MFA University of Guelph, 1997
BFA Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, 1981
Dundas Valley School of Art 1976-1978
Canada Council Art Bank, Ottawa
Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax, NS
Art Gallery of Hamilton, ON
Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa, ON
Kelowna Art Gallery, Kelowna, BC
The University of Lethbridge Art Gallery, Lethbridge, AB
Art Gallery of Peel, Brampton, ON
Osler, Hoskin, and Harcourt, Toronto
Aber Diamond Company, Toronto
Concession Street Library, Hamilton, ON
Outdoor Installations: Site-specific landscape installations, NS, NB
Private Collections
Canada Council, B Grant
1983, 1984, 1995
Canada Council, Project Grant
1986, 1987, 1988
Canada Council, Explorations Grant
1983
Canada Council Travel Grant
Germany, 1987
Ontario Arts Council
Mid Career Grant, 2001
Ontario Arts Council
Project Grant, 1992
Ontario Arts Council
Exhibition Assistance
1987, 88, 91, 92, 94, 95, 98, 03
University of Guelph,
Graduate Scholarship, 1996
Glassell School of Art, Houston, Texas,
Artist Residence Program
(unable to accept), 1986
Nova Scotia College of Art and Design
MacKenzie Endowment Fund, 1981
Nova Scotia College of Art and Design
Project Cost Grant, 1980
University of Waterloo, Waterloo
Ontario, 2005
Kenderdine Art Gallery
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, 2004
Medicine Hat Museum and Art Gallery, Medicine Hat, Alberta, 2004
Kelowna Art Gallery, Kelowna
British Columbia, 2004
Robert McLaughlin Gallery
Oshawa, Ontario, 2003
Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, 2002, 2003
University of Lethbridge, Alberta, 1996, 1997, 2002
Sheridan College, Oakville, Ontario
1997, 1992
SHAVE '95, Shave Farm
Somerset, England, 1995
McDonald Stewart Art Centre
Guelph, 1992
Red Head Gallery, Volumes
Toronto, 1991
McMaster University Art Gallery, 1989
Art Gallery of Hamilton, 1988
Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Gary Spearin studied art at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, BFA 1981 and University of Guelph, MFA 1997. He has been recipient of numerous awards including Canada Council Grants, Ontario Arts Council Grants, and Public Commissions. Spearin has exhibited in solo and group exhibitions within Canada as well as in the United Kingdom and the United States. His artwork is in private and public collections, including The Canada Council Art Bank, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Kelowna Art Gallery, University of Lethbridge, and the painting collection of Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt, Toronto.
Spearin's multi-media installations of the last two decades utilized painting both on and off the canvas. A repertoire of painting techniques and styles had been employed to magnify issues of site and context within museums, private and public galleries, public and domestic architecture, and the natural and historic landscape. Since the millennium a studio-based approach has directed a focus primarily on the construction of the painted image. Spearin's original and technically sophisticated processes create optical and visceral sensations that construct independent images that demand a creative process with the viewer. These challenging images oscillate between the representational and the abstract.
Fanshawe College, London, Ontario
Professor, 2005-
University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario
External Examiner, MFA, 2008
Fanshawe College, London, Ontario
Faculty Appointment, 2003-
Nova Scotia College of Art and Design
Summer Sessional, 2002, 2003
Fanshawe College, London, Ontario
Year Position 2002-2003, 2001-2002, Sessional 1999-2001
University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario
Sessional, 2000-2001
McMaster University / Dundas Valley School of Art, Dundas, Ontario
Year Position, 1999-2000
University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta:
Term Position, 1997, Sessional, 1996, 2000
University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario:
Master Degree Teaching Requirements, 1996-7
Dundas Valley School of Art, Dundas, Ontario:
Adult Education, 1991-2002
McMaster University, Dept. of Physical Education, Hamilton
Visiting Artist for Modern Dance, 1988-90
Museum London, Acquisitions Committee, 2004-present
Art Documentation Photographer, Exhibitions and Catalogues, Freelance, 1988-present
Ontario Arts Council, Visual Arts Grant Jury, 1996
Ontario Arts Council, Photography, Material Assistant Grants, 1998, 1992
Member Artists' Co-op, Red Head Gallery, Toronto, 1993-8
McMaster Museum of Art, Volunteer, 1987-1995
Artist Run Centres:
Hamilton Artists' Inc. President 1991-2, Board Member 1990-3
Photo Union Gallery, Hamilton, Board Member, 1985
Atlantic Filmmakers Co-op, Halifax, 1982-5
| 2010 - scheduled | Art Gallery of Windsor Windsor, Ontario |
| 2008 - LONG WEEKEND | Domestic Interior Gallery London, Ontario |
| 2005 - NAME PAINTINGS | Edward Day Gallery Toronto, Ontario |
| 2005 - OPENSIGNAL | Spin Gallery Toronto, Ontario |
| 2004 - NAME PAINTINGS | Kenderdine Art Gallery Saskatoon, Saskatchewan |
| 2004 - NAME PAINTINGS | Medicine Hat Museum & Gallery Medicine Hat, Alberta |
| 2004 - NAME PAINTINGS | Kelowna Art Gallery Kelowna, British Columbia |
| 2003 - NAME PAINTINGS | Robert McLaughlin Gallery Oshawa, Ontario |
| 2002 - NAME PAINTINGS | Anna Leonowens Gallery Halifax, Nova Scotia |
| 2002 - Rred | Spin Gallery Toronto, Ontario |
| 2001 - Rred | Galerie Glendon York University, Toronto, ON |
| 1997 - THE END THE END | Red Head Gallery Toronto, Ontario |
| 1997 - SITEHOUSE | Site Installation in House Slated for Demolition Burlington, Ontario |
| 1996 - SPILLAGE | Red Head Gallery Toronto, Ontario |
| 1995 - GENE THEORY TESTING GROUND | Abandoned Factory & Dofasco Gallery Dundas, Ontario |
| 1994 - CYTERNAL | Red Head Gallery Toronto, Ontario |
| 1993 - CALL ME | Forest City Gallery London, Ontario |
| 1992 - UNSPEAKABLE | MacDonald Stewart Art Centre Guelph, Ontario |
| 1992 - LIVING ON CREDIT | Art Gallery of Peel Brampton, Ontario |
| 1988 - REVERSE ORDER | Art Gallery of Hamilton Hamilton, Ontario |
| 1984 - FOUND AND LOST | Eye Level Gallery Halifax, Nova Scotia |
| 1984 - CONDITION RED | Anna Leonowens Gallery Halifax, Nova Scotia |
| 2009 - Storm of Painters | Edward Day Gallery Toronto, Ontario |
| 2006 - Kolour Your World | Edward Day Gallery Toronto, Ontario |
| 2005 - Five Year Anniversary | Spin Gallery Toronto, Ontario |
| 2004 - Recent Acquisitions | Kelowna Art Gallery Kelowna, British Columbia |
| 2003 - Painting Exhibitions | Michael Gibson Gallery London, Ontario |
| 2002 - Synthetic Psychosis | Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art Toronto, Ontario |
| 2001 - Fuse | Harbourfront York Quay Gallery Toronto, Ontario |
| 2001 - Small Works Exhibition | Pure Gallery Taos, New Mexico, USA |
| 2000 - Tempus Fugit | Robert McLaughlin Gallery Oshawa, Ontario |
| 2000 - Redrospective | Red Head Gallery Toronto, Ontario |
| 1999 - Myth City Saga | Art Gallery of Mississauga Mississauga, Ontario |
| 1997 - Southwest Triennial | Art Gallery of Windsor Windsor, Ontario |
| 1996 - Regrouping | McMichael Art Gallery Klienburg, Ontario |
| 1995 - Shave '95 | Shave Farm Somerset, England, UK |
| 1993 - Red Head Lite | Grunt Gallery Vancouver, British Columbia |
| 1993 - Tom () Tom | Art Gallery of Hamilton Hamilton, Ontario |
| 1992 - Two Row Wampum Project | Rodman Hall National Exhibition Centre St. Catherines, Ontario |
| 1991 - Volumes | Red Head Gallery Toronto, Ontario |
| 1991 - Southwest Biennial | Art Gallery of Windsor Windsor, Ontario |
| 1991 - Go Show | CN Train Station Hamilton, Ontario |
| 1990 - Art in the Environment | Canada Centre For Inland Waters Hamilton, Ontario |
| 1985 - Variety | Memorial Art Gallery Cornerbrook, Newfoundland |
| 1982 - Three Painters | Eye Level Gallery Halifax, Nova Scotia |
| 1982 - Non-Commodity Exhibition | Castlegar British Columbia |