ABOUT VALERIE
Artist Valerie Salez has been engaged in a multi-disciplinary art practice that includes performance, video, photography, sculptural installation and collage. Her work has been both collaborative and solo. Valerie currently dwells in Victoria, BC Canada.
BIO
Valerie Salez is an anti-disciplinary artist whose practice includes performance, video, photography, sculpture, installation, and collage. Often relying on provisional materials, her work has been framed as arte povera and/or situationist in nature. Her social art projects deal with inequality, oppression, and destruction at the hands of colonial resource extraction. Her solo works dive into mystic and spiritual realms in the face of colonial imbalance. Salez has exhibited extensively at university art galleries, artist run centers, alternative spaces and city-wide, outdoor festivals. Her large-scale collage works and sculptures are in private collections, provincial permanent collections and the Canada Council Art Bank. Valerie is Catalan, Polish/Hungarian and has lived most of her life in the Yukon on Southern Tutchone, Tlingit, and Han traditional territories and currently dwells on unceded Coast Salish territories around so called Victoria, B.C.
Selfie taken in Frida Kahlo's studio mirror.
ARTIST STATEMENT
As both an artist and person I'm inspired by creative tangents, directionless meanderings, spontaneity, inquisitiveness, dreams, the unknown and yet-to-be-discovered.
In the vain of Psychogeographic interventions and Situationist style musings I engage both suspecting and unsuspecting audiences by way of performance, and site-specific installation in public spaces. An inward studio practice reveals immersive installations, intricate collages, charcoal drawings, mix media sculptures and ceramics. My social/relational projects work with BIPOC communities in the Yukon, BC and Mexico addressing the effects of how colonial resource extraction practices harm on intact ecosystems relates to violence on women’s bodies.
My practice is not focused. It is not linear in subject, medium, or context. It does not sit comfortably in a singular categorical box. I choose intuition over logic, personal principles over popular politics of the day. I choose spirit and rage over decorum.
CONTACT
E-mail: vsalez@hotmail.com
CURRICULUM VITAE
(embedded links relate to blog posts, exhibition descriptions, and articles)
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Fine Arts – Nova Scotia College of Art & Design University – Halifax, NS
1996 Media Resources Diploma – Capilano College – North Vancouver, BC
EXHIBITIONS
SOLO
2018 Comox Art Gallery - Touching Earth Bodies - collaboration with Lindsay Delaronde - Comox, BC
2014 Ministry of Casual Living – In the Shadow of Our Own Dust – curated by Katie Sage
2012
Galerie Sans Nom – Fourth Nature – curated by Amanda Dawn Christie
Access Gallery – In the Shadow of Our Own Dust – FAG (Feminist Art Gallery) Satellite – curated by Allyson Mitchell & Deirdre Logue
2010
Yukon Art Centre Gallery – Fourth Nature – curated by Mary Bradshaw
NSCAD Port Loggia Gallery – Fourth Nature
2008 ODD Gallery – Congregations
2005. Dalhousie Art Gallery – Snow Shoveling – curated by Susan Gibson Garvey
GROUP
2022 University of Victoria Legacy Gallery - Still Standing: Ancient Forest Futures - Victoria, BC
2021
Fortune Art Gallery - Last Stand: Ancient Forests, Collective Action - Victoria, BC
Yukon Arts Center - Collective Memory: Yukon Permanent Collection
2018-2020 Yukon Arts Center Art Gallery - Art Gallery of Greater Victoria - Penticton Art Gallery - Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre / Odd Gallery / SOVA - To Talk With Others
2017-2019 Art Gallery of Greater Victoria - Touching Earth Bodies - Emily Carr: Picturing the Giants exhibit - curated by Michelle Jacques
2013 Carleton University Art Gallery – Dawson Gold – curated by Heather Anderson
2011 Confederation Centre Art Gallery – Free Parking – curated by Pan Wendt
2010. Vancouver Cultural Olympiad – Endlessly Traversed Landscapes – curated by Natalie Doonan
2006 Equinox – Blackwood Gallery – University of Toronto – Snow Shoveling – curated by Barbara Fisher
2005-2006
Edmonton Art Gallery; McMichael Canadian Art Collection; Yukon Arts Centre – The Road: Constructing the Alaska Highway – curated by Andrew Hunter & Catherine Crowston
2005
Atelierfrankfurt – Stay Warm – Frankfurt, Germany – curated by Tamara Henderson
Art Metrople – Gifts by Artists – Toronto, Ontario
ODD Gallery – The McCleave Gallery of Fine Art Cross Canada Suitcase Tour – curated by Micheal McCormack
2004
Or Gallery – Hurry Slowly – curated by Sydney Helmet
2003
Dalhousie Art Gallery – Search and Rescue – curated by Susan Gibson Garvey
St. Mary’s Art Gallery – The Halifax Drawing Club – curated by Gordon Lauren
SITE-SPECIFIC INSTALLATION / PERFORMANCE
2022 Intercultural Association and University of Victoria Theater Dept. - IM:PRINT
2020 Art in the Open - Together Alone Alone Together - Charlottetown, PEI
2015
L’Occulte/Occulta – Pachuca, Mexico
LIVE International Performance Art Biennale – Vancouver, BC
Mythologies lost and found – Beilsko-Biala, Poland
2014
Ministry of Casual Living – Colours in the dark – Victoria, BC
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria – Urbanite – Victoria, BC
2013
Northern Scene – Shedding Light Shape Shifters – Ottawa, ONT
Open Space Gallery – Impression Formation (group performance with Tanya Doody) – Victoria, BC
Open Space Gallery – Fragile limits (performance with Jelili Atiku) – Victoria, BC
2011. Art In The Open – Among Us & Compare the energy of a trauma to a cobalt cannon with a radioactive half-life of a hundred years – Charlottetown, PEI
2010 Nocturne – Lament – Halifax, NS
2009 Eyelevel Gallery – Go North! – Among Us – Halifax, NS
2008 Nakia Theater – PIVOT – Civil Service – Whitehorse, YT
2007
Vancouver Folk Festival, Port Alberni Forest Festival, Canada Winter Games – Cultural Festival – You Are Here
Somewhere between New Cambodia and Bling – collaboration with Joseph Tsiga, Jay White & Jesse Mitchell – Whitehorse, YT
2005
Yukon Riverside Arts Festival – The Letter Writing Project – Dawson City, YT
Festival Montreal en Lumiere – Nuit Blanche – I’d Rather Be Snow Shoveling – Montreal, QU
Dalhousie University Faculty of Architecture and Planning: Welcoming Winter Conference – I’d Rather Be Snow Shoveling – Halifax, NS
2004 Homegrown Performance Festival – I’d Rather Be Snow Shoveling – Whitehorse, YT
2003 Du Maurier Theatre Halifax, NS; Studio303 Montreal, QU – Stretching in the Wake
SCREENINGS
2022 Union Docs - Feral Domesticity - Brooklyn, NY
2019 Film + Sound series - Ministry of Casual Living - Guest curator - Victoria, BC
2010 Brick & Mortar International video festival – I’d Rather Be Snow Shoveling – Greenfield, MA – curated by Denise Markonish
2009 Atlantic Film Coop – Un/Settled – Halifax, NS
2008
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria – and so it goes – Victoria, BC
Dawson City International Film Festival – and so it goes
2007
Toronto Urban Film Festival – Old Marsh & Animals in the City – Toronto, ONT
Brave New Works – and so it goes – Whitehorse, YT
2006
Grotto Gallerie – Rafts – Brooklyn, New York
Struts Gallery – Ok! Quoi? Contemporary Arts Festival – Mystery of the Pre-Logical Child – Sackville, NB
Media Net – Edges Film Festival – Mystery of the Pre-Logical Child – Victoria, BC
Shenmaro Studio – VideoVidVid – I’d Rather Be Snow Shoveling - Kyoto, Japan – Curated by Emi Uemura.
2005
Dawson City International Film Festival – I’d Rather Be Snow Shoveling – Dawson City, YT
Pan Northern Youth Conference – I'd Rather Be Snow Shoveling – Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
2004 Paved Arts and AKA Gallery: SPASM Public Art Festival – I’d Rather Be Snow Shoveling – Saskatoon, SK
RESIDENCIES
2023 Santa Rosa Art & Healing - Santa Muerto Residency - Christine Lake, BC
2022-2023 Flux, XChanges Gallery and Victoria Arts Council - Physical Intersections Digital Collaborations 2020 Ministry of Casual Living - Victoria, BC
2019 Bonnie McComb Kreye Studio Residency - Victoria, BC
2015
Fronda – Pachuca, Mexico
Bielsko-Biala BWA – Beyond Time – Bilesko-Biala, Poland
2014
Grunt Gallery – Play, Fall, Rest, Dance – Vancouver, BC
Banff Centre for the Arts – with Shary Boyle & Daniel Barrow
2013 Open Space Gallery – Play, Fall, Rest, Dance – Victoria, BC
2011
Banff Centre for the Arts – with Adam Chodzko & Simon Starling
Elsewhere Collaborative – Fractal Boot camp – Greensboro, North Carolina
This Town is Small – Charlottetown, PEI
2010 Nova Scotia College of Art & Design University – Port Loggia
2009 Arts Underground – Whitehorse, YT
2008. Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (with Kara Uzelman & Jesse Mitchell)
2007 Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (with Ivan Coyote & Rae Spoon)
2006
Ted Harrison Artist Retreat – Crag Lake, YT
Fundacion Gabo – Todos Santos, Mexico
2005
Dare-Dare – Montreal, QU
Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (with Jen Weih)
2004-2005. Parks Canada – Dawson City National Historical Site
2004 Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (with Hannah Jickling)
2003
Centre for Art Tapes – Halifax, NS
Khyber Digital Media Center – Halifax, NS
AWARDS
2023 BC Arts Council- Individual Arts Grant
2020
Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation
Digital Originals - Canada Council for the Arts
2017 New Chapter – Canada Council for the Arts (in partnership with the Yukon Arts Centre Public Art Gallery)
2016 Inter-Arts Travel Grant – Canada Council for the Arts
2015. Cultivate-Professional Development – Canada Council for the Arts
2013 Culture Quest – Yukon Territorial Government
2011
Visual Arts-Professional Development – Canada Council for the Arts
Grants to Individuals Program – Nova Scotia Department of Culture
HRM’s Contemporary Visual Arts Award – Halifax Regional Municipality
2010 Advance Artist Award – Yukon Territorial Government
2008 Advance Artist Award – Yukon Territorial Government
2007
Inter Arts Travel Grant – Canada Council for the Arts
Filmmakers Assistance Program – National Film Board
2006 Advanced Artist Award – Yukon Territorial Government
2004
Art Fund – Yukon Territorial Government
Inter Arts Emerging Collaborators Grant – Canada Council for the Arts
2003
Inter Arts Travel Grant – Canada Council for the Arts
Aliant New Media Award – Aliant Canada
PUBLICATIONS/PRESS/CATALOGUES
2014
The Source: Forum of Diversity – The artistry of play: installation showcases children’s art – written by Sonja Grgar
Crafting an experience of Art-making: Valerie Salez’ Play, Fall, Rest, Dance – written by Anastasia Scherders
2013
CTV News arts & culture – Play Fall Rest Dance – interview by Adam Sawatsky
The Untraditional Territory of Delight and Frustration – written by Regan Shrumm
Interview: Heather Cosidetto and Valerie Salez
2011 Canadian Art Online – Cold War Cool – by Lizzy Hill
2010
Cultural Olympiad – Vancouver Winter Olympics – Endlessly Traversed Landscapes – publication
Yukon Art Gallery – Fourth Nature – catalogue
2009
CBC Radio National – Definitely Not the Opera w/ Sook-Yin Lee
Canadian Centre for Architecture – Adaptive Actions – publication
2008
Dare-Dare: Centre de diffusion d'art multidisciplinaire de Montréal – Dis/Location – publication
Things of Desire – issue #7 – Noah of the North – online publication
Spoox Magazine – issue #4 – OUR Nation Anthem – online music publication
2007
Toronto Star – The art of remembering snow – written by Leah Sandals
CBC TV The National – Interview with Sasa Petricic
Alberta Art Gallery – The Road: Constructing the Alaska Highway – publication
Yukon News – Transient art inspired by condos and group home – written by Genesee Keevil
2006
OR Gallery – Goin’ Solo – Line Interrupts Landscape – catalogue – Essay by Lucy Pullen
Toronto Star – Wrapping vacant lots with art and blankets – written by Murry Whyte
CBC Radio National – Socket – Canada’s up & coming emerging artist
Yukon News – Two unconventional artists find a match at Ted Harrison’s retreat – by Leighann Chalykoff
2005
The Link: Concordia Independent NewspaperessayWreaking psychological warfare – with shovels – written by Tracey Lindeman-Jarvis
The Gazette, Montreal – Tonight Montrealers are staying up all night – written by Steven Howell
Montreal Mirror – Let it snow – written by Matthew Woodley
La Presse, Montreal – Les pelleteuses d’art – written by Daniel Lemay
The Halifax Daily News – Art is in the eye of the shoveller – written by Marilyn Smulders
The Gazette, Halifax – Dal Art Gallery’s Special Find – written by Andrea Melvin
The Chronicle Herald, Halifax – Basic necessities unbound – written by Elissa Barnard
2004
CBC Radio National – Sounds Like Canada – Snow Shoveling – w/ Shelagh Rogers
CBC Radio Regional – A New Day – Snow Shoveling – w/ Sandi Coleman
Yukon News – Palette from the Sky: Have Snow Shovel, Will Create – written by Chris Beacom
2003
Mix Magazine – Cover to Cover – artist page
Dalhousie Art Gallery – Search & Rescue – catalogue – essay by Sue Gibson Garvey
INSTRUCTING/MENTORING
2013 to present
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria New Extreme program – mentor
Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry – Victoria, BC – mentor
Margaret Jenkins Elementary School – Victoria, BC – Legacy art projects instructor
2011 to present. ArtsReach – Victoria, BC – instructor
2015
Contemporary Art Gallery – Bielsko, Poland – workshop instructor
Ministry of Social Services transition home for children – Pachuca, Mexico – mentor/instructor
2012. Antidote-multi racial girls group – Victoria, BC – mentor
2011. This Town is Small – Charlottetown, PEI – emerging artists mentor
2010
Emerging Artist Program – Halifax, NS – mentor Canada
Winter Games National Artist Program – Whitehorse, YT – mentor
2003-2010
Various public schools, First Nations youth, and emerging artists programs – communities throughout Yukon – instructor/mentor
COLLECTIONS
Nova Scotia Art Bank
Canada Council Art Bank
Yukon Government Permanent Art Collection
Dalhousie Art Gallery
St. Mary’s Art Gallery
various private collections