GLENN LEWIS

BIO

Born on Vancouver Island in 1935, Glenn Lewis lives and works in Vancouver. He graduated from the Vancouver School of Art (1954-58) and apprenticed with the potter, Bernard Leach in Cornwall (1961-63). He was instrumental in the formation and work of collective artists’ organizations: Intermedia (1967-75), and Western Front (1973-87) in Vancouver; and served on a number of arts organizations: the Board of Directors of: LIVE Vancouver Performance Art Festival (2007-present); Vancouver Art Gallery (1986-87); Vice President of the Association of National Non-Profit Artist Centres (ANNPAC) (1980-81); Vancouver Art Gallery (1973-76); Director, Western Front Society, Vancouver Art Gallery (1974-87); Intermedia Society, Vancouver (1970-72); taught ceramics: University of BC (1964-67, and 1971-74); N.Y. State College of Ceramics, Alfred University, New York State (1970-71); worked as Head of Media Arts, Canada Council, Ottawa (1987-90), organized and founding Director of Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden (2005-06).

Lewis has travelled widely, mainly to photograph gardens. He has received several awards: ‘Emily’ Award, Emily Carr Institute of Art + Design, Vancouver (2000); six Canada Council grants (1967 – 2020); Governor General’s Award in Visual Arts (2017). An innovative first-generation conceptual mixed media artist, Lewis has worked with pottery, sculpture, performance, mail art, collage, photographs, video and installation since the early 1960s. The scope and intellectual pursuits of his work range across concept, fiction, myth and community concerns. He was one of the earliest innovators in performance art with Flour Piece in 1968 at the VAG, and video performances, Japanese Pickle and Blue Tape Around City Block, both in 1969. Most recently, he has produced ceramic pots paired with photographs, a poetical association that reintegrates or combines craft as art (techne), and now, still life made with ceramics and found materials as sculptures and as photographs.

Website: www.glennlewis.art

CV

Exhibitions:
Real Nature Morte, Tie Die, and Some Other Things