Gillian McConnell
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Gillian attained a BFA (Hons) with a Major in Printmaking (intaglio) and a Minor in Art History from Queen’s University at Kingston, Ontario (1980), where her mentors included Jennifer Dickson, Carl Heywood and Ralph Allen. She has also studied and worked in Textile, Fashion and Graphic Design, Art Education and Picture Framing.
An interdisciplinary artist, Gillian has been creating thematic work, centred on dichotomy and paradox, since the late 1990s. In 2009, she co-founded OXOgraphy, a conceptual art collective, and co-curated a critically successful, inaugural OXOgraphy exhibition in 2012. An award-winning artist, Gillian has been featured in several joint exhibitions and participated in numerous group exhibitions and prizes in Canada and Australia. Her work is held in private collections in Canada, the USA and Australia. Since 2001, Gillian has been involved in community arts initiatives as a curator, juror, board member and volunteer (including membership in the steering committee behind the success of the Salt Spring National Art Prize). Gillian lives on Salt Spring Island, BC Canada, where she also frames art, teaches workshops and enjoys writing, music, running and swimming. |
Artist Statement
I create work that invites the beholder to question the face value of paradigms, beliefs and narratives. I embody my ideas in visual metaphor and the juxtaposition of realist and abstract imagery, using a variety of media.
What if Dichotomy is an illusion—Paradox, Truth? We live in a Divide to Conquer world, incessantly polarised into a multitude of fabricated tribes. None of us is immune to the increasingly subtle propaganda that pits coloured against white, gender fluidity against biology, dogma against science, realism against abstraction. It’s an insidious zero/sum game of Us vs Them, in which everyone gets to be right, but only the Plutocrats win.
Artists are the harbingers of change. When we bring all of our being to the creative process, we are empowered to create art that is intellectually stimulating, emotionally moving, spiritually uplifting and aesthetically engaging. Powerful art embodies the universal in the particular. It has the potential to build bridges, cross our ‘divides’ and re-unite us in friendship, family, community and humanity.
What if Dichotomy is an illusion—Paradox, Truth? We live in a Divide to Conquer world, incessantly polarised into a multitude of fabricated tribes. None of us is immune to the increasingly subtle propaganda that pits coloured against white, gender fluidity against biology, dogma against science, realism against abstraction. It’s an insidious zero/sum game of Us vs Them, in which everyone gets to be right, but only the Plutocrats win.
Artists are the harbingers of change. When we bring all of our being to the creative process, we are empowered to create art that is intellectually stimulating, emotionally moving, spiritually uplifting and aesthetically engaging. Powerful art embodies the universal in the particular. It has the potential to build bridges, cross our ‘divides’ and re-unite us in friendship, family, community and humanity.
Selected Exhibitions
2025
The Parallel Art Show (PAS), an initiative of the Salt Spring National Art Prize (SSNAP), ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
2024
Tossed & Found, The Salt Spring Gallery of Fine Art, Salt Spring Island BC
2023
Live in Colour – solo exhibition and residency with artist talk and workshops, The Salt Spring Gallery of Fine Art, Salt Spring Island BC
Tossed & Found, The Salt Spring Gallery of Fine Art, Salt Spring Island BC
Re-Imagined – transorming waste into art (Refuse, Re-use, Re-purpose, Recycle); Conceived and curated by the Salt Spring Island Printmakers Society (SSIPS), ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
2022
The Parallel Art Show (PAS) –250 Fundraiser, ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
2021
The Parallel Art Show (PAS), an initiative of the Salt Spring National Art Prize (SSNAP), ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
2020
Splash – annual Arts Umbrella fundraiser, The Pendulum Gallery, Vancouver BC
2019
Splash – annual Arts Umbrella fundraiser, The Pendulum Gallery, Vancouver BC
Easter Art Show–Homage – artists pay tribute, with artist talk; Curated by Patrick McCallum; Mahon Hall, Salt Spring Island BC
2018
Motion, Salt Spring Gallery of Fine Art, Salt Spring Island BC
2017
Four – Gillian McConnell, Deon Venter, Kathy Venter, Bill Boyd, Gallery 8, Salt Spring Island BC
The Parallel Art Show (PAS), an initiative of the Salt Spring National Art Prize (SSNAP), ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
Image to Text to Image: Creating Dialogue, Comox Valley Art Gallery, Courtenay BC
Imprints 2017, Duthie Gallery, Salt Spring Island BC
Ripple Effect 2, Salt Spring Gallery of Fine Art, Salt Spring Island BC
2016
Surfacing – Explorations in Two Dimensions, ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
Easter Art Tour – with artist talk, Mahon Hall and Salt Spring Wild Cider, Salt Spring Island BC
2015
Relation / Crude – prints by George Wallace, 60 selected works from 100 Crude by Gillian McConnell; Curated by Margaret Day, The Point Gallery, Salt Spring Island BC
The Charcoal Project – works by local artists and secondary school students, (from Artist in the Class workshops), incorporating charcoal recovered from 100+ year-old Japanese pit kilns under restoration in Mouat Park; Curated by Gillian McConnell, Salt Spring Island Public Library, Salt Spring Island BC
2014
The Even Cheaper Show, ArtBarn, Salt Spring Island BC
20/20 – Connect-Disconnect, ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
2013
The Even Cheaper Show, ArtBarn, Salt Spring Island BC
Works on Paper, solo exhibition, ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
2012
Fine Art Signature Showcase – with artist talk, ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
Velo Village SRAM pART Project – art works created from 100 high-performance SRAM bike parts. Fundraising Auction for World Bicycle Relief. ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
OXOgraphy – inaugural exhibition of the OXOgraphy Conceptual Art Collective, Gillian McConnell, Anthony Matthews, ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
Feature Wall – art as decoration-décor as art, solo exhibition, The Cultch (Vancouver East Cultural Centre), Vancouver BC
2011
The Underlying Spirit: An Homage to Emily Carr – awarded first prize for ‘Flying into the Wordless’; Sponsored by the Victoria College of Art, with Madrona Gallery, the BC Arts Council and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (AGGV). Madrona Gallery, Victoria BC
Artepelago–Attachments, Mahon Hall, Salt Spring Island BC
Painting On The Edge (POTE), Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver BC
Easter Art Tour – with sculptor Morley Myers, Morley Myers Studio & Gallery, Salt Spring Island BC
2010
drift–Salt Spring Arts Council Showcase Exhibition, Gillian McConnell, Megan Manning, Louise Goodman and poet George Sipos, Mahon Hall, Salt Spring Island BC
2009
Interiors – Gillian McConnell, Stefanie Denz, Hamza bin al-Wathan, Louise Goodman, Megan Manning; Curated by Gillian McConnell, ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
Splash – fundraiser (with Teresa Hitch), ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
2008
Identity—Artists Portray Themselves, ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
Easter Art Tour – Susan Haigh, Gillian McConnell, Hamza bin al-Wathan; Curated by Anthony Matthews, Mahon Hall, Salt Spring Island BC
2007
Landmarks – work by Ron Crawford, Gillian McConnell and Ian Thomas; Curated by Margaret Day, The Point Gallery, Salt Spring Island BC
2006
The Combined Rotary Clubs Art Spectacular – awarded 1st Prize–Works under $500 for ‘Eave’, Riverside Centre, Brisbane Queensland
2005
In With The Out Crowd, a Salon Des Refusés (from the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes), Noosa Regional Gallery, Tewantin Queensland
Surface 2 Surface – with Robert Andrews, Art Factory Gallery, Brisbane Queensland
24th Immanuel Arts Festival – awarded Outstanding Painting of the Festival for ‘Equilibrium’ , Immanuel College, Maroochydore Queensland
2004
Harvest Regional Art Awards – Flying Arts Inc – awarded the Flying Arts Members’ Prize, Riverside Centre, Brisbane and Warwick Art Gallery, Warwick Queensland
Double Exposure – with Desley Rolph, Cool-Art Gallery, Coolum Beach Queensland
Bittersweet – sugar cane – the end of an era?, with gold and diamond jewellery by MAD in Italy; Curated by Gillian McConnell, Noosa Regional Gallery, Tewantin Queensland
Roma Art Group Easter Art Exhibition, First Prize (Miniatures) for ‘La Dolce Vita I’ – Roma Bungil Cultural Centre, Roma, Queensland
2003
Terra Australis, solo exhibition, Blue Dolphin Gallery, Mooloolaba Queensland
22nd Immanuel Arts Festival – awarded Outstanding Painting for ‘The Veil of Burning Silence’, Immanuel College, Maroochydore Queensland
2002
Cool Colour Collage Collection, solo exhibition, Cinema Paradiso Café and Bar, Noosa Queensland
2001
As Far As The Eye Can See, Eumundi Road Gallery, Eumundi Queensland
For Always, with printmaker Jennifer McDowell, Art Café Manly, Brisbane Queensland
The Parallel Art Show (PAS), an initiative of the Salt Spring National Art Prize (SSNAP), ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
2024
Tossed & Found, The Salt Spring Gallery of Fine Art, Salt Spring Island BC
2023
Live in Colour – solo exhibition and residency with artist talk and workshops, The Salt Spring Gallery of Fine Art, Salt Spring Island BC
Tossed & Found, The Salt Spring Gallery of Fine Art, Salt Spring Island BC
Re-Imagined – transorming waste into art (Refuse, Re-use, Re-purpose, Recycle); Conceived and curated by the Salt Spring Island Printmakers Society (SSIPS), ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
2022
The Parallel Art Show (PAS) –250 Fundraiser, ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
2021
The Parallel Art Show (PAS), an initiative of the Salt Spring National Art Prize (SSNAP), ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
2020
Splash – annual Arts Umbrella fundraiser, The Pendulum Gallery, Vancouver BC
2019
Splash – annual Arts Umbrella fundraiser, The Pendulum Gallery, Vancouver BC
Easter Art Show–Homage – artists pay tribute, with artist talk; Curated by Patrick McCallum; Mahon Hall, Salt Spring Island BC
2018
Motion, Salt Spring Gallery of Fine Art, Salt Spring Island BC
2017
Four – Gillian McConnell, Deon Venter, Kathy Venter, Bill Boyd, Gallery 8, Salt Spring Island BC
The Parallel Art Show (PAS), an initiative of the Salt Spring National Art Prize (SSNAP), ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
Image to Text to Image: Creating Dialogue, Comox Valley Art Gallery, Courtenay BC
Imprints 2017, Duthie Gallery, Salt Spring Island BC
Ripple Effect 2, Salt Spring Gallery of Fine Art, Salt Spring Island BC
2016
Surfacing – Explorations in Two Dimensions, ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
Easter Art Tour – with artist talk, Mahon Hall and Salt Spring Wild Cider, Salt Spring Island BC
2015
Relation / Crude – prints by George Wallace, 60 selected works from 100 Crude by Gillian McConnell; Curated by Margaret Day, The Point Gallery, Salt Spring Island BC
The Charcoal Project – works by local artists and secondary school students, (from Artist in the Class workshops), incorporating charcoal recovered from 100+ year-old Japanese pit kilns under restoration in Mouat Park; Curated by Gillian McConnell, Salt Spring Island Public Library, Salt Spring Island BC
2014
The Even Cheaper Show, ArtBarn, Salt Spring Island BC
20/20 – Connect-Disconnect, ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
2013
The Even Cheaper Show, ArtBarn, Salt Spring Island BC
Works on Paper, solo exhibition, ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
2012
Fine Art Signature Showcase – with artist talk, ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
Velo Village SRAM pART Project – art works created from 100 high-performance SRAM bike parts. Fundraising Auction for World Bicycle Relief. ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
OXOgraphy – inaugural exhibition of the OXOgraphy Conceptual Art Collective, Gillian McConnell, Anthony Matthews, ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
Feature Wall – art as decoration-décor as art, solo exhibition, The Cultch (Vancouver East Cultural Centre), Vancouver BC
2011
The Underlying Spirit: An Homage to Emily Carr – awarded first prize for ‘Flying into the Wordless’; Sponsored by the Victoria College of Art, with Madrona Gallery, the BC Arts Council and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (AGGV). Madrona Gallery, Victoria BC
Artepelago–Attachments, Mahon Hall, Salt Spring Island BC
Painting On The Edge (POTE), Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver BC
Easter Art Tour – with sculptor Morley Myers, Morley Myers Studio & Gallery, Salt Spring Island BC
2010
drift–Salt Spring Arts Council Showcase Exhibition, Gillian McConnell, Megan Manning, Louise Goodman and poet George Sipos, Mahon Hall, Salt Spring Island BC
2009
Interiors – Gillian McConnell, Stefanie Denz, Hamza bin al-Wathan, Louise Goodman, Megan Manning; Curated by Gillian McConnell, ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
Splash – fundraiser (with Teresa Hitch), ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
2008
Identity—Artists Portray Themselves, ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
Easter Art Tour – Susan Haigh, Gillian McConnell, Hamza bin al-Wathan; Curated by Anthony Matthews, Mahon Hall, Salt Spring Island BC
2007
Landmarks – work by Ron Crawford, Gillian McConnell and Ian Thomas; Curated by Margaret Day, The Point Gallery, Salt Spring Island BC
2006
The Combined Rotary Clubs Art Spectacular – awarded 1st Prize–Works under $500 for ‘Eave’, Riverside Centre, Brisbane Queensland
2005
In With The Out Crowd, a Salon Des Refusés (from the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes), Noosa Regional Gallery, Tewantin Queensland
Surface 2 Surface – with Robert Andrews, Art Factory Gallery, Brisbane Queensland
24th Immanuel Arts Festival – awarded Outstanding Painting of the Festival for ‘Equilibrium’ , Immanuel College, Maroochydore Queensland
2004
Harvest Regional Art Awards – Flying Arts Inc – awarded the Flying Arts Members’ Prize, Riverside Centre, Brisbane and Warwick Art Gallery, Warwick Queensland
Double Exposure – with Desley Rolph, Cool-Art Gallery, Coolum Beach Queensland
Bittersweet – sugar cane – the end of an era?, with gold and diamond jewellery by MAD in Italy; Curated by Gillian McConnell, Noosa Regional Gallery, Tewantin Queensland
Roma Art Group Easter Art Exhibition, First Prize (Miniatures) for ‘La Dolce Vita I’ – Roma Bungil Cultural Centre, Roma, Queensland
2003
Terra Australis, solo exhibition, Blue Dolphin Gallery, Mooloolaba Queensland
22nd Immanuel Arts Festival – awarded Outstanding Painting for ‘The Veil of Burning Silence’, Immanuel College, Maroochydore Queensland
2002
Cool Colour Collage Collection, solo exhibition, Cinema Paradiso Café and Bar, Noosa Queensland
2001
As Far As The Eye Can See, Eumundi Road Gallery, Eumundi Queensland
For Always, with printmaker Jennifer McDowell, Art Café Manly, Brisbane Queensland
Performances
2017
Celebration of Arts – Artists Mashup, with dancer/choreographer Anna Haltrecht and singer, Caroni Young; Conceived by Gillian McConnell, ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
2016
Summer at the Snow Fence (as the artist’s model), The Point Gallery, Salt Spring Island BC
Celebration of Arts – Artists Mashup, with dancer/choreographer Anna Haltrecht and singer, Caroni Young; Conceived by Gillian McConnell, ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island BC
2016
Summer at the Snow Fence (as the artist’s model), The Point Gallery, Salt Spring Island BC