ARTIST STATEMENT

Shantel Miller’s figurative paintings represent lived and imagined experiences that often situate the body in moments of vulnerability and introspection. As part of her creative process, she positions the body symbolically to suggest relationships of tension and intimacy, often depicted within interior spaces of isolated moments of realism, alternating perspectives, and high-contrast color relationships. Working in this way, Miller negotiates notions of a public and private self and explores intersections of race, gender, and religion with particular emphasis on ideas relevant to spirituality and existentialism in ordinary depictions of Black life.


BIO

In 2021, Shantel graduated from Boston University with an MFA in Painting and received the Dedalus Foundation Fellowship in Sculpture and Painting, the Ester B. Khan Award, and the Elizabeth Greenshields Award. Her artwork has been acquired by private collections around the world and she has participated in numerous group shows, residencies, and art fairs in North America including The Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto, The Varley Art Gallery of Markham, the Nia Center for the Arts Artist-in-Residence Program, the Converging Liberations Residency at Mass MoCA, NADA Miami and Future Fair in NYC. Shantel is the recent recipient of the 2022 Artadia Award and the Ujima Boston Project’s 2022-2024 Artist Fellowship. She currently lives and works in Markham, ON.


Photo taken by Rosa Cabán.

CV


EDUCATION 

2019-2021 | MFA, Painting, Boston University 

2009-2013 | BFA, Drawing & Painting, Ontario College of Art and Design (OCADU) 


SOLO EXHIBITIONS 

2024 | I’ve Been Trying To Reach You, Anderson Yezerski Gallery, Boston, MA

2023 | A Legacy Unfolding, The Varley Art Gallery of Markham, Markham, ON

2021 | homeplace, Commonwealth Gallery, Boston, MA 

2016 | The Side Profile Series, Xpace Cultural Centre, Toronto, ON 


SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS 

2023-2024 | Dancing In The Light, Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto, Toronto, ON

2023 | A Suitable Accomplishment, Trotter & Sholer Gallery, New York, NY 2022 

  • We Interrupt This Program, Howard Yezerski Gallery, Boston, MA 
  • Destabilization: The Color of Our Skin, Hamilton Artists Inc, Hamilton, ON 
  • In My Skin, Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina, SK 
  • Pathways-Resilient Voices, Art Souterrain Festival, Montreal, QC 

2021 | Cake Show, The Pit, Palm Springs, LA 

  • New Talent, Alpha Gallery, Boston, MA 
  • Straight Lick-Black Art Sessions, Manhattan, NY 
  • IYKYK, Pianocraft Gallery, Boston, MA 
  • MFA Painting Thesis Exhibition, Stone Gallery, Boston, MA 
  • Cuttyhunk Small Works Show - Kilburn Mill, New Bedford, MA 

2020 | As the snail takes the shape of its shell, the plumb, Toronto, ON 

  • FOOD NATURE, Rad Hourani Gallery, Montreal, QB 
  • MFA Graduate Exhibit, Commonwealth Gallery, Boston, MA 

2019 | Xpace Annual Fundraiser, Xpace Cultural Centre, Toronto, ON 

  • Miller Thompson Artist Showcase, Miller Thompson, Toronto, ON 
  • From The Ground Up – Nia Centre for the Arts, Toronto, ON 

2018 | Cuttyhunk Island Artist Residency Exhibition, The Avalon, Cuttyhunk Island, MA 

  • Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series, Sandbox Studios, Toronto, ON 
  • BIGonBLOOR Festival, Toronto, ON 
  • Xpace Cultural Centre Annual Fundraiser 

2017 | Living Mosaic, Riverdale Art Gallery, Toronto, ON 

  • Skin Glowing in the Moonlight, Latitude 53, Edmonton, AB 

2016 | Margins of Eras 2016, Super Wonder Gallery, Toronto, ON

  • Pixelation, Artscape Youngplace, Toronto, ON 
  • BIGonBLOOR, Toronto, ON 
  • Pixelation, OCAD University, Toronto, ON

2013 | OCAD University 98th Annual Graduate Exhibition, OCADU, Toronto, ON 


ART FAIRS 

2022 | Future Fair NY, Chelsea, NY 

2020 | AREA Code Art Fair, Virtual 

2018 | NADA Art Fair, Half Gallery, Miami, FL 

  • Art Aqua Miami, Uncommon Beauty Gallery, Miami, FL 


ARTIST TALKS

2023 | Virtual Artist Talk, Varley Art Gallery of Markham, Markham, ON 

2022 | Virtual Artist Talk, Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina, SK

2019 | The Dis/Appearing Black Body, Art Gallery of Ontario 

2017 | Race, Politics, and Art: An Evening with The Artists, Latitude 53 

2016 | The Side Profile Series: A Conversation with The Artist, Xpace Cultural Centre 


RESIDENCIES 

2021 | Converging Liberations Residency, MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA 

2018 | Nia Centre for the Arts - Artists in Residence Program, Toronto, ON 

  • CuttyHunk Island Artist Residency, Elizabeth Island, MA 


PUBLICATIONS 

2023 | Fortunately, Magazine, 00 Issue

2022 | Chatelaine Magazine, September Issue 

  • The Black Scholar, Boston University 
  • The Studio Image Project, Friends of the Artists 

2021 | Boston University MFA Thesis Catalog 

2020 | Face Value, House and Home Magazine 

2018 | Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series, 

  • Toronto Life 
  • Edmonton Journal 

2017 | Skin Glowing in the Moonlight, Latitude 53 

  • VUE Magazine 
  • Status Quo 

2016 | Xpace Cultural Centre 2016 Exhibitions Catalog 

  • Status Quo 
  • It’s Still Privileged Art, Exhibition Catalog at 401 Richmond 

2013 | OCAD University 98th Annual Graduate Exhibition Catalog


AWARDS, GRANTS & FELLOWSHIPS 

2022 | Boston Artadia Award 

  • Boston Opportunity Fund 5.0 Award 

2021 | The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation 

  • Esther B. and Albert S. Kahn Career Entry Fund 
  • Dedalus Fellowship MFA Painting and Sculpture Award 

2016 | CUE Project Grant 

  • UTSC Annual Juried Show, Deserres Prize for Drawing & Painting – 1st 


RELATED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 

2023 | Artist Interview, CBC Radio, The Varley Art Gallery of Markham, Markham, ON

  • Visiting Lecturer, OCAD University, Toronto, ON
  • Virtual Artist Talk, Oakwood University, Huntsville, AL
  • Artist Interview, Opus Art Supplies

2021 | Visual Arts Consultant, Nia Center for the Arts, Toronto, ON

  • Artist Talk, Boston University, School of Theater, Boston, MA

2019-2020 | Administrative Assistant, School of Visual Arts, Boston University, Boston, MA

2017 | Juror, The Drawing Show, John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto, ON

  •  Artist Assistant, Sandra Brewster, UofT Art Museum, Toronto, ON

2016 | Artist Assistant, Jérôme Havre, Art Gallery of Ontario, Artist-in-Residence, Toronto, ON





















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