Janeen Gilbert
Janeen Gilbert is a multidisciplinary artist whose work centres around self discovery and self realization. Her work is created from a past filled with joys, sorrows, pain, and adventures — stimulated by a present filled with schedules, excitement, happiness, chaos, and change — and motivated by a future filled with anticipation, fear, challenges, unknowns and growth. Janeen Gilbert’s sculptures and installations tend to be autobiographical — a way of telling her life story — in a way that can be taken in and understood by the outside world. At the root, her work speaks to life experiences, memory and trauma — it is a tangible, concrete messenger of her inner most self. Janeen Gilbert gravitates towards geometric forms — clean lines and simplicity; tactile forms — intricate, layered and raw; sculpted forms — authentic, abstracted and implied; and purposeful forms — conceptual, personal, and embodied. She believes that materials carry with them their own unique voice and language — and that strong conceptual ideas can only be heightened and strengthen by the nature of the medium. Janeen has worked with resin, plaster, clay, concrete, wood, aluminum, bronze, pewter, and found objects — each playing an integral role in the meaning of her work.
Janeen Gilbert’s Work
Divorce Registry, 2017, resin, bridal garter, wedding invite, wedding band, ink
Divorce Registry, 2017, resin, metal, phone bills, restaurant receipts, separation agreement, metal, ink
I Can’t Breathe, 2018, cedar, resin, duvet, fabric, plastic, wire, chain, lock, key, nails, screws, resin pigment
Inseparable Separation, 2019, cement, zippers, nails
A Hollow of Fertility and Abundance, 2019, concrete, duvet, cotton sheets, twigs, branches, thread
From This Day Forward, 2019, concrete, twine, graphite, platinum gold wedding bands, white shelf
Show More
Thesis Work - Injury at track level
Curriculum Vitae
Janeen Gilbert
b. 1970 Toronto, Ontario
Education
2017-2021 B.FA., Sculpture and Installation (major), Art History (minor), OCADU
1998-1999 B.Ed., Junior/Intermediate/Senior, University of Toronto
1995-1997 B.A., History, York University
1989-1993 B.A. Sc., Family and Social Relations, University of Guelph
Group Exhibitions
2021, Being In The World, OCADU Sculpture/Installation Thesis Exhibition Series, Beaver Hall Gallery, Toronto
2020 Women’s Art Association of Canada, OCADU Scholarship/Award Winners Art Show, Toronto, ON
2019 Process[ing], Ada Slaight Gallery, Toronto, ON
2018 Drawing Across the Disciplines Show, OCADU, Toronto, ON
2017 First Year Show, OCADU, Toronto, ON
2011 All Day Pass, Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival, Toronto, ON
2004 Whistle Stop Gallery, Barrie, ON
Curated Exhibitions
2015-2019 Toronto Island Public School, Arts Day Art Show, Toronto, ON
2010-2014 Runnymede Public School, Spring Thaw Art Show, Toronto, ON
2008 Marianna Gilbert, Lello Art School and Gallery, Toronto, ON
2008 Aurora Pagano, Lello Art School and Gallery, Toronto, ON
2008 Jane Mikas, Lello Art School and Gallery, Toronto, ON
2008 Michelle Quance, Lello Art School and Gallery, Toronto, ON
2007 McGlade, Lello Art School and Gallery, Toronto, ON
2007 Jamie McGill, Lello Art School and Gallery, Toronto, ON
2007 David Alexander, Lello Art School and Gallery, Toronto, ON
2007 Silvana Bruni, Lello Art School and Gallery, Toronto, ON
2006 Aurora Pagano, Lello Art School and Gallery, Toronto, ON
2006 Kelly Williams, Lello Art School and Gallery, Toronto, ON
2006 Marianna Gilbert, Lello Art School and Gallery, Toronto, ON
2006 Michelle Quance, Lello Art School and Gallery, Toronto, ON
2006 Jane Mikas, Lello Art School and Gallery, Toronto, ON
2006 Sandi Gidluck, Lello Art School and Gallery, Toronto, ON
2005 Rea Kelly, Lello Art School and Gallery, Toronto, ON
2005 Silvana Bruni, Lello Art School and Gallery, Toronto, ON
2005 Beth Moutrey, Lello Art School and Gallery, Toronto, ON
2005 Marianna Gilbert, Lello Art School and Gallery, Toronto, ON
Related Work Experience
2017-2020 Toronto District School Board, Occasional Teacher
2017-2020 Branksome Hall, Occasional Teacher (Visual Arts)
2014-2020 Sick Kids Hospital, Fundraising Art Projects for the Epilepsy Classroom
2009-2020 Lello Art School, Owner, Director and Instructor
2009-2020 Toronto District School Board, Art Enrichment Programs, Programmer and Instructor (Grade JK-8)
2018 Runnymede United Church, Guided Art Project for the Community Hall
2016 King George Public School, Outdoor Schoolyard Art Installation Project (Grade JK-6)
2005-2008 Toronto Art School and Gallery, Owner, Director, Curator, and Instructor
1999-2003 Peel District School Board, Teacher (Grade 7/8)
Awards
2019-2020 Women’s Art Association of Canada/Mary Ella Dignam Scholarship
2021 OCADU Sculpture and Installation Award
