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   "The first time I saw a Clyfford Still painting, I was completely transfixed, awestruck by its powerful presence.  Its soulful depth, meaty texture, dramatic composition, striking contrast - that space, simplicity and intensity were revelatory.

 

 "Whether I'm making an abstract or representational piece, I'm feeling the thickness and thinness, the drag, smear, stroke, scrape and blend of colour. Every mark is a decision in composition, a tactile balance of tension and cohesion; a distillation of life with-in and with-out".  

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Sarah studied at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and the Ontario College of Art and Design. She was one of 2 selected amongst 2000 candidates to the Post Graduate Diploma in Fine Art at the prestigious Slade School of Fine Art, University College London, UK.

After founding a Toronto Co-op gallery for emerging artists in 2003, she has since curated art exhibitions for charity fundraisers like LIGHTS, lectured as a visiting artist in Bogota and offered art programs from her home studios to serve her communities. In 2007, she created, curated and presented Parca, an exhibition of eight Canadian artists in celebration of Canada Day in New York, championed by the Canadian Consulate and former Consul General, Dan Sullivan.  Sarah continues to work on her first massive collaborative project with the public in support of environmental charity, Nature Canada. Photo submissions from across the country are being turned into 200 paintings and limited edition giclee prints.   

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Her paintings have been exhibited in Toronto, London, New York, Bogota and Chicago. They are part of private and corporate collections in Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and USA.  She holds an Hons. BFA (OCAD) and PGDFA (Slade).

 

​Sarah has devoted her career to creative initiatives such as leading art retreats for adults, running workshops for teachers and CEOS, and teaching art to kids with cancer, teens in crisis, practicing painters and adults living with dementia.  She knows that creativity is vital, especially in this digital AI age, for a fulfilling and wholly balanced life.

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Born Toronto, Canada 

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EDUCATION

2002         Artists’ Retreat with Harold Klunder, Belleville, On

1998-99    Post Graduate Diploma in Fine Art (Painting), Slade School of Fine Art, London, UK

1993-95    Associate of the Ontario College of Art and Design (Painting & Drawing, Hons.), Toronto

1991-93    Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, (P&D, Printmaking, Photography) Halifax

1989-91    Dalhousie University, (English, Sociology, Philosophy of Art) Halifax

1984-89    Branksome Hall School, Toronto

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SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2013          Homage: A Prayer for Pig Island, Tremont Artspace, Collingwood, Ontario

2010          New Small Paintings, Communication Art Gallery, Toronto

2005          Journey, Lipman Contemporary Art, Toronto

                  New work, Russell Gallery, Peterborough, Ontario

                  Namaste: An Homage, Artecamara, Bogota, Colombia

2002          Dig, Revolver Contemporary Art, Toronto, Ontario

                  turf, Revolver Contemporary Art, Toronto

                  Dialogue, Forest Hill Gallery, Toronto

1998          New Work, The Link Gallery, Edwards Gardens, Toronto

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SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2018         The Other Art Fair by Saatchi Art, Mana Contemporary, Chicago        

2016         TSCBF, Storys Building, Toronto 

2015         TSCBF, Storys Building, Toronto

2014         Pop Up Art Gallery, curated by Andersen Art Consulting, Toronto

                 TSCBF, Storys Building, Toronto

2013         Art Gems Auction, Church at Berkeley, Toronto

2012         Gallery Retrospective, Communication Art Gallery, Toronto

2011         London Goodenough Association of Canada Fundraiser, Toronto

2009-10    Square Foot Show, AWOL Gallery, Toronto

2004-08    Whodunnit?, OCAD, Toronto

2007         Parca, 511 Gallery, NY, NY

2006         Summer, Denise Bibro Fine Art, NY, NY

                 To the moon, Alice…, Heidi Cho Gallery, NY, NY

2005         Winter, Parts Gallery, Toronto

                 Summer, Lipman Contemporary Art, Toronto

2004         Winter, Russell Gallery, Peterborough, Ontario

                 Summer, Heidi Cho Gallery, NY, NY

2003         chockerfuckingblocked, The Jeffrey Charles Gallery, London, UK

1996-00    Annual Exhibition, Trinity College, University of Toronto

1999         Graduate Exhibition, Slade School of Fine Art, London, UK

1998         Reverence Lost w/ Drawnonward, Wagner Rosenbaum Gallery, Toronto

 

MEDIA

2017          Critics At Large, Best of 2017:  

                  Donald Brackett: Beyond Borders: The Paintings of Sarah Merry (May 24/17)

2008.         EAPN Feature Blog Interview, Feb.  “Parca: Showcasing Canadian Art in New York”

2007          CBC radio 2 July interview, Q with Jian Ghomeshi, “Parca: Canada in New York”, 

2002          Risk Magazine, Cover Artist, July, August, October

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SELECTED CORPORATE & PUBLIC  COLLECTIONS

Consulate General of Canada, New York

Canadian Embassy, Bogota, Colombia

Trinity College, University of Toronto

Rudner MacDonald LLP, Toronto

Capitol Canada Ltd., Toronto

Design Lab, Toronto

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CURATORIAL

2024              Co-Curator, LIGHTSHOW art fundraiser, LIGHTS, Toronto

2011              London Goodenough Association of Canada art fundraiser, Toronto

2007              Parca: Canada in New York, Gallery 511, NYC, NY

2006             Art of Caring: Gilda's Club, Gladstone Hotel, Toronto

 

RELATED PROFESSIONAL ROLES

2023              Founder, ARTERY, Collingwood

2023              Art Instructor, MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie

2014              Director, Maple Street Studio Painting School, Collingwood

2006-14         Director, Huron Street Studio Painting School, Toronto

2009-13         Volunteer Curator, take pART, BHS art show fundraiser, Toronto

2007, 2011    Private Gallery Hop Guide, Women in Capitol Markets, Toronto

2006-07         Art Teacher, Pine River Institute, Shelburne, Ontario

2005              Volunteer Art Workshop Leader; Gilda’s House, Toronto

2003              Founding Director, Curator; COOP Gallery, Toronto

2000, 2001    Fine Art Director; Centauri Retreats, Welland & Bethany, Ontario

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FUNDRAISING DONATIONS

2023-2024     Lights Toronto

2022-2023     Georgian Bay Land Trust, Toronto

2010 - 16       take pART, Toronto

2013              Art Gems, Toronto

2004 - 08       OCAD Whodunnit?, Toronto

2005              Gilda’s House, Toronto

2004              Earshot! Concerts, Toronto

1996-2000     Campfire Circle/Camp Amiki

1999              Millennium Artists Art Auction, Toronto

1998              Camp Awakening

1995              Youth Challenge International

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