Biography
Neil McClelland is a Canadian artist originally from the Gatineau Hills, Quebec. He splits his time between Edmonton, Alberta and Victoria, British Columbia where he teaches drawing and painting at Vancouver Island School of Art and sessionally at the University of Victoria. He received his MFA from the University of Victoria and has had solo and group exhibitions in BC, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. McClelland is a 2016 and 2020 grantee of the internationally prestigious Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation. His paintings are in the collections of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts and the Colart Collection.
McClelland draws on personal experience, memory, imagination, art history and cinematic influences to make paintings that engage narrative and symbol in the exploration of the quest for perfect happiness, the search for paradises on earth, and human relationships to nature.
NEIL McCLELLAND CV
Education
Master of Fine Arts, Visual Art (University of Victoria)
Part-time cultural studies courses Master of Arts Integrated Studies (Athabasca University)
Painting/Drawing/Sculpture/Printmaking (University of Alberta, 1999-2000)
Studied privately with artists in Montreal, Ottawa, and Edmonton (1993-2000)
Art History (University of Alberta and Athabasca University, 1999-2000)
Painting/Drawing/Mixed Media (Saidye Bronfman Centre, Montreal, 1995-96)
Bachelor of Education (University of Toronto, received 1991)
B.A. Honours Music (University of Ottawa, received 1988)
Art-related Positions
Artist in Residence, Harcourt House Arts Centre, Edmonton, AB (2009-2010)
Art instructor: private instruction and contract work (e.g., NorQuest College, AGA)
Delta Art, retail, materials specialist, art advisor, art demos (Edmonton, AB, 2007- )
Art Gallery of Alberta, art educator (Edmonton, AB, 2008-2009)
Central Elementary School, art teacher (Lac La Biche, AB, 1997-2000)
Selected Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
2012 Variations on Five Photographs. Kaasa Gallery, Edmonton, AB
2012 Family Stories. EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts Window Galleries, Calgary, AB
2010 If You Can’t Stop, Smile As You Go By. Artist in Residence Show, Harcourt House Artist
Run Centre, Edmonton, AB
Selected Group Exhibitions
2021 Black & White. The Collectors’ Gallery of Art, Calgary, AB
2019 Small painting Exhibition, The Collectors’ Gallery of Art, Calgary, AB
2018 Go Figure, The Collectors’ Gallery of Art, Calgary, AB
2014 Four, The Collectors’ Gallery of Art, Calgary, AB
2014 New Acquisitions, The Collectors’ Gallery of Art, Calgary, AB
2013 New Acquisitions, The Collectors’ Gallery of Art, Calgary, AB
2013 Black & White. The Collectors’ Gallery of Art, Calgary, AB
2012 Conversations. Common Sense Gallery, Edmonton, AB
2012.Group Exhibition. Wallack Galleries, Ottawa, ON
2011 Ten to the Power of 10. Jackson Power & Electric, Edmonton, AB
2011 Energize. Visual Arts Alberta Gallery, Edmonton, AB
2011 Group Exhibition. Wallack Galleries, Ottawa, ON
2011 Group Exhibition. The Collectors’ Gallery of Art, Calgary, AB
2009 Double Take. Profiles Public Art Gallery, St.Albert, AB
2009 Summer Daze. The Collectors’ Gallery, Calgary, AB
2009 “Deck the Walls” Group Exhibition, The Collectors’ Gallery of Art, Calgary, AB.
2009 Arts at the Assembly, Professional Arts Coalition of Edmonton, AB
2009 “Summer Daze” Group Exhibition, The Collectors’ Gallery of Art, Calgary, AB.
2009 Harcourt House, 20th Annual Members’ Show, Edmonton, AB
2009 “Double Take,” Group Exhibition, Profiles Public Art Gallery, St. Albert, AB.
2008 “Give Your Home Presents,” Group Exhibition, The Collectors’ Gallery of Art, Calgary, AB.
2008 Trio. Double Take. The Fringe Gallery, Edmonton, AB
2008 Summer Showcase, Group Exhibition, The Collectors’ Gallery of Art, Calgary, AB.
2008 Harcourt House, 20th Annual Members’ Show, Edmonton, AB
2008 “New Arrivals” Group Exhibition, The Collectors’ Gallery of Art, Calgary, AB.
2008 “Double Take” with Jana Hargarten & Beth Pederson, Fringe Gallery, Edmonton, AB.2007Annual Group Exhibition,Wallack Galleries, Ottawa, ON.
2007 Harcourt House, 19th Annual Members’ Show, Edmonton, AB
2007 Hat—story, Group Exhibition, McMullen Gallery, Edmonton, AB
2007 “Nocturnal Dwellers. . .” with Tristan McClelland, Vertical Space Gallery, Edmonton, AB
2006 Harcourt House, 18th Annual Members’ Show, Edmonton, AB
2006 Harcourt House, 14th Annual Naked Show, Edmonton, AB
2002 “Perpetual Bond” Group Exhibition, Art is Vital Gallery, Calgary, AB
2001 “Seasonal Bliss II” Group Exhibition, Art is Vital Gallery, Calgary, AB
2000 Group Exhibition, Fringe Gallery, Edmonton, AB
1997 Group Exhibition, By the River Gallery, Packenham, ON
1997 Group Exhibition, Galerie Old Chelsea, Chelsea, PQ
1997 Solo Exhibition, Vintner Art Space, Ottawa, ON
1997 Solo Exhibition, Vintner Art Space, Kanata, ON
1996 Group Exhibition, Saidye Bronfman Centre, Montreal, PQ
1995 Group Exhibition, Saidye Bronfman Centre, Montreal, PQ
Selected Collections
Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Galilee Mission Centre (Arnprior, ON).
Commissions
Blue Plate Diner (Edmonton, AB).
Reviews
- “Worth a second look” Saint City News, Feb 06,2009.
- “Look once, look twice” St. Albert Gazette, Feb. 4,2009
- “Double Take offers object lessons” Vue Weekly, Apr 24-Apr 30, 2008.
- “Double Take, Group show, Fringe Gallery, April 2008” Prairie Artsters