Alison Norlen

Alison Norlen (born 1962, Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a visual artist who is known for large-scale drawing and sculpture installation. Her work is in private collections across the United States and Canada and in the public collections of the National Gallery of Canada, The Mackenzie Art Gallery, the Confederation Centre Art Gallery, The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, the Mendel Art Gallery, the Manitoba Art Council, The Canada Council Art Bank, and the Saskatchewan Arts Board.

Life and education Norlen grew up in Kenora, Ontario. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (Honours, First Class) from the School of Art at the University of Manitoba in 1987 and a Master of Fine Arts from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1989. Before beginning her career as a visual artist she trained as a barber.

Career Inspired by built spectacles such as West Edmonton Mall, Disneyland, Universal Studios, Las Vegas, roadside attractions, circuses and carnival celebrations, her work is characterized by its grand scale and intricate detail. Her work is significantly influenced by theater and film, particularly the work of the Depression-era film and theatrical choreographer Busby Berkeley. She was awarded the University of Saskatchewan College of Arts and Science Teaching Excellence Award in 2011. 2012 glimmer Two Rivers Gallery Prince George, BC 2011 Metro Lines Place Des Arts Montreal QC 2011 glimmer Esplanade Art Gallery Medicine Hat, AB 2010 armature ARCH 2 Gallery, Faculty of Architecture, University of Manitoba Winnipeg, MB 2010 glimmer Thunder Bay Art Gallery Thunder Bay, ON 2009 glimmer Kenderdine Gallery Saskatoon SK 2008 Roller Coaster Simon Fraser University Gallery Burnaby, BC 2007 Edifice Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery Kitchener, ON 2006 Alison Norlen Harbourfront Centre Toronto, ON 2005 Mirage The Art Gallery of Regina Regina, SK 2005 Alison Norlen Anna Leonowens Gallery Halifax, NS 2004 Studio Series, MacKenzie Art Gallery Regina, SK 2004 Float Art Gallery of Swift Current Swift Current, SK 2004 ala Oboro Montreal, QC 2003 Float Kelowna Art Gallery Kelowna, BC 2003 Float Confederation Centre of the Arts Charlottetown, PEI 2002 A Parade... Stride Gallery Calgary, AB 2002 Float Mendel Art Gallery Saskatoon, SK 2002 Alison Norlen Plug In ICA Winnipeg, MB 2002 Art Pages Border Crossings magazine (Artist Project) Winnipeg, MB 2001 Alison Norlen Lake of the Woods Museum Kenora, ON 1999 Alison Norlen ARCH 2 Gallery, Faculty of Architecture, University of Manitoba Winnipeg, MB 1998 Pinball Drawings Richard Heller Gallery Los Angeles, USA 1998 Pinball Yukon Arts Centre Whitehorse, YT 1997 Manitoba Studio Series Winnipeg Art Gallery Winnipeg, MB 1993 Hyperbole The Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba Brandon, MB 1991 New Work Ace Art Gallery Winnipeg, MB

Select group exhibitions MosaiCanada: Sign & Sound, Seoul Korea (2003) Inklinations, York Quay, Toronto (2003). In My Solitude, Manny Neubacher Gallery, Toronto (2003). Occur/Blur, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg (2003). Tekeningen III, Quartair Art Contemporary Art Initiatives Dutch/Canada, Den Haag, Holland (2002). Figment, Two Rivers Gallery, Prince George (2002). After the Grain Elevator: Re-imaging the Prairie Icon, Art Gallery of Prince Albert (Oct 13 - Nov 26, 2000).