Alison Norlen (born 1962, Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a visual artist who is known for large-scale drawing and sculpture installation. Her work is in private collections across the United States and Canada and in the public collections of the National Gallery of Canada, The Mackenzie Art Gallery, the Confederation Centre Art Gallery, The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, the Mendel Art Gallery, the Manitoba Art Council, The Canada Council Art Bank, and the Saskatchewan Arts Board.Norlen, Alison 2004, Studio Series exhibition catalogue, MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina SK.
Life and education Norlen grew up in Kenora, Ontario. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (Honours, First Class) from the School of Art at the University of Manitoba in 1987 and a Master of Fine Arts from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1989. Before beginning her career as a visual artist she trained as a barber.
Career Inspired by built spectacles such as West Edmonton Mall, Disneyland, Universal Studios, Las Vegas, roadside attractions, circuses and carnival celebrations, her work is characterized by its grand scale and intricate detail. Her work is significantly influenced by theater and film, particularly the work of the Depression-era film and theatrical choreographer Busby Berkeley.
Alison Norlen is currently a professor of painting and drawing at the University of Saskatchewan in the faculty of Art & Art History. She was awarded the University of Saskatchewan College of Arts and Science Teaching Excellence Award in 2011.
Solo exhibitions +YearNameGalleryLocation2013LunaMendel Art GallerySaskatoon, SK2012glimmerTwo Rivers GalleryPrince George, BC2011Metro LinesPlace Des ArtsMontreal QC2011glimmerEsplanade Art GalleryMedicine Hat, AB2010armatureARCH 2 Gallery, Faculty of Architecture, University of ManitobaWinnipeg, MB2010glimmerThunder Bay Art GalleryThunder Bay, ON2009glimmerKenderdine GallerySaskatoon SK2008Roller CoasterSimon Fraser University GalleryBurnaby, BC2007EdificeKitchener-Waterloo Art GalleryKitchener, ON2006Alison NorlenHarbourfront CentreToronto, ON2005MirageThe Art Gallery of ReginaRegina, SK2005Alison NorlenAnna Leonowens GalleryHalifax, NS2004Studio Series,MacKenzie Art GalleryRegina, SK2004FloatArt Gallery of Swift CurrentSwift Current, SK2004alaOboroMontreal, QC2003FloatKelowna Art GalleryKelowna, BC2003FloatConfederation Centre of the ArtsCharlottetown, PEI2002A Parade...Stride GalleryCalgary, AB2002FloatMendel Art GallerySaskatoon, SK2002Alison NorlenPlug In ICAWinnipeg, MB2002Art PagesBorder Crossings magazine (Artist Project)Winnipeg, MB2001Alison NorlenLake of the Woods MuseumKenora, ON1999Alison NorlenARCH 2 Gallery, Faculty of Architecture, University of ManitobaWinnipeg, MB1998Pinball DrawingsRichard Heller GalleryLos Angeles, USA1998PinballYukon Arts CentreWhitehorse, YT1997Manitoba Studio SeriesWinnipeg Art GalleryWinnipeg, MB1993HyperboleThe Art Gallery of Southwestern ManitobaBrandon, MB1991New WorkAce Art GalleryWinnipeg, MB
Select group exhibitions MosaiCanada: Sign & Sound, Seoul Korea (2003) Inklinations, York Quay, Toronto (2003). In My Solitude, Manny Neubacher Gallery, Toronto (2003). Occur/Blur, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg (2003). Tekeningen III, Quartair Art Contemporary Art Initiatives Dutch/Canada, Den Haag, Holland (2002). Figment, Two Rivers Gallery, Prince George (2002). After the Grain Elevator: Re-imaging the Prairie Icon, Art Gallery of Prince Albert (Oct 13 - Nov 26, 2000).
References