Bio: Janine Wheeler is an artist residing and working in Utopia, Ontario. She received her BFA from OCAD University in 2016, after completing a diploma in Fine Arts at Georgian College in 2014. Her studio practice is primarily oil and acrylic painting on Yupo paper. Working predominantly within abstraction, Janine’s work explores the concepts of intermediary spaces, moving and suspended energy, and the balance of chaos. She has exhibited in group exhibitions in Barrie, Midland, Orillia, London, and Toronto and had her first solo exhibition in 2018 at the Aurora Cultural Centre. Janine is also an artist instructor for the MacLaren Art Centre in Barrie.

Artist Statement: A window into a world of energy and atmosphere feverishly bursting and flowing all at once suspended in space. Soft marks hesitantly dance around, disappearing into the picture plane, while other forms boldly strike forward. The composition fights for balance; a space for both chaos and tension. The image is both a glimpse into another space and visual metaphor for abstract thoughts and experience. Working collaboratively with the creative process, the hand moves before the brain interrupts. The materials and tools allow for immediacy in mark making and for the element of surprise. Translucent oil paint worked wet on wet on smooth resistant paper, embodies the illusion of depth and poses the paradox of image and surface. The works are made in short blocks of time, a record of the moment they were created, a place in which they exist continuously. The medium and the process, conjure the visual language and environment to reveal an internalized landscape.

curriculum vitae

​Education

2016           BFA, major in Drawing and Painting (with distinction)
                    OCAD University, Toronto, ON

2014           Fine Arts Advanced Diploma (with honours)
​                    Georgian College, Barrie, ON

Solo Exhibitions

2018
Through Thick & Thin, Aurora Cultural Centre, Aurora, ON, curated by Stephanie Nicolὸ

Group Exhibitions
2022
Forthcoming: Pop-up Instructor Exhibition, Gallery 3, MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie, ON
Benefactor Art Exchange, Carnegie Room, MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie, ON
2021
Get Hooked, Online Auction, MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie, ON
Carmichael Canadian Landscape Exhibition: Tradition Transformed, Orillia Museum of Art and History, Orillia, ON
In Support of Women, Online Charity Auction: Planned Parenthood and ACLU Texas, Greenhouse Auctions, Brooklyn, NY
2020
Carmichael Canadian Landscape Exhibition: Tradition Transformed, Orillia Museum of Art and History, Orillia, ON
Paper 2020, Lee Contemporary, Orillia, ON
2019
Off The Hook Art Auction, MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie, ON
Carmichael Canadian Landscape Exhibition: Tradition Transformed, Orillia Museum of Art and History
Ex Libris, MacLaren Faculty Exhibition, MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie, ON
TD Thor Wealth Management Juried Exhibition, Quest Art, Midland, ON
Out of the Blue, Good Sport, London, ON
Paper III, Lee Contemporary, Orillia, ON
Benefactor Art Exchange, Carnegie Room, MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie, ON
2018
Off The Hook Art Auction, MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie, ON
Why The &%#! Do You Paint: All the Lines, Gladstone Hotel, Toronto, ON 
A Sense of Place: MacLaren Faculty Exhibition, MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie, ON
Saturate, Beaver Hall Gallery, Toronto, ON
Benefactor Art Exchange, MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie, ON
2017
Off The Hook Art Auction, MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie, ON
Carmichael Canadian Landscape Exhibition: Tradition Transformed, Orillia Museum of Art and History
Why The &%#! Do You Paint: All The Colour, Gladstone Hotel, Toronto, ON
one after the other, Neilson Park Creative Centre, Etobicoke, ON
2016
Experiencing Perspectives, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, Mississauga, ON
Works on Paper, Project Gallery, Toronto, ON
Other Worlds, Lieutenant Governor's Suite, Toronto, ON
GRADEX 101, Ontario College of Art & Design University, Toronto, ON
Festival of the Body, Ontario College of Art & Design University, Toronto, ON
Where Are You Really From?, Daniels Spectrum, Toronto, ON
Draw to Perform, Ontario College of Art & Design University, Toronto, ON
The Big Draw, Ontario College of Art & Design University, Toronto, ON
The Small Draw, Ontario College of Art & Design University, Toronto, ON
2014                                
Scholarship Show, School of Design and Visual Arts Campus Gallery, Georgian College, Barrie, ON
It's About Time!, Marlow Framing & Art Gallery, Barrie, ON
2013 
Beauty: Concealed/Treasure/Unearthed, Zephyr Art Gallery, Orillia, ON
Scholarship Show, School of Design and Visual Arts Campus Gallery, Georgian College, Barrie, ON
Emanate, School of Design and Visual Arts Campus Gallery, Georgian College, Barrie, ON
International Art Exchange and Exhibition, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

Awards & Grants

2022
Canada Council for the Arts Research and Creation Grant (Early Career Artist)

Art Loans 

2019-2021
selected works, Syed & Associates Professional Corporation, Barrie, ON

Professional Practice

2020
Visiting Alumni Artist, second year student critiques, Georgian College, Barrie, ON
2019-present
Instructor, MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie, ON
2017-2018
Guest Artist, workshop, Aurora Cultural Centre, Aurora, ON
Instructor, MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie, ON
Studio Assistant, Van Go programme, MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie, ON
Gallery Attendant, MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie, ON
2013-14                        
Student volunteer, Campus Gallery, School of Design and Visual Arts, Georgian College, Barrie, ON
         worked with a group of faculty and peers installing exhibitions in campus gallery
Student printing technician, School of Design and Visual Arts Printmaking Studio, Georgian College, Barrie, ON
         printed an edition of dry point prints for Sadko Hadzihasanovic