JAMES OLLEY

JAMES OLLEY

Olley is interested in the ways people inhabit space and the inherent tensions generated within 
the complexities of our dynamically evolving urban space.  His work focuses on social 
interaction and architectural space that highlights the dynamism of space.  Through an 
accumulative process that reflects the complexity of social space, He illustrates familiar urban 
and suburban spaces that showcase architectural forms common in North American society.   

James Olley received his MFA from the University of Waterloo in 2008 after completing his BFA 
at NSCAD University in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 2004. Since graduating he has had a number of 
solo shows in galleries primarily in Toronto, and has been included group shows, since 2002, 
across Canada and abroad. Most recently, Olley has been awarded the Emerging Artist Grant 
and Exhibition Assistance Grant from the Ontario Arts Council, in addition to the Vermont 
Studio Center Residency. His work has been showcased at contemporary art fairs, including 
Pulse New York, Miami, and Next Chicago.  


CURRICULUM VITAE

EDUCATION
2008 Master of Fine Arts, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON
2004 Bachelor of Fine Arts, NSCAD University, Halifax, NS

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2011 From Landscapes to Love, Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax, NS.
2011 I Love You, Angell Gallery, Toronto, ON.
2010 In Motion, Kasia Kay Art Projects, Chicago, IL, USA
2009 Dissimulation, Angell Gallery, Toronto, ON.
2009 Transitions, Rotunda Gallery, Kitchener, ON.
2008 Modern Dualities, Angell Gallery, Toronto, ON.
2008 Painting Feature James Olley, Harbinger Gallery, Waterloo, ON.
2008 Flat Places and Dynamic Spaces MFA Thesis Exhibition, Render Gallery, U of Waterloo,
Waterloo, ON.

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2012 Papier 12 Contemporary Art Fair, Montreal
2012 PMG Editions Project, Patrick Mikhail Gallery, Ottawa
2011 A Celebration of Colours, Jacana Contemporary Art, Vancouver BC.
2011 Off the Wall, off The Floor, Curated by: Kasia Kay, Walnut Ink Gallery, Michigan City, IN. USA
2011 State of the Art, Patrick Mikhail Gallery, 2401 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON
2010 Extreme Painting, Galerie Trois Points, Montreal, Quebec
2010 I want to Feel at Home Here, Milepost 5, Portland, OR. USA
2010 Ten Painters, Jacana Contemporary Art, Vancouver BC.
2010 When The Dust Settles, Angell Gallery, Toronto, ON.
2010 It Looks Different From This Angel, Drake Hotel, Toronto, ON.
2010 Transition Rotating Group Exhibition, Angell Gallery, Toronto, ON.
2010 ADANAC, Jacana Contemporary Art, Vancouver BC.
2009 Angell Group Show, Angell Gallery, Toronto, ON.
2009 Content, Jacana Contemporary Art, Vancouver BC.
2009 Artists of the Gallery, Galerie Trois Points, Montreal, Quebec
2009 Works on Paper Group Exhibition, Angell Gallery, Toronto, ON.
2009 Best of TOAE 2008 Exhibition, First Canadian Place Gallery, Toronto, ON.
2008 Intellectual Chic, Angell Gallery, Toronto, ON.
2008 Insights 29th Annual Juried Art Show, Elora Arts Council, Wellington County Museum &
Archives, Elora, ON.
2007 Art Sale, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton, ON.
2007 Conference on International Governance Innovation (CIGI .07), The Centre for International
Governance Innovation, Waterloo, ON.
2007 Exposure, Artery, Kitchener, ON.
2007 City at Night: A Tribute to Brian Kipping, Nuit Blanche, BAU_XI Gallery, Toronto, ON.
2007 ASAP, Artery, Kitchener, ON.
2007 Grand Opening Group Exhibition, Liss Gallery, Toronto, ON.
2007 Digitalvd _ Carbon Footprint, The Ice Box, Crane Arts Centre, Philadelphia; Edinburgh
College of Art, Edinburgh, Scotland; Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee, Scotland; Galerie
Weissraum, Kyoto, Japan; Groenhazengracht 1, Leiden, Netherlands; Mat's Flat Ul. Holowki 00_
749, Warsaw, Poland; Margaret St. Gallery, Birmingham City University, UK; Incident Report,
Hudson, New York; Edinburgh Printmakers, Edinburgh, Scotland, Brown Center: MICA, Baltimore
2006 Kingston Arts Council 5th Annual Juried Arts Salon, Kingston Frontenac Public Library,
Kingston, ON.
2005 10th Annual Art in the Park, Markham Museum & Historic Village, Markham, ON.
2004 Living Landscapes, Connections Clubhouse, Halifax, NS.
2003 Consulate General Student Show, U.S. Consulate General Residence, Halifax, NS.
2003 Board of Governors Painting Show, NSCAD University Painting Department, Halifax, NS.
2002 Look at My Little Landscapes, Anna Leonowens Gallery, NSCAD University, Halifax, NS.

AWARDS
2009 Exhibition Assistance Grant, Ontario Arts Council
2009 Emerging Artist Grant, Ontario Arts Council
2009 Vermont Studio Center Residency, Vermont, USA.
2008 Best Painter Award. Student category, The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Nathan Phillips
Square, Toronto, ON.
2008 First Place Painting Award, Elora Arts Council, Elora, ON.
2008 Sylvia Knight Award in Fine Arts, Waterloo, ON.
2007 Shantz Summer Internship Scholarship, Waterloo, ON.
2007 The Keith and Win Shantz Summer Internship, Waterloo, ON.
2006 Honorable Mention Wallack.s Award, Kingston Arts Council, Kingston, ON.
2003 The Robert Pope Painting Scholarship, NSCAD, Halifax, NS.

PUBLICATIONS
2010 Bravo! To Canadian Art: All About Painting, Ben Klein, coordinator of "Extreme Painting,"
speaks to Bravo! Television, air date: 2010, 08, 05.
2010 Featured Reviews, Liz Dyla, Chicago Art Magazine, April 5.
2010 Review: James Olley/Kasia Kay Art Projects Gallery, Jamie Calder, Newcity Art, April 8.
2008 Gallery Going, Gary Michael Dault, The Globe and Mail, August 9.
2008 Intellectual Chic at the Angell Gallery, Lisa Bradburn, Blog T.O., July 12.
2007 Featured Artist CH Morning Live News, Hamilton, ON. air date: 2007, 11, 02.
2004 Barometer Rising: Up and Comers: James Olley, The Daily News, Halifax, March 25.

COLLECTIONS
2011 Colart Collection, Town of Mont-Royal, QC.
2008 Line Art, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, ON
2008 University of Waterloo Alumni Exhibition, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON
2007 Black & Gold Galla, Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery, Kitchener, ON
2006 Black & Gold Galla, Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery, Kitchener, ON

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2012 The Convincing Picture: Critical Views on Painting, OCAD University, Toronto, ON.
2011 Abstract Painting, OCAD University, Toronto, ON.
2011 Painting, Landscape Course, NSCAD University, Halifax, NS.
2011 Into to Painting and Colour Theory, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON.
2009 Fundamentals of Drawing Instructor, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON.
2008 Fundamentals of Drawing Instructor, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON.
2007 Fundamentals of Painting Instructor, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON.
2007 Undergraduate Mentor and Studio Advisor, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON.
2007 Lecturer’s Assistant – Portfolio in Art and Design, North Glasgow College, Glasgow, Scotland
2006 Teacher’s Assistant – Fundamentals of Painting, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON
2004 Encaustic Workshop Instructor, Connections Clubhouse, Halifax, NS
2003 Guest Artist and Instructor, Halifax Regional Municipality, Halifax, NS

ART FAIRS
2011 Next 2011 Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
2010 Next 2010 Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
2009 Pulse Miami, Miami, FL. USA
2009 The Toronto International Art Fair, Toronto, ON.
2009 The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, ON.
2009 Pulse New York, New York, USA.
2008 The Toronto International Art Fair, Toronto, ON.
2008 The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, ON.
2007 The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, ON.
2004 The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Nathan Phillips Square Toronto, ON.
2003 The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Nathan Phillips Square Toronto, ON.


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