Michelle Montague is a mixed media artist based in Toronto, Canada. Drawing and painting for nearly 20 years, Michelle spent her formative years in Edmonton and Windsor before returning to Toronto in 1996. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Ontario College of Arts and Design (now OCADU). Michelle has exhibited in the Greater Toronto Area in various galleries and public spaces such as The Papermill Gallery, Cedar Ridge Creative Centre, Gallery 1313, The Red Head Gallery, Metro Hall and Mississauga Heritage Centre. Michelle’s work has also exhibited in Montreal at the Le Canal Gallery – Montreal Art Centre, where she was awarded Best in Show for her Organic Series. Her works are held in private collections in Vancouver (BC), Toronto and Windsor (ON).
Michelle’s work involves themes about Nature, life energy and the process of rejuvenation. Her current body of work explores the experience and understanding of these themes. Depicting a series of cell-like organisms alternating between growth and decay, the viewer explores the dance of light and dark elements striving to achieve balance.
Michelle is a member of the Women’s Art Project (WAP) collective and Gallery 1313 located in Toronto, where she lives and works.
Education:
2007 Ontario College of Arts & Design, BFA – Fine Arts
1999 Centennial College of Applied Arts & Technology, Business Administration – Marketing
Selected Solo Exhibitions:
2015 A Matter of Expression, Cell Gallery, Gallery 1313, Toronto CAN
2014 Sanctum, Cell Gallery, Gallery 1313, Toronto, CAN
2013 Organics, Process Gallery, Gallery 1313, Toronto, CAN
2012 Microcosm, Cell Gallery, Gallery 1313, Toronto, CAN
2010 Dreamscapes, Maria Shchuka Library, Toronto, CAN
2009 Mythological Landscapes, Impressions Art Gallery, Toronto, CAN
2009 Ontario for Higher Education, The Toronto Star Building, Toronto, CAN
2008 Art in the Workplace, Public Health Agency of Canada, Toronto, CAN
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2021 The Lockdown Exhibit, Members Exhibit (Online), Gallery 13132, Curator – Phil Anderson, Toronto, CAN
2020 Plastic Dreams, Broken Promises, Cedar Ridge Gallery, Cedar Ridge Creative Centre, Toronto, CAN
2019 The Parkdale Biennial – Part III, The Process Gallery, Gallery 1313, Curator – Phil Anderson, Toronto, CAN
2019 Wild Imperfections, S. Walter Stewart Library, Toronto, CAN
2018 Mere Bodies or Something More? The Red Head Gallery, Toronto, CAN
2017 Four Cardinal Points, Cell Gallery, Gallery 1313, Toronto, CAN
2016 Members Exhibition, Lakeshore Arts, Toronto, CAN
2016 Collective 19, Gallery 1313, Curator – Phil Anderson, Toronto, CAN
2016 My World, Our World, Smith Zone Gallery, Lakeshore Arts, Etobicoke, CAN
2015 Explorations, The Papermill Mill Gallery, Toronto, CAN
2014 Vernissage, The Spoke Club, Toronto, CAN
2014 Days of Summer, Gallery 1313, Toronto, CAN
2014 Summer Art Showcase, Le Canal Gallery, Montreal Art Centre, Montreal, CAN
2013 “13” Gallery 1313 Members Exhibit, Gallery 1313, Toronto, CAN
2013 Art Walk North, Mel Lastman Square, Toronto, CAN
2013 15TH Annual Riverdale Art Walk and Preview, Hangman Gallery, Toronto, CAN
2013 The Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Group Exhibition, Toronto, CAN
2012 Annual Holiday Studio Sale, artProfile, Toronto, CAN
2012 Night Moves, Gallery 1313, Toronto, CAN
2011 Members of Gallery 1313 Exhibition, Cell Gallery, Toronto, CAN
2011 COLOURblind?, Oakville Town Hall, Mississauga Heritage Centre, Maple Public Library, Dufferin Public Library (touring)
2010 From the Soul: Caribana Art Exhibit, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, CAN
2010 COLOURblind?, Oakville Town Hall, Toronto City Hall, Fairmont Château Laurier Hotel Ottawa, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Development Centre, Mississauga Heritage Centre (touring)
2009 COLOURblind?, City Hall, Metro Hall, Scarborough Civic Centre, Oakville Town Hall, Dufferin Clark Library (touring)
2008 Roots to Rhythm: Scotiabank Caribana Art Exhibit, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, CAN
2008 Luminary Spot, Arta Gallery, Toronto, CAN
2008 Cultural Landscapes, ACA Gallery, Toronto, CAN
2008 COLOURblind?, Metro Hall, Vaughan Public Library, Scarborough Civic Centre, Mississauga Heritage Centre (touring)
2007 Nuit Blanche, ACA Gallery, Toronto, CAN
2007 Genius Loves Company Edition Two, The Gladstone Hotel, Toronto, CAN
2007 Habitat, ACA Gallery, Toronto, CAN
2007 Tour de Force, OCAD Graduate Exhibition, Toronto, CAN
2007 COLOURblind?, SPIN Gallery, Toronto, CAN, (touring)
2006 Art Affordable, Praxis Gallery, Toronto, CAN
2006 Toronto Artists’ Inspiration, 8th Annual Juried Exhibition, Praxis Gallery, Toronto, CAN
2006 Reflections, ACA Gallery, Toronto, CAN
2006 Genius Loves Company Edition One, Arta Gallery, Toronto, CAN
2006 Abstract Is…, Arta Gallery, Toronto, CAN
2005 Much Silence Makes a Loud Noise, Ashanti Room, Toronto, CAN
2005 Human Rights Through Art Exhibition, Toronto, Halton, CAN, (touring)
2004 Mother Love, Ashanti Room, Toronto, CAN
2004 Human Rights Through Art Exhibition. Toronto, CAN, (touring)
2003 Thefirstannualholidaysale, le.gallery, Toronto, CAN
2003 Creating for the Cure Art Auction, York Event Theatre, Toronto, CAN
2003 The 4th Annual Millennium Artists Art Exhibition, Wagner Rosenbaum Gallery, Toronto, CAN
2003 Women’s Collective Show, OCAD Central Hall and Transit Space, Toronto, CAN
2000-03 Human Rights Through Art Exhibition, Toronto, CAN, (touring)
2000 Ontario College of Arts & Design Postcard Exhibition, Toronto, CAN
Awards:
2014 Best In Show, Summer Art Showcase, Le Canal Gallery, Montreal Art Centre, Montreal, CAN
2006 First Place, 8th Annual Juried Exhibition, Praxis Gallery, Toronto, CAN
Related Experience, Community Involvement:
2015 Development Sub-Committee Member, Gallery 1313
2009 Artist Talk, Yorkville Art Walk, Impressions Art Gallery
2008 Artist Talk, Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
2005-07 Six Ah Wi art collective, Artist Member and Print Media Coordinator
2005 Art Works Art School, Volunteer Teacher Assistant
2002, 2003 Guest Speaker, Valley Park Middle School
Public Art:
2018 StART Outside The Box Program, Location: Hart Ave & Danforth Rd., Toronto, CAN
Bibliography:
Jul 2010 From the Soul: Caribana Art Exhibit, Royal Ontario Museum (catalogue)
Jul 2009 Artist Profile: Michelle Montague, Victoria Glizer, Dispatch –The Newsletter of CARFAC Ontario,
Vol. 15, Issue 2
Jul 2008 Canvassing Cultural Ties, David Jager, NOW Magazine, Vol. 27 No. 48
Jul 2008 Roots to Rhythm Art Exhibition, Royal Ontario Museum (catalogue)
Jun 2008 ROM Launches Roots to Rhythm, Royal Ontario Museum (news release)
Feb 2008 Artistic Souls (part 4), CityNews (work presented in television news series)
Sep 2007 Art Can Change the World, ACA Gallery (work presented in Gallery documentary)
Jan 2007 Toronto Art, A. Griffith, Exposé Entertainment Magazine, Vol. 1 Issue 4
Jan 2005 Art Exhibition Paints Human Rights in a Canadian Perspective, Toronto 1 Channel
Mar 2003 The Fourth Annual Millenium Art Auction, The New Leaders of the Sunnybrook & Women’s Foundation (charity auction catalogue)
Professional Affiliations:
CARFAC Ontario – www.carfacontario.ca
Gallery 1313 – www.g1313.org
Artists in Canada – www.artistsincanada.com