Artist statement
In my semi-abstract acrylic paintings, I explore scale and perception, inspired by years of photographing my urban environment. I walk around my neighbourhood, I observe, and I imagine. While keeping the compositions I see, I create new ways of presenting them. Scratches, repairs, and dents on concrete support walls, and gravel-strewn sidewalks, leave traces that lead us to worlds with multiple interpretations. I see potential beauty in neglected or mundane elements of our environment. My paintings can address first impressions and how they can hinder the learning of complex and rich stories.
Wendy A. Thomas has a B.A. (Honours, Visual Arts) and an M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from York University, Toronto, Ontario.
She has also studied at the Visual Arts Centre, Westmount, Quebec and is a professional member of the Regroupement des artistes en arts visuels (RAAV). She lives and paints in Montreal, Quebec.
Dans mes peintures acryliques semi-abstraites, j'explore l'échelle et la perception, inspirées par des années de photographie de mon environnement urbain. Je me promène dans mon quartier, j'observe et j'imagine. Tout en conservant les compositions que je vois, je crée de nouvelles façons de les présenter. Rayures, réparations et bosses sur les murs de soutènement en béton, ainsi que trottoirs jonchés de graviers, laissent des traces qui nous entraînent dans des mondes aux interprétations multiples. Je vois une beauté potentielle dans les éléments négligés de notre environnement. Mes peintures peuvent aborder les premières impressions et la manière dont elles peuvent entraver l'apprentissage d'histoires complexes et riches.
Wendy A. Thomas est titulaire d'un B.A. en beaux-arts (spécialisée en arts visuels) et une maîtrise en études interdisciplinaires de l’Université York, à Toronto, Ontario. Elle étudiait au Centre des arts visuels de Westmount, Québec et elle est membre professionnel du Regroupement des artistes en arts visuels (RAAV). Elle habite et peint à Montréal, au Québec.
CURRICULUM VITAE (abridged)
Wendy A. Thomas
Montreal, QC
Email: wendy.a.thomas@gmail.com
Websites: https://wendythomas.ca/
Citizenship: Canadian, born in Montreal, QC
SOLO EXHIBITION (JURIED)
2020-2021 Au-delà des premières impressions, Centre d’exposition de Val-d’Or, Val-d’Or, QC
JOINT EXHIBITION (JURIED)
2025 Traces, L’Artothèque, Montreal, QC, duo exhibition with Shelley Freeman
2024 Surfaces, Depths, and In-betweens / Surfaces, profondeurs, et les entre-deux, Arbor Gallery, Vankleek Hill, ON, as part of Concrescence Art Collective, with Shelley Freeman
2024 Galerie Mission Old Brewery, Montreal, QC, with Marie José Gélinas
GROUP EXHIBITIONS (JURIED)
2025 NDG Art Hop, Montreal, QC
2025 Stewart Hall 2025 Art Rental Collection, Pointe-Claire, QC
2024 Montreal Children’s Hospital Mural Project, Precious Bonds [selected to create one tile]
2024 Stewart Hall 2024 Art Rental Collection, Pointe-Claire, QC
2023 Quoi de neuf ? 2023, L’Artothèque, Montreal, QC
2023 NDG Art Hop, Montreal, QC
2022 Viva Arts, Native Immigrant, Montreal, QC
2022 Hommage à Riopelle, Arts et culture, St-Adolphe-d’Howard, QC
2022 NDG Art Hop, Montreal, QC
2022 Quoi de neuf ? 2022, L’Artothèque, Montreal, QC
2022 Stewart Hall 2022 Art Rental Collection, Pointe-Claire, QC
2022 Entre Nous 2022, La Maison Trestler, Vaudreuil-Dorion, QC
2021 Stewart Hall 2021 Art Rental Collection, Pointe-Claire, QC
2021 Entre Nous 2021, La Maison Trestler, Vaudreuil-Dorion, QC
2021 Autumn Mosaic, Arts et culture, St-Adolphe-d’Howard, QC
2020 Let’s Get Wild!, Métèque Gallery, Montreal, QC
2020 Poetic Notions, E. K. Voland Gallery, St-Henri, QC
2020 Entre Nous 2020, La Maison Trestler, Vaudreuil-Dorion, QC
2019 Le Cadeau, Beaux-Arts des Amériques, Montréal, QC
2019 Encore vert, E. K. Voland Gallery, St-Henri, QC
2019 Salon d’art NDG 2, Métèque Gallery, Montréal, QC
2017 Lattices and Interstices, Galerie de la ville, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC
EDUCATION
2015-2017 Certificate in Editing, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC
1980-1984 Master of Arts (Interdisciplinary Studies – Art History of Central Africa), York University, Toronto, ON
1978-1980 Certificate in the Teaching of English as a Second Language – Secondary Level, Concordia University, Montreal, QC
1971-1975 Bachelor of Arts (Honours – Visual Arts), York University, Toronto, ON
CONTINUING EDUCATION
2019-present On-line workshops (RAAV, ELAN, Canadian Artists Network)
2022 Painting Atelier, in-studio class by artist Jessica Houston
2007-2022 Painting and drawing classes, Visual Arts Centre, Westmount, QC
2021 Modern Media Methods, CSARN
2020 Le marché de l’art canadien : Un survol d’Est en Ouest, Regroupement des artistes en arts visuels (RAAV), Montreal, QC
2019 Practical Steps: Preparing an Exhibition, Visual Arts Centre, Westmount, QC
2018 Colour: Theory & Application in the Visual Arts (ARTH385), Concordia University
2018 Building a Successful Portfolio: Summer Workshop and Portfolio Reviews, Concordia University
2017 Independent Study with David Lafrance, Visual Arts Centre
ASSOCIATIONS AND VOLUNTEER WORK (selected)
2022-present NDG Art Hop (planning committee)
2022-present Artists in Montreal (AIM)
2022-2024 Imprimo
2019-present Art and Heritage Collection, McGill University Health Centre (volunteer)
2017-present Regroupement des artistes en arts visuels du Québec (RAAV) (professional member)
2017-present English Language Arts Network (ELAN), QC (member)
2014-present Mount Royal Cemetery (trustee)
2000-present Canadian Museums Association (CMA) (member)
COLLECTIONS
Private collections in Canada, Philippines, Bulgaria, and the United States
PRESS
2024 Celebrating Imprimo Artists: Upcoming exhibitions from our friends. Wendy A. Thomas, Galerie Mission Old Brewery. Embossed. Vol. 1, Issue 10. April 4, 2024.
2024 Celebrating Imprimo Artists: Upcoming exhibitions from our friends. Wendy A. Thomas, Galerie Mission Old Brewery. Embossed. Vol. 1, Issue 11. April 11, 2024.
2024 “Masterful exhibition captivates the eye at Arbor Gallery.” The Review. Vankleek Hill, ON. March 31, 2024.
2024 “April at the Gallery: Exhibition.” Newsletter. Arbor Gallery, Vankleek Hill, ON. March 24, 2024.
2023 “NDG Art Hop features Montreal painters, photographers and more.” City News (Montreal). May 27, 2023.
2023 “Art lovers get hopping in NDG.” Joel Ceausu. The Suburban. Montreal, QC. May 14, 2023.
2020 Communiqué de presse: « Au-delà des premières impressions », Centre d’exposition de Val-d’Or, QC, November 2020
2020 “Flashback.” The York University Magazine. Toronto, ON. Summer 2020
Montréal, Quebec, Canada