Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Lives in Montréal, Québec
Education / Éducation
MFA Yale University, School of Art and Architecture, New Haven, Connecticut
BFA Maryland Institute, College of Art, Baltimore, Maryland
Solo Exhibitions / Expositions Solos
2024
Spiders and Snakes, Bradley Ertaskiran, Montreal
Almine Rech, Brussels
2023
Call Me When You Start Wearing Red, Anat Ebgi, Los Angeles
2022
Crush, Arsenal Contemporary, NY
2021
Romantik, with Keer Tanchak, Gallery 12.26, Dallas
There There, Bradley Ertaskiran, Montréal
2019
Janet Werner, Musée d’art contemporain, Montréal
What time is it, Mr. Wolf? Art Gallery of Guelph, Guelph
I Feel Real, with Sandra Meigs at VIVIANEART, Calgary
2018
The Splits, Anat Ebgi Gallery, Los Angeles
2017
Sticky Pictures, Parisian Laundry, Montreal
2015
Zero Eyes, Esther Massry Gallery, Albany, NY
Drop, Drop Slow Tears, Parisian Laundry, Montreal
2014
Abby and Snow, Birch Contemporary, Toronto
Janet Werner, Portrait Society Gallery, Milwaukee, WI
2013
Another perfect day, Touring exhibition: Esker Foundation, Calgary; Gallery de l’UQAM, Montréal; Doris McCarthy Gallery, Toronto; Kenderdine Gallery, Saskatoon;
McIntosh Art Gallery, London
2012
Mad, Bad, Sad, Glad, What if the world Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
Earthling, Parisian Laundry, Montreal
Volta NY, New York
2011
Beauty takes a holiday, Birch Libralato Gallery, Toronto
2010
Janet Werner, Galerie Julia Garnatz, Cologne, Germany
Who’s Sorry Now? Parisian Laundry, Montreal
2009
Is Anything Alright? Art Gallery of Windsor, Windsor
2008
Too much happiness, Parisian Laundry, Montréal
New Work, Birch Libralato, Toronto
2007
Buttercup I love you, Galerie Julia Garnatz, Cologne, Germany
2006
Up here in heaven, Birch Libralato Gallery, Toronto
Misfits, Galerie Joyce Yahouda, Montréal
2005
Janet Werner, Liane & Danny Taran Gallery, Saidye Bronfman Center, Montréal
2004
Janet Werner, Robert Birch Gallery, Toronto
Janet Werner, Tracey Lawrence Gallery, Vancouver
2002
Since first I cast eyes on you/ Depuis mon premier regard sur toi,
Ottawa Art Gallery, Ottawa
Janet Werner, Robert Birch Gallery, Toronto
Janet Werner, Tracy Lawrence Gallery, Vancouver
2001
Janet Werner: New Work, Paul Kuhn Gallery, Calgary
Janet Werner, The Gallery Art Placement, Saskatoon
2000
Beautiful Losers (with Michael Fernandes), curated by Anthony Kiendl, Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina
New Work, Robert Birch Gallery, Toronto
Trust, Thames Art Gallery, Chatham
Trust, Estevan National Exhibition Center, Estevan, SK
1999
Trust, Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver
Portraits, MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie, ON
Trance (with Patrick Traer), Plug In Contemporary Art, Winnipeg
Trust, Art Gallery of Mississauga, Mississauga
New Paintings, Paul Kuhn Gallery, Calgary
Portraits, Tableau Vivant, Toronto
1998
Trust, Optica, Montréal
Lucky, Owens Art Gallery, Sackville
1997
Lucky, Southern Alberta Art Gallery, Lethbridge
Trance, The Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon
Listen (with Beaty Popescu), AKA Gallery, Saskatoon
1996
Slow Pictures, Robert Birch Gallery, Toronto
1995
Janet Werner/Kathleen Sellars, Eye Level Gallery, Halifax
Figures and Fields, Sir Wilfred Grenfell Gallery, Corner Brook
Scat, Galerie Axe NEO 7, Gatineau, QC
1994
Lingua, La Centrale, Galerie Powerhouse, Montreal
1992
Reflections on Language and the Appearance of Things, Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina
1991
Reflections on Language and the Appearance of Things, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon; Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Calgary
1990
Paintings, Garnet Press Gallery, Toronto
1989
Rehearsing the World, Plug In Contemporary Art, Winnipeg
Selected Group Exhibitions / Sélection d’expositions de groupe
2024
Beaubadugly, Musée international d’arts modestes à Sète, Sète, FR
The First Taste, Anat Ebgi, New York, US
2023
SHIFT: Ecologies of Fashion, Form and Textile, Griffin Art Projects, Vancouver
Celebrating Picasso Today: Infinite Modernism, Almine Rech, London
Feeling of Light, Almine Rech, Brussels
The Range, Gallery 12.26, Dallas
Pussy Galore, DHArtworld, Edmonton
Sunrise, Sunset, Bradley Ertaskiran, Montreal
2021
North by Northeast, Kasmin, NYC
Frieze NY, presented by Anat Ebgi
Quarante, Blouin Division, Montreal, CA
In Place, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, CA
2020
This Sacred Vessel, Part 1 and Part 2, curated by Loretta Lamargese, Arsenal Contemporary, NYC
The Armory Show NYC, with Amie Dicke presented by Anat Ebgi
NADA Miami, presented by Parisian Laundry
2019
Person/ne, curated by Lisa Baldissera, Griffin Art Projects, Vancouver
The Conversation, Minnesota Street Project, San Francisco
Heads, curated by Sky Glabush, Macintosh Art Gallery, London, ON
Frieze LA, with Anat Ebgi Gallery
2018
Flower, Petal, Tongues, curated by Cory Jackson, Griffin Art Projects, Vancouver
2017
How the light gets in, curated by Marie-Éve Beapré, Musée d’art contemporain, Montréal
PDA Lovers, Four Six One Nine Gallery, Los Angeles
Art Los Angeles Contemporary with Parisian Laundry, Solo Booth, Los Angeles
Industry, DC3 Projects, Edmonton
2016
De Ferron a BGL, Musée national des beaux arts du Québec
Art Toronto, Parisian Laundry and Birch Contemporary, Toronto, ON
Silhouettes and Other Shadows, Owens Art Gallery, Sackville
Jupe Bleue, Une Blonde, Des Calculatrices et un nu couché, Parisian Laundry,
Montréal
Summertime in Paris: Solstice, Parisian Laundry, Montreal
2015
Elles Aujhourd’hui, curated by Marie-Éve Beaupré, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montréal
L’Œil et l’Esprit, Musée d’art contemporain, Montreal
Sexish, Birch Contemporary, Toronto
Oh, Canada, curated by Denise Markonish, Glenbow Museum, Calgary
Side Project, Pop Montreal, Montreal
2014
Portrait, Trépanier Baer Gallery, Calgary
Janet Werner and Angela Huggit, curated by Debra Brehmer, The Portrait Society Gallery, Milwaukee, WI
Masquerade, Musée du Bas St. Laurent, Rivière-du-Loup, QC
2013
The Painting Project/Projet Peinture, Galerie de l’UQAM, Montréal
Painting Perspectives, curated by Jennifer Lefort, Axenéo 7, Gatineau
Perfect Imperfections, School of Art Gallery, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg
2012
The Winnipeg Alphabestiary, Simon Fraser University Gallery, SFU Burnaby;
University of Lethbridge Art Gallery
Oh, Canada, curated by Denise Markonish, Mass Moca, North Adams, Mass
2011
Bestial Encounters, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg
2010
Extreme Painting, Parisian Laundry, Montréal
2009
Added Value, Platform Gallery, Winnipeg
2008
Intrus/Intruders, curated by Melanie Boucher, Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, Québec
Generation, curated by Catherine Crowston, Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton
Entre/Voir, curated by Louise Déry, Galerie de l’UQAM, Montréal
2007
Some Girls, curated by James Campbell, McClure Gallery, Montréal
Framed: The art of the portrait, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton, ON
2006
Peindre, Centre d’Exposition de Baie Sainte Paul, Baie Sainte Paul, QC
2005
Individuation, Galerie Esthésio, Québec City
2004
Sweet and Sour, Tracey Lawrence Gallery, Vancouver
2003
Prague Biennale, “ Lazarus Effect, “ Prague, Czech Republic
Dog Days, Tracey Lawrence Gallery, Vancouver
Woman, James Baird Gallery, St. John's
2002
Posers, curated by Mathew Reichertz, St. Mary's University Art Gallery, Halifax
Beautiful Stranger, curated by Mitch Robertson, The Physics Room, Christchurch, New Zealand
Portraits - Robots, curated by Eric Simon, Galerie Graff, Montréal
2001
Defining the Portrait, curated by Sandra Paikowsky, Ellen Art Gallery, Montréal
2000
Small Craft Warning, curated by Francois Dion, Gallery 101, Ottawa
1999
Les Peintures, Galerie René Blouin/Galerie Lilian Rodriguez, Montréal
1998
Mixed Messages, Kenderdine Gallery, Saskatoon
1993 Anima <-> Materia, Kenderdine Gallery, Saskatoon
The Heliotropic, I, curated by Jennifer McMackon, Mercer Union, Toronto
1992
Propositions/Painting, curated by Lucy Hogg, Charles Scott Gallery, Vancouver
1991
Remembering and Telling: Reflections on Identity and Location, curated by Lynn Bell,
Mackenzie Art Gallery, Regina
1990
Memory and Subjectivity, curated by Janice Andrae, Garnet Press Gallery, Toronto;
Tom Thomson Memorial Art Gallery, Owen Sound ; Thunder Bay Art Gallery, Thunder Bay,
Laurentian University Museum and Art Centre, Sudbury
Exhibition Catalogues and Essays / Catalogues d’expositions et essais
Balzer, “Real Fakery: Janet Werner and Company,” Another perfect day, Kenderdine Art Gallery, 2013
Baert, Renee, Since first I cast eyes on you/Depuis mon premier regard sur toi,
Ottawa Art Gallery • Galerie d’art d’Ottawa, 2002
Baert, Renee, “Real Enough,” Janet Werner, SBC Gallery, 2008
Baerwaldt, Wayne, Trance, Mendel Art Gallery, 1998
Carson, Anne, “Flotage (Border),” Another perfect day, Kenderdine Art Gallery, 2013
Enright, Robert, “Unmasking Self-Portraiture,” Another perfect day, Kenderdine Art Gallery, 2013
Grenville, Bruce, Reflections on Language and the Appearance of Things, Mendel Art Gallery, 1991
Hogg, Lucy, Propositions/Painting, Charles Scott Gallery,1992
Keindl, Anthony, Beautiful Losers, Dunlop Art Gallery, 2000
Kissick, John, “Someone/Something/Nothing,” Another perfect day, Kenderdine Art Gallery, 2013
Laing, Carol, “The Silence of the World” in Lucky, Southern Alberta Art Gallery, 1997
Mark, Lisa, “The Language of Eyes” in Trust, Art Gallery of Mississauga, 2000
Markonish, Denise, Oh, Canada, MIT Press, 2012
McMackon, Jennifer, The Heliotropic, Mercer Union, 1993
Morin, Manon, Lingua, La Centrale, Galerie Powerhourse, 1994
O’Neill, Colleen, “Figures and fields”, in Janet Werner, Sir Wilfred Grenfell Art Gallery, 1998
Reichertz, Mathew, Posers, St. Mary’s University Art Gallery, 2002
Ring, Dan, Trance, Mendel Art Gallery, 1998
Ring, Nancy, “Awkward Beauty”, Too Much Happiness, Parisian Laundry, 2008
Sloan, Johanne, “Janet Werner and the Surface of Things,” Too Much Happiness, Parisian Laundry, 2008
Sherlock, Diana, “I Feel Real,” Vivaneart Gallery, Calgary, 2019
Walsh, Meeka, The Winnipeg Alphabestiary, Border Crossings/Arts Manitoba Publications Inc., 2008
Williamson, Janice, “Scat”, in Janet Werner, Sir Wilfred Grenfell Art Gallery, 1998
Selected Articles, Essays and Reviews /Sélection d’articles, d’essais et de comptes rendus
Balzer, David, “Janet Werner,” Modern Painters, July/August 2012;
“Up here in heaven”, Canadian Art, spring 2007
Blatherwick, David, « Peindre les failles du Langage », Spirale, March 1995
Budney, Jen, "Small Craft Warnings," Parachute 100, 2000
Campbell, James, “Janet Werner,” Border Crossings, winter 2005
Campbell, James, “Janet Werner, “ Frieze, Issue 192, Jan-Feb 2018
Cote, Nathalie, “Et moi et moi et moi,” Voir Quebec, July 7, 2005
Charron, Marie-Eve, “Secrets d’atelier avec Janet Werner et Anthony Burnham,” Le Devoir, Oct. 7 2017
Crevier, Lyne, « Tout sucre », Ici Montréal, 14 July, 2005
Dault, Gary Michael, “Tawdry, exhausting and possibly brilliant”, The Globe and Mail, 1 May, 2004
“Painting as Patchwork,” The Globe and Mail, 23 September, 2000; “Portraits that hide much more than they reveal”, The Globe and Mail, 17 April 1999, “Paint-by-numbers portraits hide disturbing details”, The Globe and Mail Sunday, Dec. 20, 2008
Dault, Julia, “Portraits of Pretend People,” The National Post, December 30, 2004
Elliott, David, “Paint person”, Canadian Art, summer 2002
Enright, Robert, “MuteAbility: Janet Werner changes the face of portraiture”, Border Crossings, 2002
Enright, Robert, “Head Games”, The Globe and Mail, 20 November 1999
Evans, Gary, “Trust,” Lola, Issue #4, summer 1999
Gillmor, Alison, “Added Value at Platform Centre”, Border Crossings, Issue #113, 2010
Ghaznavi, Corinna, “Surfacing: Janet Werner at Robert Birch”, Dart, fall 2002
Hartland-Rowe, Sara, “Around and About Painting”, Border Crossings, winter 2003
Kissick, John, “Someone/Something/Nothing,” Border Crossings, Issue #126, 2013
Laurence, Robin, “Face Off”, Border Crossings, winter 1999
Lamarche, Bernard, « Portraits d’idéaux », Le Devoir, 14 August 2005
Lehmann, Henry, “A probing look at portraits”, The Montreal Gazette, 16 July 2005
Lee, James-Jason, “Trust puts Gallerygoers’ faith to test,” Georgia Straight, Aug. 5-12, 1999
Lilburn, Tim, “Angels of History”, Border Crossings, fall 1997
Lilburn, Tim, “Clear Suspicions”, Border Crossings, winter 1992
Liss, David, “La Centrale/Galerie Powerhouse...” (review), The Gazette, Montréal, Nov. 26, 1994
Maclear, Kyo, “Blurred vision,” Toronto Life, April 1999
Mark, Lisa, “Getting our hands dirty”, C Magazine, fall 1998
Massier, John, “Trust”, Lola, summer 1999
Mendritzki, Erica, Janet Werner, Janet Werner, Border Crossings, Vol 37, Issue #145, 2018
Miller, Marcus, “Janet Werner, Melanie Rocan,Tammy Salzl,” Border Crossings, Issue #127, 2013
Osborne, Catherine, “Painter gets down to basics”, The National Post, 17 April 2004
Osterweil, Ara, “Between the glossies and the grotesque Janet Werner paints a world,” Border Crossings, Vol 39, Issue no 153, Spring 2020
Osterweil, Ara, “Janet Werner” Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, Artforum International, January 2020
“Janet Werner: Sticky Pictures,” Artforum International, December 2017
Redfern, Christine, “Seeking to put a different perspective on beauty,” Montréal Gazette, March 15, 2008
Rosenberg, Karen, Border Crossing Identity Crisis: Oh, Canada Exhibition at Mass MoCa, The New York Times, August 30, 2012
Sandals, Leah, “All the pretty horses and women,” The National Post, November 19, 2009
Severson, Anne, “Unusual portraits of our time” (review), Fast Forward, Calgary, June 3 - 9, 1999
Roenish Clint and Jane Urquardt, CB2 – Carte Blanche Volume 2: Painting, Contemporary Canadian Painting book
Schwabsky, Barry, "Janet Werner," Arsenal Contemporary NY, Artforum International, December 2022. Vol. 61 No.4
Skene, Cameron, “Janet Werner”, Border Crossings, Vol. 29 Number 3, Issue #115, Fall 2010
Sorenson, Oli, “Flirting with Death: Dispatches along 19th to 20th Century Painting,” Esse, The Idea of Painting 76, Autumn 12
Tousignant, Isa, “Piece and Parcel: Janet Werner splits her portraits back into pieces”, Hour, 28 July 2005
Tousley, Nancy, “First Language”, Canadian Art, fall 1997
Warland, Betsy, “Patrick Traer and Janet Werner”, C Magazine, spring 1998
Collections
Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto; Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal, Montréal; Banque Nationale, Montréal; Musée National des beaux-arts du Québec, Québec City; Galerie de l’UQAM, Montréal; Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal; Canadian Embassy, Berlin; Leonard and Bina Ellen Art Gallery, Montréal ;
Collection de la Caisse de Depot et placement du Québec ; Mackenzie Art Gallery, Regina;
Owens Art Gallery, Sackville; Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon; Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina; Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg; Kenderdine Art Gallery, Saskatoon; University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge;Canada Council Art Bank, Ottawa; Aldo Group, Montreal; Hydro Quebec; McEvoy Art Foundation, San Franciso
Residencies, Grants and Awards / Résidences, subventions et bourses
2020 Canada Council project grant
2019 Griffin Art Projects Residency
2015 Vermont Studio Centre Fellowship
2012 Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, Development Grant
2011 Canada Council project grant
2010 Canada Council project grant
2007 Canada Council project grant
2005 Peindre, Symposium Internationale d’art Contemporain, Baie Sainte Paul, Québec
2004 Canada Council B Grant
2003 Canada Council New York Studio, International Studio Program, NY
2001 Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, A grant
1999 Canada Council B Grant
1998 Women and Paint Residency, The Banff Center for the Arts
Saskatchewan Arts Board B Grant
1996 Canada Council B Grant
1995 Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, France, Canada Council Studio
1993 Yaddo, NY
Visiting Artist Lectures / Conférences d’artistes invités
2019 Emily Carr University of Art and Design, Vancouver
2019 Art Gallery of Guelph, Guelph, ON
2017 University of Alberta, Edmonton
2015 Brock University, St. Catherine’s, ON
Esther Massry Gallery, College of St. Rose, Albany
2014 Conversations in Contemporary Art, Concordia University
2013 University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon
Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon
Esker Foundation, Calgary
2011 University of Guelph, Guelph, ON
Brandon University, Brandon MB
2009 MAWA, Winnipeg, MB
Platform Gallery, Winnipeg, MB
2007 University of Western Ontario, London, ON
2005 York University, Toronto, ON
2004 Ontario College of Art, Toronto, ON
Concordia University, Montréal, QC
2002 St. Mary's University, Halifax, N.S.
Bishop's University, Lennoxville, QC
The Ottawa Art Gallery, Ottawa, ON
2000 Thames Art Gallery, Chatham, ON
Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina, SK
Ottawa School of Art, Ottawa, ON
1999 Plug In Gallery, Winnipeg, MB
Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver, B.C.
MacLaren Art Center, Barrie, ON
Art Gallery of Mississauga, Mississauga, ON
1998 University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C.
Owens Art Gallery, Sackville, N.B.
1997 Mendel Art Gallery, Sasktoon, SK
University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB
University of Regina, Regina, SK
1996 College Art Association, Boston, MA, “Painting Sideways”
1995 Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Halifax, N.S.
Memorial University of Newfoundland, Corner Brook, NF
1994 Concordia University, Montreal, P.Q.
1993 Emily Carr College of Art and Design, Vancouver, B.C.
1992 Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina, SK
1991 Alberta College of Art, Calgary, AB
Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
Academic Affiliation / Enseignement
1999 - 2020 Professor, Studio Arts, Concordia University, Montréal
1987 - 1999 Associate Professor, University of Saskatchewan