OAG Celebrates Five Decades of Visual Arts at the University of Ottawa

A new exhibition highlights the contributions of the Department of Visual Arts to the region’s artistic landscape and fifty artists who have helped shape it.

The Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG) is proud to announce the opening of Art School Confidential, a group exhibition commemorating fifty years of visual arts at the University of Ottawa. The exhibition showcases the work of fifty artists who have contributed to the rich artistic legacy of the institution. 

In 1974, the University welcomed Suzanne Rivard Le Moyne, a renowned artist, educator, and administrator, to lead the Department of Visual Arts. With her visionary leadership, Rivard Le Moyne assembled a remarkable team of artists and art historians. Together, they laid the foundation for the Department of Visual Arts and set the stage for five decades of artistic innovation and excellence. 

“The University of Ottawa is proud to call the Ottawa Art Gallery a friend, and it is the inspiring artists and scholars we have shared and continue to share that has fed our friendship. This exhibit highlights the work of those who have studied and taught in the uOttawa Visual Arts program; many who have gone on to make important contributions to the art world.” – Jacques Frémont, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Ottawa

From installations, photography, painting, digital arts, and more, Art School Confidential: Celebrating 50 Years of the Department of Visual Arts, University of Ottawa, curated by Penny Cousineau-Levine, celebrates the impact of uOttawa’s Department of Visual Arts on the city’s art scene and beyond. The exhibition shines a spotlight on the extraordinary talent and accomplishments of the artists associated with it, representing both faculty members and alumni who have studied and taught in the historic building located at 100 Laurier East in Ottawa. The group exhibition is presented in the context of a lasting collaboration between the Ottawa Art Gallery and UOttawa. 

“Now spanning close to 15 years, the partnership between our two institutions has played a vital role in shaping the cultural landscape of Ottawa and nurturing the next generation of artists, curators, and cultural leaders. We are delighted to once again collaborate with our neighbour the Department of Visual Arts to highlight the artistic accomplishments of its faculty and alumni, commemorating fifty years of creativity.” – Alexandra Badzak, Director and CEO, Ottawa Art Gallery 

Over the years, the unique relationship between OAG and uOttawa has provided numerous professional opportunities for students and graduates alike. The Gallery annually presents an exhibition of graduates from the University of Ottawa’s Master of Fine Arts program, celebrating two years of studio work under the supervision of professors from the university’s Visual Arts Department. These exhibitions are co-curated by an OAG Curator and Contemporary Art Theory Masters students. Through the generous support of the RBC Foundation for OAG’s Connect mentorship program, MFA artists are matched with seasoned professionals during the exhibition process. This collaboration provides emerging artists with a platform to establish themselves within the local community, the art world and the cultural industry. 

The public is invited to the opening of Art School Confidential on April 25^th, from 6:30 pm to 8 pm. The exhibition runs from April 20 to September 22 on the 3^rd floor of the Ottawa Art Gallery. Admission is always free. 
                
Artists: 
A Fine Discipline, Edmund Alleyn, Rebecca Bair, Michael Belmore, Geneviève Cadieux, Alexandre Castonguay, Lynne Cohen, Heidi Conrod, Sylvain Cousineau, Max Dean, Pierre Dorion, Josée Dubeau, AM Dumouchel, Rah Eleh, Evergon, Rosalie Favell, Charles Gagnon, Chantal Gervais, Lorraine Gilbert, Martin Golland, Trevor Gould, Michel Goulet, Peter Gnass, Jacques Hurtubise, Zainab Hussain, Germaine Koh, Shelby Lisk, Kenneth Lochhead, Ken Lum, Gavin Lynch, Jennifer Macklem, Deborah Margo, Julia Martin, Andrew Morrow, Ron Noganosh, Gunter Nolte, Roland Poulin, Leslie Reid, Catherine Richards, Jean-Jacques Ringuette, Suzanne Rivard Le Moyne, Denis Rousseau, Amy Schissel, Michael Schreier, Cindy Stelmackowich, Laura Taler, Carol Wainio, Justin Wonnacott, Andrew Wright, Jinny Yu