The exhibition curated by MG Paris brings you closer to the artist and intends to highlight her artistic path and the process of her work. Born in the Netherlands, Johanna Wray moved with her family to Alberta, Canada at a young age. Having received excellent instruction in art at the high school level, Johanna decided to continue her art training at the University of Calgary, receiving her Education degree majoring in Fine Arts. A couple of trips to Europe in the 70’s included a “Study Abroad” program in Florence, Italy gave her the privilege to study the art of many European countries. When she came home, she continued studies at the University of Alberta and Summer Series at Red Deer College.
The show brings together collage and drawings through different series: Together with a more traditional figures series, the artist proposes a “Selfies-portrait Series,” consisting of sized 30.5 cm square, attracted by the unique compositions and perspective dictated by this square format. Inspired by “selfies” taken by her students, for the first time in art history, the models are taking pictures of themselves, creating a new genre in art. Finally, a “Fashion Series” allow her to create cuts from a variety of magazines (recycling) and painting the resulting compositions.
Clicking through the Room, you are introduced in Johanna’s world. Take a virtual walk and look at the single artwork that can easily illustrate this creative process and give you a more in-depth understanding of and appreciation for her work.
—
To learn more about the artist:
Inspired by the play of light and shadow, Johanna appreciates the absence of colour in the lights and search for colour in the darks. Johanna started her own business, “Originals Art Studio,” mentoring many award-winning students over the past 29 years. Johanna was recently named as one of the “Top 60 Masters of Contemporary Art” by Art Tour International Magazine, New York. Recent shows in New York and Paris have raised her profile to an international level.
Johanna’s work can be found in private collections and public spaces across Canada, in the United States, Europe and Japan.
Johanna Wray is represented by Monteoliveto Gallery and exhibited in Paris (2018) and London (2019) exhibitions curated by Monteoliveto Gallery and in Luxembourg Art Fair in our gallery booth. In 2020 due to Covid situation, the art fairs in Lausanne (Switzerland), Paris (France) has been postponed, but Johanna was part ofour Live Art events. She will also be in the gallery’s booth in 2021 SM’ART AIX Art Fair in Aix en Provence in May.
Recently she has been featured in the #ArtistsForAGreenPlanet issue of Art Tour International Magazine, Fall 2020
Johanna Wray, Alberta, Canada
Selfie-Portraits
A series of selfie-portraits in square format depicting single young ladies photographing themselves, inspired by selfie taken by her students on Instagram. For the first time in art history, the models are taking pictures of themselves en masse creating a new genre in art: the Selfies-Portrait. All have stories behind: sharing moments through a mask on Snapchat, wearing dresses just for fun, also on Thrift Stores and looking awesome because of her youth, personality and confidence, reflecting in the mirror in a doorway to her kitchen. The artist finds the angles and compositions interesting in the square format giving us a lot of information on the youth of today!
Johanna WRAY
Hide
Oil on Canvas,
30 x 30 cm.
Selfie-Portrait Series
The “Selfie-Portrait Series” is a series consisting of 12 paintings sized 30cm square each. For the first time in art history, the models are taking pictures of themselves en masse creating a new genre in art; the Selfies-Portrait. I find the angles and compositions interesting in the square format and we glean a lot of information on the youth of today! In this work, which is the n° 6 in the series, the girl wants to express how we feel during the Pandemic.
Johanna Wray
Justaff, 2019
mixed oil on canvas,
30 x 30 cm.
Johanna Wray
Double Trouble, 2019
oil on canvas
30 x 30cm.
Johanna WRAY
Miss Thrift,
Oil and Metal on Canvas,
30cm x 30cm.
Johanna WRAY
SnapChat
Acrylic and Oil on Canvas,
30cm x 30cm.
Figures & portraits
Not selfie but real figures and portraits, going from a kid asking to come in and a young dancer excited about her first performance on the stage, a neighbour girl captured in the atmosphere of the winter, to a confident black woman scratched out in the molding paste in the background. And also, a special Modern Mona where the artist, attracted by the green behind an Instagram photography reminding her about Mona Lisa has tried a new technique of drawing first with black and leaving some of the black paint exposed.
Johanna Wray
Modern Mona, 2020
oil on canvas,
30 x 30cm.
Johanna Wray
Can I come now 2018
acrylic on canvas
40 x 50cm.
Johanna Wray
Black Magic, 2018
mixed media on canvas,
40 x 50cm.
Johanna WRAY
Snow Day, 2018
Oil on Canvas,
30.50 x 30,50 x 5 cm,
Johanna WRAY
We’re on next, 2018
Oil on Canvas
40,64 x 40,64 x 5 cm.
Collages
Collage works mixing the traditional wall painting technique and contemporary colours cutting different things from magazines then painted, and mixing painting with used gel transfers, collage, molding paste and fabric, thus creating a sort of Fashion series, pointing out the role of models in our contemporary society often diffused through photographers and magazines.
Johanna Wray
Spotlight, 2020
oil on canvas,
45 x 60cm
Private Collection
Johanna Wray
Pretty Boy, 2019
mixed oil and marker on canvas,
50 x 50cm.
Johanna Wray
Postcard from Paris,
mixed media on canvas,
40 x 50 cm.
The Gift
acrylic and marker on canvas, 40 x 40 cm, 2018
exhibited in Paris in 2018 at the Neapolitan Tombola exhibition
Private Collection
Realized for the Neapolitan Tombola exhibition in Paris in 2018, The Gift represents the number 33, XXXIII in Roman numerals, the age Jesus when he was crucified. The crucifix is a reminder of the trials and tribulations that human beings face on earth. This symbol evokes a wide range of feelings and signifies the choice people are given… to believe or not to believe. It is a gift. You can choose …
In this beginning of 2021 Monteoliveto Gallery launches a series of new virtual exhibitions to face the problems that the pandemic is giving to the organization of physical exhibitions.
For this program we are associating with the french charity association “2500 voix” that helps in the fight against children cancers.
That is why you can find in the third room, and this for all the cycle of exhibitions, an artwork made by the artist Marion Cadet for the association to support the cause.
This artwork has been created from drawings by children who couldn’t be healed.
