About
Twyla Exner is a Canadian artist inspired by the wonders of nature and the idea of electronic technologies gone awry. She uses the materials and imagery of discarded electronic technologies as a departure toward wondrous and worrisome installations, sculptures and drawings that propose hybrids of technological structures and living organisms. Twyla currently resides as a visitor on the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc territory, situated within the unceded ancestral lands of the Secwépemc Nation.
Twyla holds a BFA from the University of Regina (Regina, SK) and a MFA from Concordia University (Montreal, QC). She has held artist residencies with Herschel Supply Co. Gastown (Vancouver, BC) and Omineca Arts Center (Prince George, BC). She is the recipient of numerous grants from Canada Council for the Arts, BC Arts Council, Alberta Foundation for the Arts and Saskatchewan Arts. Her works have been exhibited in Canada and the USA including at the Appalachian Center for Craft (Tennessee, USA), Dunlop Art Gallery (Regina, SK), Art Mûr (Montreal, QC), and VIVO (Vancouver, BC). Twyla’s artworks are in numerous public collections including the Royal BC Museum (Victoria, BC), Saskatchewan Arts (Regina, SK) and the Kamloops Art Gallery (Kamloops, BC).
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Solo Exhibitions
2021 Cling | Gallery 2 | Grand Forks, BC
Morph | Kooteny Art Gallery | Castelgar, BC
Morph | Okotoks Art Gallery | Okotoks, AB
2020 Cling | Kamloops Art Gallery | Curator: Craig Willms | Kamloops, BC
2018 Send & Receive | Arnica Artist-Run Centre | Kamloops, BC
2017 Technological Wanders | Art Gallery of Saint Albert | Curator: Jenny Wilson-McGrath | Saint Albert, AB
2015 Structure of a Substance: Cluster | Campbell River Art Gallery | Campbell River, BC
Structure of a Substance: Swarm | Sweetwater Arts & Music Festival | Rolla, BC
2014 Systems & Things | Vernon Public Art Gallery | Curator: Lubos Cullen | Vernon, BC
Systems & Things | Temiskaming Art Gallery | Haileybury, ON
Systems & Things | Art Gallery of Algoma | Sault-Saint Marie, ON
2012 Entangled | Odd Gallery (KIAC) | Curator: Lance Blomgren | Dawson City, YT
Entangled | Two Rivers Gallery | Curator: George Harris | Prince George, BC
Post-Desktop | ARTsPLACE | Annanopolis, NS
2010-12 Entangled | toured by the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils Arts on the Move Program to 20 Saskatchewan venues | SK
2010 Post-Desktop | Estevan Art Gallery & Museum | Estevan, SK
Post-Desktop | Concordia University Gallery II | Montreal, QC
GROUP Exhibitions
2023 Forthcoming: Title TBD | Mary E. Black Gallery | Halifax, NS
Forthcoming: Title TBD | Art Gallery of Osoyoos | Osoyoos, BC
2022 Forthcoming: Mission Protect Our Oceans | Montreal Science Centre, Montreal, QC
2021 Yarn, Rope, String | Fiber Art Network | www.fiberartnow.net
Yarn, Rope, String | Appalachian Center for Craft | Tennessee Tech University | Smithville, TN
Re:Crafted | Craft at the Edge | Curator: Jill Price | Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador | Bonavista, NL
2020 Changing a Point of View | All She Makes | www.allshemakes.org | Curator: Christina Massey of WoArt Blog (New York)
Address Design Show | Design Toronto | Lightform | Curator: Kate Duncan | Toronto, ON
2019 Curiosity Collider: Invasive Systems | VIVO | Vancouver, BC
2018 Remembering Mr. LeBlonde | Last Mountain Lake Cultural Centre | Regina Beach, SK
Send & Receive | The Works Art & Design Festival | Edmonton, AB
2017 Colour | Hill Tower | Saskatchewan Arts Board Collection Exhibition | Curator: Belinda Harrow | Regina, SK
2016 Visual Arts Faculty Biennial | Thompson Rivers University Gallery | Kamloops, BC
Connections | Georgina Arts Center | with Allyson Glenn | Sutton, ON
2013-14 Creative Play: Saskatchewan Arts Board 65th Anniversary Exhibition | toured by the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils Arts on the Move
Programs to 10 Saskatchewan venues | Curator: Jennifer McRorie | SK
2010 Detritus Ecologies | Gallery 101 | with Griffith Aaron Baker, Mae Leong & Troy David Ouellette | Curator: Leanne L’Hirondelle | Ottawa, ON
2009 Time Off | Galerie Art Mûr | Montreal, QC
Raw, Medium Rare, Well Done | FOFA Gallery | Montreal, QC
2008 STRATA | Espace Artefacto | Montreal, QC
Pale Blue Dot | Art Gallery of Regina | Curator: Wendy Peart | Regina, SK
Abnormal Growth | Dunlop Art Gallery | with Griffith Aaron Baker & Tricia Middleton | Curator: Amanda Cachia | Regina, SK
2006-07 Biennial Small City Art Museums Exhibition of Contemporary Art | Toured to: Two Rivers Art Gallery, Prince George, BC; Kelowna Art Gallery, Kelowna,
BC; Esplanade Art Gallery, Medicine Hat, AB; Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery, Moose Jaw, SK; Estevan Art Gallery & Museum, Estevan, SK; Art
Gallery of Prince Albert, Prince Albert, SK; Art Gallery of Swift Current, Swift Current, SK.
2004 RE:collect | MacKenzie Art Gallery | Regina, SK
Materialities | Plains Museum | Regina, SK
POST-SECONDARY TEACHING
2022-C Thompson Rivers University | Assistant Teaching Professor | Department of Communications and Visual Arts | Kamloops, BC
2021-22 Sheridan College | sessional instructor | Department of Art & Art History \ Visual Creative Arts | Oakville, ON
Emily Carr University | sessional instructor | Department of Culture & Community | Vancouver, BC
2020-22 College of New Caledonia | sessional instructor | Department of Web & Graphic Design and Fine Arts | Prince George, BC
2016 Thompson Rivers University | sessional instructor | Fine Arts Department | Kamloops, BC
2015-16 Grande Prairie Regional College | sessional Instructor | Fine Arts Department | Grande Prairie, AB
2007-9 Concordia University | teaching assistant | Department of Visual Arts | Montreal, QC
Education
2010 Master of Fine Arts | Studio Arts | Concordia University | Montreal, QC
2004 Bachelor of Fine Arts | Sculpture | University of Regina | Regina, SK
TEACHING & WORKSHOPS
2021-22 Kamloops Art Gallery | curriculum development | Kamloops, BC
2021 Craft at the Edge | wire workshop | Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador | Bonavista, NL
2020 Kamloops Art Gallery | modeling, molding, casting workshop | Kamloops, BC
2017-20 Two Rivers Gallery | curriculum development & instruction | Prince George, BC
2016 Art of the Peace | wire workshop | Arts Fest Symposium | Grande Prairie, AB
2015-16 Harry Balfour School | art instructor | Grande Prairie, AB
Centre for Creative Arts | hand-building and wheel throwing classes | Grande Prairie, AB
2015 Peace Laird Regional Arts Council | clay workshop | Tumbler Ridge, BC
2011-13 Mann Art Gallery | curriculum development & instruction | Prince Albert, SK
2010 Estevan Arts Council | clay & drawing classes | Estevan, SK
2005-7 City of Regina | hand building, wheel throwing, mosaic tile, and illustration classes | Regina, SK
Collaborations
2020 Float School & Designing for Public Space | research and engagement through Living Labs | Emily Carr University of Art and Design | Prince George, BC
2018 Send & Receive | community engagement at The Works Art and Design Festival | Edmonton, AB
2017 Techno-Invasion | community engagement at the International Children’s Festival | St Albert, AB
2015 Dino-Lab | program development for Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum | Grande Prairie, AB
Structure of a Substance | exhibition at Sweetwater 905 music festival | Dawson Creek, BC
2014 Thingvasion! | community engagement at the Saskatchewan Winter Gamers | Prince Albert, SK
2013 Thingvasion! | community engagement at the Queen City Exhibition & Saskatoon Exhibition | SK
Electrical Field | community engagement at Art Gallery of Algoma | Sault-Saint Marie, ON
2012 Electrical Field | community engagement at the Queen City Exhibition | Regina, SK
Public Collections & Commissions
2020 Garbage Sea Sweeper | Little Inventors | UK
Encrusted | The Exploration Place | Prince George, BC
Natural Filter | Royal British Columbia Museum | Victoria, BC
Cling | Kamloops Art Gallery Permanent Collection | Kamloops, BC
2019 Adaptation I | Saskatchewan Arts Board Permanent Collection | Regina, SK
2013 Electrical Field | Mann Art Gallery Permanent Collection | Prince Albert, SK
2012 Things 2 & 3 (Friends) and Evolution of Thing 2 | Saskatchewan Arts Board Permanent Collection | Regina, SK
2008 Memorial | Public Sculpture Commission | with Griffith Aaron Baker | Concordia University | Montreal, QC
2004 Microcosm | Public Sculpture Commission | with Griffith Aaron Baker | University of Regina | Regina, SK
Artist Talks
2022 Weaving Sustainability | Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art | Kelowna, BC
2020 Innovation Exploded | Craft at the Edge | Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador | Bonavista, NL
Thompson Rivers University | Kamloops, BC
2017 Art Gallery of St Albert | St Albert, AB
2016 Thompson Rivers University | Kamloops, BC
Art of the Peace | Arts Fest Symposium | Grande Prairie, AB
2014 Grande Prairie Regional College | Grande Prairie, AB
Vernon Public Art Gallery | Vernon, BC
John V. Hicks Art Gallery | Prince Albert, SK
2013 Art Gallery of Algoma | Sault-Saint Marie, ON
2012 Odd Gallery | Dawson City, YT
Two Rivers Gallery | Prince George, BC
Station Arts Center | Rosthern, SK
2011 Art Gallery of Swift Current | Swift Current, SK
Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery | Moose Jaw, SK
Allie Griffin Art Gallery | Weyburn, SK
2010 Concordia University | Visual Arts Department, Sculpture 210 | Montreal, QC
2009 Concordia University | Visual Arts Department, FFAR 398 | Montreal, QC
Concordia University | Visual Arts Department, Ceramics 330 | Montreal, QC
2008 University of Regina | Visual Arts Department, Art 400 | Regina, SK
University of Regina | Visual Arts Department, Sculpture 250 | Regina, SK
2007 Dunlop Art Gallery | Regina, SK
2006 Swift Current Art Gallery | Swift Current, SK
Art Gallery of Prince Albert | Prince Albert, SK
EXHIBITION PUBLICATIONS & MAGAZINE FEATURES
2021 Art Feature: Twyla Exner. By George Harris. Thimbleberry Magazine, Volume 5, Spring 2021. Prince George, bC.
Twyla Exner verheft e-waste tot indringende sculpturen. By Dorothé Swinkels. Textile Plus Magazine. Netherlands.
https://www.textielplus.nl/artikelen/twyla-exner/
2014 Twyla Exner: Systems and Things. By Lubos Cullen. Vernon Public Art Gallery: Exhibition Catalogue. Vernon, BC
Twyla Exner’s Intertidal Life on the Prairies. By Patricia Dawn Robertson. Vernon Public Art Gallery: Exhibition Catalogue. Vernon, BC.
2013 The Sensuous in Technology. By Jennifer McRorie. Ontario Crafts Council: Studio Magazine. Toronto, ON.
2012 Technology Comes Alive at the ODD Gallery.By Elaine Cordon. What’s Up Yukon: Magazine. Whitehorse, YT.
The Technological Biology of Entangled.By Katheryn Hepburn. KIAC & ODD Gallery: Exhibition Catalogue. Dawson City, YT.
2010 Hybrid Entanglements & Cyborg Traces: The Sculptural Art of Twyla Exner. By Amy Gogarty. Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils: Exhibition
Catalogue. Regina, SK.
Detritus Ecologies. By Leanne L’Hirondelle. Gallery101: Exhibition Catalogue. Ottawa, ON.
2009 Raw, Medium Rare, Well Done. By Sandra Alfoldy. FOFA Gallery: Exhibition Catalogue. Montreal, QC.
2008 World Wise: Exploring Environmental & Post-Consumer Critique. By Isa Tousignant.
STRATA: Exhibition Catalogue. Montreal, QC.
Pale Blue Dot. By Wendy Peart. Art Gallery of Regina: Exhibition Catalogue. Regina, SK.
RESIDENCIES
2023 Forthcoming: HCMA Architecture & Design | artist in residence Victoria office | Victoria, BC
2021 Things Unleashed | artist in residence at Herschel Supply Co. in Gastown | Vancouver, BC
Cling | artist in residence at Omineca Arts Centre | Prince George, BC
2016 Fish Story | artist in residence at Harry Balfour School | Grande Prairie, AB
2013 A Sense of Wonder | artist in residence at Prince Albert Collegiate Institute | Prince Albert, SK
Small | artist in residence with multiple schools | Prince Albert, LaRonge, Air Ronge, Meadow Lake, Cole Bay, SK
2012 The Island of Misfit Toys | Guest artist at Art City | Winnipeg, MB
GRAnts & SCHOLARSHIPS
2021 Explore and Create: Research and Creation Grant | Canada Council for the Arts
Travel Grant | Canada Council for the Arts
2018 Individual Artist Grant | Category 1 | British Columbia Arts Council
2015 Artists & Education Grant | Alberta Foundation for the Arts
2015 Grande Prairie Arts & Culture Development Fund Grant | Grande Prairie, AB
2012 Travel Grant | Saskatchewan Arts Board
2011 Creative Individual Assistance Grant| Professional Artist | Saskatchewan Arts Board
2009 Creative Individual Assistance Grant| Emerging Artist | Saskatchewan Arts Board
2007 Tuition Remission Award | School of Graduate Studies | Concordia University | Montreal, QC
2006 Creative Individual Assistance Grant| Emerging Artist | Saskatchewan Arts Board
2004 University Prize in Fine Arts | University of Regina | Regina, SK
2003 The Revered E. Peter W. Nash S.J. Scholarship | Fine Arts | University of Regina | Regina, SK
Kioymi Annette Shoyama Bursary in Visual Arts | University of Regina | Regina, SK
2002 Kioymi Annette Shoyama Bursary in Visual Arts | University of Regina | Regina, SK
PUBLISHED WRITING
Exner, Twyla D. “Reflections on Weaving Sustainability.” Alternator Centre for the Arts, 2022.
Exner, Twyla D. “Resources for Student Artists.” CARFAC, 2021.
Exner, Twyla D. “Making Friends with Moss.” Float School. Emily Carr University, 2020.
Exner, Twyla D. “Ephemeral Garden.” Thimbleberry, Issue 3, Fall 2018.
Exner, Twyla D. “Artist’s Statement.” Art of the Peace, Issue 27, Fall 2016.