Michelle Paterok

b. 1994, Edmonton, AB.
Based in Montreal, QC.

My interest in painting’s capacity to represent subjective experiences is the foundation of my studio practice. My current work is grounded in the following questions: How is space experienced subjectively, and how are these experiences reconstructed in our memories? How might time’s passage be expressed in the static frame of a painting? Finally, what role might painting have to play in addressing the environmental urgencies of the present moment? With these in mind, I use the medium to mine the poetics of small gestures and encounters in daily life.

Contact: paterokmichelle@gmail.com

Education
2022: MFA Visual Art, Western University, London, Canada
2016: BFA Art and Design, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
2013: Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto, Japan (Japanese language course)

Solo and Two Person Exhibitions
2024: Quiet Light, Duran Mashaal Gallery, Montreal, QC
2023: To Neither Quite Belonging, Michael Gibson Gallery, London, ON
2022: At Dusk, McIntosh Gallery, Western University, London, ON
2021: Night on Earth, Satellite Project Space, London, ON
2020: Darkness, Light, Wind then Silence
in collaboration with Tomo Endo, Kosho Temple, Himi, Japan
2018: Unauthorized, Vorres Museum, Paiania, Greece (curated by Caterina Pizanias)

Selected Group Exhibitions
2023: Winter Salon, Dianna Witte Gallery, Toronto, ON
2023: UNTAPPED, Artist Project Toronto, Toronto, ON
2023: Imbolc, Purslane Art (online)
2022: betwixt and between, Project Gallery V, Brooklyn, NY
2022: Annual Juried Exhibition, Latcham Art Centre, Stouffville, ON
2021: Distance Makes the Heart Grow Weak, ArtLAB Gallery, Western University, London, ON
2020: Be Here, Be There, Forest City Gallery, London, ON
2020: Nengajo-ten, Nanto Fukumitsu Art Museum, Nanto, Japan
2019: The Art Thing, HOUSEHOLD Gallery, Himi, Japan
2019: Copper Prints, Mikando Gallery, Tonami, Japan
2017: Schmoozy, Latitude 53, Edmonton, AB
2016: Denouement: Bachelor of Fine Arts Graduation Show, Fine Arts Building Gallery, Edmonton, AB
2016: Fresh Prints, SNAP Gallery, Edmonton, AB
2016: Annotations, Rutherford Atrium, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
2016: Frame of Reference, Milner Gallery, Edmonton, AB
2015: Bridging Encounters, Latitude 53, Edmonton, AB
2015: The Marginal In Sight, Rutherford Atrium, University of Alberta
2014: The Book as a Weapon of Change II, Rutherford Atrium, University of Alberta
2013: The Book as a Weapon of Change, Rutherford Atrium, University of Alberta
2013: i see you pan, Latitude 53, Edmonton, AB

Collaborative Projects
2017: Commissioned Mural, Room at the Top, University of Alberta Students’ Union
(in collaboration with Agata Garbowska)

Scholarships and Awards
2023: London Arts Council CAIP Grant, London, ON
2023: Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant, Montreal, QC
2023: Ontario Arts Council Visual Arts Creation Project Grant, Toronto, ON
2021: SSHRC Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Master’s Scholarship, Western University
2020: Alberta Foundation for the Arts Visual Arts and New Media Individual Project Grant, Edmonton, AB
2020: Chair’s Entrance Scholarship, Western University
2020: Graduate Research Scholarship, Western University
2018: Alberta Foundation for the Arts Visual Arts and New Media Individual Project Grant, Edmonton, AB
2018: Edmonton Arts Council CIP Travel Grant, Edmonton, AB
2016: Samuel James and Augusta Kreye Deans Award in Art & Design, University of Alberta
2016: Nomination for BMO 1st Art! Invitational Student Art Competition, University of Alberta
2015: Elizabeth Ann Burgess Award in Contemporary Art, University of Alberta
2015: Roger S. Smith Undergraduate Research Award, University of Alberta
2015: Non-Academic Staff Association Student Award, University of Alberta
2013-15: Jason Lang Scholarship, University of Alberta
2013: The Prince Takamado Japan Canada Memorial Fund Travel Award, University of Alberta

Residencies
2023: Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT
2018: Vorres Museum Residency, Paiania, Greece

Professional/Volunteer Activity
2021-22: Teaching Assistant, Intermediate and Advanced Print Media, Western University, London, ON
2021-22: Treasurer, Visual Arts Graduate Students’ Association, Western University, London, ON
2020-21: Teaching Assistant, Introduction to Print Media, Western University, London, ON
2020: Research Assistant, McIntosh Gallery, Western University, London, ON
2018-20: Assistant Language Teacher through the JET Programme, Toyama Prefectural Board of Education, Toyama, Japan
2015: Program Volunteer, E4C's ArtStart, Edmonton, AB
2015-16: Vice President Internal, University of Alberta Visual Arts Students' Association
2014: Student Representative, University of Alberta Visual Arts Students' Association

Bibliography
Berardini, Adi. “Memory and Place: In Conversation with Michelle Paterok.” Femme Art Review, May 24, 2021.
Charkow, Brenley. “Denouement.” Curious Arts Magazine, April 2016.

Publications/Catalogues
2023: Tomorrow’s Talent III Book, Booooooom!, July 2023
2022: ArtMaze Magazine, Issue 28
2021: The Walrus, Special Winter Edition, 22 December 2021
2021: Distance Makes the Heart Grow Weak Exhibition Publication, ArtLAB Gallery, Western University
2020: Toyama TRAM Magazine, 2020 Spring Edition
2016: Denouement Exhibition Catalogue, FAB Gallery, University of Alberta
2015: Annotations Exhibition Catalogue and Collaborative Criticisms, University of Alberta Department of Art and Design

Collections
Brain and Mind Institute, Western University, London, ON
University of Alberta Students’ Union, Edmonton, AB
Contava Inc., Edmonton, AB
Edmonton Exchanger Ltd., Edmonton, AB
Members Print Exchange, Society of Northern Alberta Print Artists, Edmonton, AB