotting A City, York Quay Gallery, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, ON  2010            Toronto International Art Fair, Toronto, ON

2009     Here or There? List Gallery, Toronto, ON 2009    Cluster, Launch Projects, Toronto, ON

2008     UpArt, Annual Contemporary Art Fair, Gladstone Hotel, Toronto, ON  

2008     Queen West Art Crawl, Trinity Bellwoods Park, ON  2008 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, ON

2008     Latcham Gallery Annual Ontario Juried Exhibition, Stouffville, ON  

2007     Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, ON

2007     You Are Here, the emotional geography of place. Eastern Front Gallery, Toronto, ON  2006 Artto Ease Crappy    Conversation. Loop Gallery, Toronto, ON 

2006     Textile/Art – And Now for Something Completely Different, Toronto, ON  2006       Square Foot, AWOL Gallery, Toronto, ON  

2006     The McCleave Gallery Suitcase Tour 2006, Next Wave Festival, Melbourne, Australia. University of Bishop's Art Gallery, Lennoxville, 'This Neck of the Woods', Rotterdam, Netherlands, Ireland, Scotland. 

2006     The Sound of Art, Eastern Front Gallery, Toronto, ON  

2003     Paysages Urbains, Ici ou Ailleurs, Francoise Gasser et Sandra Smirle. Galerie de la Tour, Paris, France.  

2001     Les Artistes de Montorgueil, Les Cerises, Paris, France.

ACADEMIC HISTORY

2015 MFA Studio Arts: Fibres and Material Practices, Concordia University, Canada 

1990 BFA Design Art, Concordia University, Canada 

1987 Humber College of Arts and Technology, Diploma in Graphic Design, Canada

SELECT PUBLICATIONS

Deviant Devices, a series by The Site Magazine, Collect 40.2 / Small Adjustments, 2019.

The Toronto Star, Murray Whyte: View from above: Sandra Smirle's Like/Unlike at Loop, March 24, 2011 

The Globe and Mail, RM Vaughan: St. Jamestown without stereotypes. What a relief, Nov 27, 2010

The Toronto Star, Murray Whyte: Machines to turn your crank, Dec 17, 2009

The Map as Art, Contemporary Artists Explore Cartography, Princeton Architectural Press, 2009

Matriart Contemporary Visual Arts, Volume 7:4 / 8:1, Volume 5 Number 4

SCHOLARSHIPS, AWARDS, AND OTHER ACADEMIC HONOURS

Calq, Circulation of works outside of Quebec, 2024

Canada Council for the Arts, Research and Creation, 2021-22.

Artscape Gibraltar Point, Winter Island Artist in Residence, 2019.

Vermont Studio Center Program Grant, 2016.

Ontario Arts Council National and International Residency Grant, 2014. Canada Council Travel Grant, 2014

Hexagram|Ciam, Research-­‐-­‐-­‐Creation Grant 2014.

Concordia University Conference and Exhibition Award, Montreal, 2012. Ontario Arts Council, Grant to Visual Artist, 2011.

Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance Grant, 2010.

Ontario Arts Council, Grant to Visual Artist, 2009.

Toronto Arts Council, Project Grant to Visual Artist, 2008. Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance Grant, 2006.

RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Concordia University, Montreal, QC, 2012-­‐-­‐-­‐2013, Teaching Assistant, Studio Arts: ArtX.

Concordia University, Montreal, QC, 2011-­‐-­‐-­‐2012, Teaching Assistant, Studio Arts: Fibres, Print and Dye.

Women’s Art Resource Centre (WARC), Toronto, ON, 2011 – 2014, Board of Directors.

ARTIST TALKS AND RESIDENCIES

upcoming: Ad Mare, Colis Suspect, Residency, 2024

Centre Sagamie, Research and Creation Residency, November 2023

Artscape Gibraltar Point, Winter Island Artist in Residence, 2019

Dawson College, Warren G Flowers Gallery, Artist Talk, April 2018

Concordia University, Montreal QC, April 2018

The Vermont Studio Center, 2016

The Arctic Circle Program June 2014 International Residency. 

Concordia University, Montreal QC, 2013 and 2012, Artist Talks. 

Museo de Textil, Oaxaca, Mexico, May 2012, Artist Talk.

Toronto School of Art, Toronto, ON, January 2007, Artist Talk.

Toronto School of Art, Toronto, September – July 2007, Independent Studio Residency Program.

PRIVATE AND CORPORATE COLLECTIONS

Canada (BMO and TD Bank), France, Australia