Shawn Serfas

Assistant Professor
MFA, University of Alberta
Office: GLN 111 
Telephone: (905) 688-5550 ext. 3211 
E-mail: tba

Shawn Serfas is an Assistant Professor in the Visual Arts Department at Brock University. Although initially drawn to an academic career in the Environmental Sciences, Serfas pursued Fine Arts and Art History degrees in Saskatchewan as well as a Master of Fine Arts degree in Alberta. He has taught at the University of Alberta and the University of British Columbia. His research interests include contemporary painting, drawing and printmaking practices concerning relational abstraction, environmental aesthetics, religion, the landscape as well as issues bordering abstraction and representation.

Gallery page

www.shawnserfas.com

CURRICULUM VITAE

EDUCATION & MAJOR ACADEMIC AWARDS

2003 Master of Fine Arts Degree (M.F.A.), Major in Studio Art, Painting Division
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

University of Alberta Master of Fine Arts, Master of Design Scholarship
Awarded for academic, scholarly and creative achievements, April 2001 & 2002

2002 Bachelor of Arts Degree (B.A.), Major in Art History
Graduated with Great Distinction
University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

2000 Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree (B.F.A.), Major in Studio Art, Painting/Printmaking
Graduated with Great Distinction and Distinguished Thesis Exhibition
University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Judy Poole Fine Arts Award
Awarded at convocation to the most distinguished Bachelor of Fine Arts Graduate as determined by the Department of Art and Art History, University of Saskatchewan, May 2000

Distinguished B.F.A. Exhibition Award
Awarded by the Department of Art & Art History to the artist whose final thesis exhibition is deemed exceptional, University of Saskatchewan, January 2000

PROFESSIONAL ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

Brock University
Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts
Assistant Professor – Visual Arts Department Academic Years 2012-Current 500 Glenridge Avenue, St. Catharines, ON., L2S 3A1

University of British Columbia
Lecturer – Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies Academic Years 2005-2012
3333 University Way, Kelowna, B.C., V1V 1V7

Okanagan University College
Assistant Professor – Fine Arts Department Academic Year 2004-2005
North Kelowna Campus, 3333 University Way, Kelowna, B.C., V1V 1V7

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Contemporary painting, drawing and printmaking practices concerning relational abstraction, environmental aesthetics, religion, the landscape as well as issues bordering abstraction and representation using image construction with respect to environmental science and remote mapping processes

EXHIBITION & PROJECT HISTORY

2011
Solo Borderlands – Imagining the Immaterial, (Catalogue VPAG), Art Gallery of Prince Albert, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Insight - Artist as Educator, Penticton Art Gallery, Penticton, British Columbia
University of British Columbia Faculty Exhibition, Helen Belkin Art Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia

2010
Solo Borderlands – Imagining the Immaterial, (Catalogue VPAG), The Godfrey Dean Art Gallery, Yorkton, Saskatchewan
Solo Field + Canal, Agnes Bugera Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
ECAS, Edmonton Contemporary Artists Society – 18th Annual Exhibition, Common Sense Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
Echo, Sopa Fine Arts, Kelowna, British Columbia

2009
Solo Radial Grey, Sopa Fine Art Gallery, Kelowna, British Columbia
ECAS, Edmonton Contemporary Artists Society – 17th Annual Exhibition, Peter Robertson Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
WOP, Sopa Fine Arts, Kelowna, British Columbia

2008
Solo Borderlands – Imagining the Immaterial, (Catalogue), Vernon Public Art Gallery, Vernon, British Columbia
Solo Tide + Recess, Sopa Fine Art Gallery, Kelowna, British Columbia
Boundaries, (Catalogue), Kelowna Art Gallery, Kelowna, British Columbia
This Just In…, Sopa Fine Arts, Kelowna, British Columbia

2007
Borderlands, (Two-Person, Luc Bernard), Agnes Bugera Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
Recent Paintings and Photographs, Agnes Bugera Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta

2006
Solo Basin and Range, Sopa Fine Art Gallery, Kelowna, British Columbia
The Hour Glass, The Long Galley, University of Wollongong, Wollongong NSW, Australia
Re-Tread, Alternator Gallery, Kelowna, British Columbia
ECAS, Edmonton Contemporary Artists Society – 14th Annual Exhibition, Edmonton, Alberta
Recent Paintings and Photographs, Agnes Bugera Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta

2005
Solo Telluric Currents, Agnes Bugera Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
Telluric, Alternator Gallery, Kelowna, British Columbia
Members Exhibition, Alternator Gallery, Kelowna, British Columbia
7th Annual Art on the Block, Group Auction and Exhibition, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta

2004
ECAS, Edmonton Contemporary Artists Society – 12th Annual Group Exhibition, Edmonton, Alberta
FINA Faculty, Okanagan University College Fine Arts Faculty Exhibition, FINA Gallery, Kelowna, British Columbia
Art of Living, A Celebration of Life, Group Auction and Exhibition, HIV Network of Edmonton Society, Edmonton, Alberta
Recent Paintings, Agnes Bugera Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
6th Annual Art on the Block, Group Auction and Exhibition, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta

2003
Solo Journey to the Surface of the Earth, Agnes Bugera Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
Solo Remote-Sensing, Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition, Fine Arts Building Gallery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
Other Voices, Latitude 53 Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
Connect Four, The Works Art and Design Festival, The Works International Visual Arts Society, Edmonton, Alberta
Fast Forward, FAB Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
Recent Paintings, Agnes Bugera Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
Just Dessert 2nd Annual, University of Alberta Faculty Club Exhibition, Edmonton, Alberta

2002
Seven Sides, Agnes Bugera Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
Just Dessert, University of Alberta Faculty Club Exhibition, Edmonton, Alberta
Recent Paintings, Agnes Bugera Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
Flash Point, FAB Gallery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
HOAH – OSAC, Organizations of Saskatchewan Arts Councils, Traveling Group Exhibition, Saskatchewan
Canora Arts Centre, Canora, Saskatchewan
Melfort Arts Centre, Melfort, Saskatchewan
Watrous Area Arts Council, Watrous, Saskatchewan

2001
Recent Paintings, Self-Similar Preview, Bugera-Kmet Galleries, Edmonton, Alberta
Think, Gordon Snelgrove Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Tractors Not Included, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
HOAH – OSAC, Organizations of Saskatchewan Arts Councils, Traveling Group Exhibition, Saskatchewan
Grand Coteau Centre, Shaunavon Arts Council, Shaunavon, Saskatchewan
Humboldt Museum, Humboldt, Saskatchewan
Estevan National Exhibition Centre, Estevan, Saskatchewan
Parkridge Centre, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Allie Grifin Art Gallery, Weyburn, Saskatchewan
Assiniboia Arts Council, Assiniboia, Saskatchewan
Biggar Museum, Biggar, Saskatchewan

2000
Solo Self-Similar, Gordon Snelgrove Gallery, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Pressing Engagements, Gordon Snelgrove Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
HOAH – OSAC, Organizations of Saskatchewan Arts Councils, Traveling Group Exhibition, Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan Arts Council, Kirk Hall, Saskatoon
Jasper Cultural Centre - Maple Creek Arts Council, Saskatchewan
Godfrey Dean Art Gallery, Yorkton Arts Council, Saskatchewan
Hudson Bay Allied Arts Council, Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan
Broadview Community Arts Council, Broadview, Saskatchewan
Outlook Arts Council, Outlook, Saskatchewan
PRESENTATIONS, GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS

2012
The Poetics of Space, Research Presentation, Brock University, St.Catharines, Ontario

2011
Field - Mapping Spaces, Research Presentation, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick
The Poetics of Space, Research Presentation, Mann Art Gallery, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan

2008
Relational Abstraction, Research Presentation, Vernon Public Art Gallery, Vernon, British Columbia

2007
Basin and Range, Research Presentation, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia

2005
Okanagan University College, Research (GIA) Grant

2004
Edmonton Arts Council Grant, Lee Fund for the Arts – Telluric Currents Project, Agnes Bugera Gallery
Okanagan University College, Research (GIA) Grant

2003
Alberta Foundation for the Arts Graduate Scholarship in Art and Design Nominee, Educational Grant
Alberta Learning Department, Alberta Learning Grant

2002
University of Alberta Master of Fine Arts, Master of Design Scholarship, awarded for academic, scholarly and creative achievements

2001
University of Alberta Master of Fine Arts, Master of Design Scholarship, awarded for academic, scholarly and creative achievements
Saskatchewan Arts Board, Visual Arts Creative C Grant

2000
Judy Poole Fine Arts Award, awarded at convocation to the most distinguished Bachelor of Fine Arts Graduate as determined by the Department of Art and Art History, University of Saskatchewan
Distinguished B.F.A. Exhibition Award, awarded by the Department of Art & Art History to the artist whose final thesis exhibition is deemed exceptional, University of Saskatchewan

1999
Lorie Lee-Knight Memorial Award, awarded each fall to the senior Fine Arts student with the highest academic standing in studio art, University of Saskatchewan
Dr. Walter & Mrs. Ruth (Mortenson) Leverton Award, awarded by College of Arts and Science based on academic performance, University of Saskatchewan

COLLECTIONS

Numerous Private and Corporate Collections in North America, Japan, South Africa
The University of Alberta Museums and Collections
The University of Saskatchewan
Vernon Public Art Gallery

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bank, Natalie. “Artist is an Agent of Age, Erosion”, Vernon Morning Star, March 7, 2008, B1
Bouchard, Gilbert. “Magnetic Appeal to Serfas’ Abstract Canvases”, Edmonton Journal, June 17,
2005, G6
Bouchard, Gilbert. “Dualities Dominate Serfas’ New Work”, Edmonton Journal, November 7, 2007
______________. “Stones given voice in abstracted narrative”, Edmonton Journal, August 29, 2003, E8
______________. “Art stars of tomorrow cut a broad swath”, Edmonton Journal, August 8, 2003, E8
______________. “Education in Fine Art”, Edmonton Journal, June 28, 2002, E8
Crawford, Paul. “Shawn Serfas: To The Horizon and Back ” in Re-Picturing The Landscape (Catalogue), Godfrey Dean Art Gallery, 2011, pp.72-75
Culen, Lubos. Introduction and Interview in Borderlands – Imagining the Immaterial
(Catalogue), Vernon Public Art Gallery, March 2008, pp. 4-5 and 14-24
Huey-Heck, Lois and Jim Kalnin, The Spirituality of Art, Winfield, BC: Northstone, April 2006, p. 54, 55, 98
Kriekle, Donna. “Hands on Art History”, OSAC Educational Package, Fall 2000, Cover Credit & C9
Lillebuen,Steve. “Stones and Paintings mimick nature in new FAB Gallery exhibition”, The Gateway, September 4, 2003
MacHardy, Carolyn. “Liminal Spaces” in Borderlands – Imagining the Immaterial
(Catalogue), Vernon Public Art Gallery, March 2008, pp. 6-11
_______________. “Encounters with the Sublime: The Art of Shawn Serfas” in Re-Picturing The Landscape (Catalogue), Godfrey Dean Art Gallery, 2011, pp. 8-11
Other Voices Journal, Image Credit, Volume 15, Number 2, Winter 2002, pp. 56-57
Remote-Sensing, Shaw Television Interview, September 5, 2003
Robertson, Sheila. “In Touch with Past”, Saskatoon Star Phoenix, March 4, 2000, E16
Stein, Donald. “Introduction” in Re-Picturing The Landscape (Catalogue), Godfrey Dean Art Gallery, 2011, p.4
Stang, Alexandra, "Borderland Revolution", Prince Albert Daily Heard, May 2, 2011, p.3
Wylie, Liz. Exhibition and Artist Introduction in Boundaries
(Catalogue), Kelowna Art Gallery, University of British Columbia Okanagan Artists Exhibition, November 2008