Gallery Exhibitions
Links
Melanie Gordon
Melanie Gordon is a visual artist, photographer, and filmmaker whose work explores female identity, the connections between mothers and daughters, and the nature of belonging. Gordon is motivated by the absence of women’s voices in art, culture, and systems of power. She challenges dominant patriarchal gender narratives by making art about women reclaiming strength in their femininity and from the unboundedness of love. Drawing upon her own experience of raising two daughters, she offers an intimate perspective with emotions at the fore.
Gordon has been photographing her life since her first daughter was born in 2010, finding moments of wonder and unexpected beauty in the everyday as a practice that intertwines life and art.
Melanie Gordon studied photography and film at the Ontario College of Art and Design and Ryerson University and received her Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in social/cultural anthropology and fine art from the University of Toronto. Her work has been exhibited in Canada and internationally and awarded by the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council. She lives in Toronto with her husband and two daughters.
Education
1997-1998 Film Studies Certificate Program, Ryerson Polytechnic University
1996 Experimental Photography Course, Ontario College of Art and Design
1997 Filmmaking Course, Ontario College of Art and Design
1992-1997 Honours Bachelor of Arts – High Distinction, Social/Cultural Anthropology and Fine Art, University of Toronto
Solo Exhibitions
2019 Presence Portraits, Focus Mind Space, Toronto, ON
2018 Superheroes. Dreamers. Changers. Hey Kiddo, CONTACT Festival, Toronto, ON
2009 Taxis Cusqueños, Balzac’s Café Gallery, Toronto, ON
2009 Footprints, Art + Life, Tokyo, Japan
2009 Swim, Alternative Grounds, Toronto, ON
2007 Wonderland, Channel Gallery, CONTACT Festival, Toronto, ON
2006 Belong, Case Goods Warehouse, CONTACT Festival, Toronto, ON
2005 Dwelling (photographic/sculptural installation), Case Goods Warehouse, Toronto, ON
2004 Lifelines, Balzac’s Café Gallery, Toronto, ON
2004 Skin Deep, Case Goods Warehouse, CONTACT Festival, Toronto, ON
2000 Burning Images, The Blue Moon, Toronto, ON
1997 Body Language, The Little Gallery, Toronto, ON
Selected Group Exhibitions
2020 Sovereignties, Curated by Marina Dempster, Lyceum Gallery, Toronto, ON
2017 Deep Salt Water, with Catherine Mellinger, Gallery 345, Toronto, ON
2011 Eat Drink Man Woman, Curated by Tara Marshall, Art Gallery of Mississauga, Mississauga
2011 Distillate, Artscape Triangle Gallery, Toronto
2011 EXPOSED: Figure and Ground, Gladstone Hotel, CONTACT Festival, Toronto, ON
2009 Octopus Project VI to XII, Case Goods Warehouse, Toronto, ON
2008 CONTACT Festival Portfolio Reviews Exhibition, Red Bull 281 Projects, Toronto, ON
2008 7, Sweet Art Gallery, Toronto, ON
2008 Octopus Project I to V, Case Goods Warehouse, Toronto, ON
2006 The Hive Gallery, Los Angeles, USA
2006 Spar, On Fire, Fulcrum, Many, Channel Gallery, Toronto, ON
2005 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Toronto, ON
2004 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Toronto, ON
2003 New Work (2-person show), Case Goods Warehouse, Toronto, ON
2003 Art Focus, Art>12, Toronto, ON2003 Salon Show, Engine Gallery, Toronto, ON
2003 Square Foot, A.W.O.L. Gallery, Toronto, ON
2003 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Toronto, ON
2003 The Distillery Outdoor Art Exhibition, Toronto, ON
2003 Photopia, Gallery 44, Toronto, ON
2002 Art for Art’s Sake, Toronto Artscape Exhibition, ON
1998 Polaroid Show, The Ryerson Gallery, Toronto, ON
Film Screenings
Cutting Paper, 2017 (4 min) at Screen:Moves, Dancemakers
Outline, 2005 (1.5 min, B&W, 16mm) at REHAB, Parkdale Film Festival, 2005
Multidisciplinary Projects
2020 Mending Paper, short film with dancer/choreographer Jennifer Dallas
2019 Stitching Paper, short film with dancer/choreographer Jennifer Dallas
2017 Cutting Paper, short film with dancer/choreographer Jennifer Dallas
2015 Before Was Was, Video Installation with dancer/choreographer Caroline Niklas-Gordon, Scotiabank Studio Theatre, Toronto, ON
2008 Secrets, Nuit Blanche Independent Project, Case Goods Warehouse, Toronto, ON
2006 The Paradise Project, Set design, directed by Lisa Pijuan-Nomura and Erin Shields, Lula Lounge, Toronto, ON
2005 Dwelling, Photographic and sculptural installation with writer/performer Elana Freeman, Dancemakers Theatre, Toronto, ON
2003 Mechanical Nightingales, Set design for dance performance with Lucy Rupert, Caroline Niklas-Gordon and Elana Freeman
Awards/Grants
2020 Digital Originals grant from the Canada Council for the Arts – for Mending Paper
2018 Commission from RT Collective / Dancemakers for short film for Screen:Moves
2008 HP Viewer’s Choice Award at the CONTACT Photography Festival, Toronto
2004 Laidlaw Foundation, Performing Arts Program Grant – for Dwelling, multidisciplinary piece
2003 Best Photography Award, Art>12 ArtFocus Show
1996 University College Scholarships, University of Toronto
1997 University College Scholarships, University of Toronto
1997 Dean’s List Scholar, University of Toronto
1994 Special Merit Award, KINSA photography contest (Kodak)
1992 Claude Watson Visual Arts Award
1992 Entrance Scholarship to the University of Western Ontario
Other Professional Activities
2018 Co-founder of DrolePlay Collective, an artist collective that makes art installations for children
2008 Co-founder of Octopus Project, fueling creativity and community through art, Toronto, ON
2006 Jury Member, Queen West Art Crawl
2005 Founding member of Channel Gallery, an artist-run gallery, Toronto, ON
The Dance Current, “Cutting Paper” film featured on website, March, 2018
Shots Magazine, No. 129, p. 22, September, 2015
The Dance Current, “The Becoming of Dance”, p.26-32, Feature article, July, 2015
She Does The City, “Inspiring Women: Mother’s Day Inspiration from Melanie Gordon”, May, 2015
CBC News: Sunday, “Polaroid”, TV Interview, February, 2008
Evi-Dance, Interview on CIUT radio regarding Dwelling, January, 2005
Stage Left, Interview on CKLN radio regarding Dwelling, January, 2005
Career Moves, Episode 1 “Photography”, TV program, (interview and studio visit), on CLT, 2004
Bits Magazine, Vol. 2, Issue 12, p.12. Tomolennon, “Art: Melanie Gordon”, November 2003
SheNetworks, webzine (featured photographer), 2000
Wise Love, Portraits of Anishnawbek families, Book published by Roots of Empathy, 2013
Faces of Four, Portraits of four year olds, Book published by Roots of Empathy, 2013
Faces of Time, Portraits of babies, Book published by Roots of Empathy, 2011
Faces of Tomorrow, Portraits of babies, Book published by Roots of Empathy, 2009
