Biography

Shantel Miller is Jamaican-Canadian visual artist (born in Toronto, ON). She received an MFA in Painting at Boston University and a BFA in Drawing and Painting from the Ontario College of Art and Design. In 2021, she received the Dedalus Foundation MFA Fellowship in Painting and Sculpture, the Elizabeth Greenshield Award, the Esther B. and Albert S. Kahn Career Entry Fund and is currently the Ujima Boston Project Artist Fellow for 2022-2024.


Artist Statement

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 uses body language symbolically to suggest relationships of tension and intimacy, often depicting interior spaces with 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 ideas relevant to spirituality and existentialism in ordinary depictions of Black life.


Photo taken by Rosa Cabán.

CV


EDUCATION 

2019-21   MFA Painting, Boston University 

2009-13   BFA, Drawing & Painting, Ontario College of Art and Design (OCADU) 


SOLO EXHIBITIONS 

2021     Homeplace, Commonwealth Gallery, Boston, MA 

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


SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS 

2022 

We Interrupt This Program, Howard Yezerski Gallery, Boston, MA

Destabilization: The Color or Our Skin, Hamilton Artists Inc. Hamilton, ON

In My Skin, Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina, SK

Art Souterrain, Montreal, QB


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 

MFA Graduate Exhibit, Commonwealth Gallery, Boston, MA 

AREA CODE Art Fair, Online Art Exhibition


2019     

Xpace Annual Fundraiser, Xpace Cultural Centre, 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 Festival, Toronto, ON 

Pixelation, OCAD University, Toronto, ON 


ART FAIRS

2022     Future Art Fair, Chelsea, NY

2018      NADA Art Fair, Half Gallery, Miami, FL 

               Art Aqua Miami, Uncommon Beauty Gallery, Miami, FL 


ARTIST TALKS 

2022     In My Skin, Dunlop Art Gallery, Interview with Alyssa Fearon

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 Residency Program, Toronto, ON 

              CuttyHunk Island Artist Residency, Elizabeth Island, MA


PUBLICATIONS

2022       The Studio Image Project, Friends of the Artists 

                 Chatelaine Magazine, September Issue

                The Black Scholar, Black Religion in the Digital Age, Volume 52 Issue 3

                 Hamilton Artists Inc, A Reflection on Destabilization: The Colour of our Skin


2021         BU Today, Gaugain had Tahiti, Shantel Miller has Dorchester

                 Boston University MFA Thesis Catalog

                 Minerva, A Women of Burgundy Publication

                 CBC Arts Online, Huda Hassan


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 

2016        Xpace Cultural Centre 2016 Exhibitions Catalogue 

                 It’s Still Privileged Art, Exhibition Catalogue at 401 Richmond 

2013        OCAD University 98th Annual Graduate Exhibition Catalogue 


AWARDS, GRANTS & FELLOWSHIPS

2022       Boston Opportunity Fund

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 

Using Format