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