SELECT EXHIBITIONS
Solo
2020
Stringlism – Edmonton Convention Centre [Update: Online], Edmonton AB/Ottawa ON
2019
A Prelude in Tangles – Lee Matasi Gallery at the Ottawa School of Art, Ottawa ON
Group
2020
Reality Revisited (EBA 2020 Open Studio Exhibition) – Enriched Bread Artists, Ottawa ON
Perspectives from Within (Art and Mental Wellness Juried Exhibition) – CARFAC Alberta, Edmonton AB
Crush Zine Mini (online slideshow for Bi+ Arts Festival) Toronto ON
Fem∞ – The Works Festival of Art & Design, Edmonton AB [Postponed due to COVID]
Filthy Dirty Art Show – Venus Envy, Ottawa ON
SKETCH 2020 -S.A.W Gallery, Ottawa ON
Booty Call -Hall&Rhum, Ottawa ON
2019
Sticky Show – Arts Factory Society, Vancouver BC
2018
In Viridi Tempora (The Green Season)- ATB Branch for Arts + Culture, Edmonton AB
Camrose Art Walk – Bill Fowler Centre, Camrose AB
Art Night at the Shaw Conference Centre – Edmonton AB
2017
Over the Edge – Dandi-Lines Gallery, Edmonton AB
Art from the Unknown -Strathcona Performing Arts Centre, Edmonton AB
2016
AMSA Showcase – Visual Arts Alberta Gallery, Edmonton AB
Art from the Unknown -Strathcona Performing Arts Centre, Edmonton AB
Faces of AMSA -University of Alberta Hospital After Hours Gallery, Edmonton AB
Firsthand – Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts, Edmonton AB
Big Big Portrait Show – Naess Gallery at the Paint Spot, Edmonton AB
2015
Sound Walk, Nextfest -Stanley Milner Library, Edmonton AB
CURATORIAL PROJECTS
2020
Booty Call Pop-Up Show – Ottawa, ON
Fem∞ – Edmonton, AB [Scheduled for June 2020 at The Works Art & Design Festival: POSTPONED]
Concrete Cleavage – Ottawa, ON / Toronto, ON / Digital Gallery
(YE)Gleaners & the Urban Harvest – Beacon Gallery, Edmonton AB
PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS
2021
- Art Mental Health & Peer Support (Guest artist/presenter for Organization for Bipolar Affective Disorders Bell Let’s Talk Day, Online)
2020
- Theory meets Practice: Queer Hustle as a form of Praxis (Co-presented with Juan Saavedra for Artsnetwork Ottawa’s Artpreneur 2020 Conference, Online)
- Stringlism/Developing Imaginal Dialogues (Artist Talk) Online Livestream
- Stringlism Opening Reception (Host/Presenter) Online Livestream
- Digital Galleries: Taking Your Exhibition Online (Panel Presenter) Arts Network Ottawa/ Ottawa School of Art Exhibition Space Program, Ottawa (online)
- Adapting Stringlism: Rotary Youth Exchange Lessons & my Professional Practice Rotary Club of Edmonton South, Edmonton (Online)
2019
- Creatively Inclined Queer Activism (Panel Organizer/Moderator) Ottawa School of Art
- Developing Imaginal Dialogues (Artist Talk) Ottawa School of Art
- ‘Queering Poster Design’ Workshop Co-Facilitator OCSB Rainbow Youth Forum, Ottawa
2017 – University of Alberta Arts-Based Research Studio (Edmonton)
- Reflections from the End of the Spool (Artist Talk)
- Mark-making in the physical realm: Creating Imagery with String & Mixed Media
- Vocal Improvisation, Vulnerability & Play (co-facilitated with Karen Porrka)
2016 – Huntington Society of Alberta Annual Retreat (Camp He Ho Ha)
- My Story in Song: Narrative expression through Voice and Percussion
AWARDS HONOURS AND GRANTS
2020
Selected Mentee – Artsnet Ottawa Mentorship Program
2019-20
Artist In Residence – Ottawa School of Art
2018
Featured Artist – Shaw Conference Centre Community Art Program
2017
Individual Project Grant – Edmonton Arts Council
Artist In Residence – University of Alberta’s Arts-Based Research Studio (April-June)
2016
RBC Emerging Artist – Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts
EDUCATION
2016 – B.A. With Distinction (Psychology/Music) – University of Alberta
2010 – International Baccalaureate Certificate in Higher Level Fine Arts – Harry Ainlay Senior High School
PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
Grey Nun’s Community Hospital, Edmonton AB
PRESS
Jenny Feniak, “Exhibit and talk on isolation and mental health couldn’t be better timed” Edmonton Journal (print/online).
January 28, 2021. https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/local-arts/exhibit-and-artist-talk-on-isolation-and-mental-health-couldnt-be-better-timed
Lisa Szabo, “Class Notes” New Trail Magazine Autumn 2020 issue (print).
September 9th, 2020
Featured Artist, “The Underrated Artist Podcast” (August 21st 2020)
https://anchor.fm/underratedartist-podcast/episodes/E5–with-multi-disciplinary-artist-marenkelliott-efcnnd
Jesse Gissow, “Maren K Elliott” Chaotic Utopian Magazine (blog).
June 11, 2020. http://www.chaoticutopian.com/maren-k-elliott
Cory Schachtel, “Stringlism: Textures, Threads & Mapping Identity” Avenue Magazine Edmonton (blog).
May 13, 2020. https://www.avenueedmonton.com/city-life/stringlism-texture-threads-and-mapping-identity/
Chelsea Novak, “Edmonton artist’s solo exhibition goes digital due to COVID-19” DAZE Magazine (blog). May 12, 2020. https://dazemag.ca/2020/05/12/edmonton-artists-solo-exhibition-goes-digital-due-to-covid-19/?fbclid=IwAR263HaFWvqgJnBA4zDCm1IThgR2Gq_g805sA33PWuBa9qIdNtGTH09onUc
Niall McKenna, “Feed Your Inner Isolated Art Lover” University of Alberta New Trail (blog). April 28, 2020. https://www.ualberta.ca/newtrail/featurestories/2020/april/feed-your-inner-isolated-art-lover
Featured in YoHomo/Toronto Queer Culture Now Online Events Listing “Stringlism: Textures, Threads & Mapping Identity” (blog) May 14, 2020 https://yohomo.ca/events/online/stringlism-textures-threads-amp-identity
Annette Aslund, “2017 Artist Project Grant: Portraits in String” Edmonton Arts Council / yegarts (blog).
April 3, 2018. 1:37 pm. http://yegarts.tumblr.com/post/172563226973/2017-artist-project-grant-portraits-in-string
LIVE PERFORMANCE
2019
- “Studio Serenades” Audience participation live-painting in acrylic and grease pen (with Aleksi Campagne, Zach Bachand & Shawn Zinyk, Edmonton AB
- “Capturing a Collective Childhood Consciousness” Live Participatory Mural Painting at The Works Art and Design Festival (with Shawn Zinyk), Edmonton AB
2017
- “Fire Dress” Live Painting a dress designed & made by Emilie Lavoie at The Works Art & Design Festival, Edmonton AB
RELATED WORK & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
2018
Substitute Teaching Artist (Fiddle Program)- Ben Calf Robe School
Summer Community Art Outreach Teacher- Mustard Seed, Jasper Place Wellness Centre and others (for Harcourt House)
Volunteer (Fiddle program)- Ben Calf Robe School
Volunteer- Harcourt House Artist Run Centre
2017-18
Substitute Teaching Artist (viola) – YONA-Sistema
2017
Studio Volunteer – Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts
2016
‘Tru Koncrete’ Planning Committee Member – Art Mentorship Society of Alberta
Distress Line Listener – Canadian Mental Health Association
CURRENT MEMBERSHIPS
CURRENT MEMBERSHIPS
- Enriched Bread Artists
- CARFAC Alberta
- Arts Network Ottawa
- Suzuki Association of the Americas