"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".
Over the past 25 years, Sarah’s 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.
Sarah studied at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and graduated with honours from the Ontario College of Art and Design. In ’98, she was one of two selected amongst 2000 candidates to the Post Graduate Diploma in Fine Art at the prestigious Slade School of Fine Art, University College London, UK.
In 2007, she organized, 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. Alongside her professional painting practice, Sarah teaches art to youth, adults, and people living with dementia.
Born Toronto, Canada
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
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
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
SELECTED CORPORATE, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE 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
J. Clark
G. Dalglish
A. Dyson & C. Sharples
C. and R. Field Marsham
Dr. F.L.R. Jackman
M. McRae
R. Phillips
T. Sweeney & G. Tiplady
J. & C. Willmot
CURATORIAL
2011 London Goodenough Association of Canada Fundraiser, Toronto
2007 Parca: Canada in New York, New York
2006 Art of Caring: Gilda's Club, Gladstone Hotel, Toronto
RELATED PROFESSIONAL ROLES
2023 Founder, ARTery, Collingwood
2023 Art Instructor, MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie
2023 Director, SM*ART studio, Collingwood
2014 Director, Maple Street Studio Painting School, Collingwood
2006-14 Director, Huron Street Studio Painting School, Toronto
2009-13 Pioneer, 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
FUNDRAISING DONATIONS
2023 Lights Toronto
2022-2023 Georgian Bay Land Trust
2010 - 16 take pART
2004 - 08 OCAD Whodunnit?
2005 Gilda’s House
2004 Earshot! Concerts
1996-2000 Camp Oochigeas/Camp Am iki
1999 Millennium Artists Art Auction
1998 Camp Awakening
1995 Youth Challenge International