Jerry Grey
(1940–)
Jerry Grey
1940–
Jerry Grey (1940?–) is an accomplished visual artist, teacher, and realist painter who specializes in various mediums such as oils, watercolor, pastels, and glass. Exploring themes of humanity, politics, and history, Grey’s artwork reflects a deep interest in people and their stories. Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, she studied at the Vancouver School of Art from 1960 to 1963 and later attended the s Emma Lake Artists’ Workshop from 1964 to 1966. In 1968, Grey relocated to Ottawa, where she taught at the University of Ottawa and Ottawa School of Art. Throughout her career, she has been commissioned to create significant public art installations.
Grey’s artistic repertoire encompasses a diverse array of materials with her keen intellect. She adeptly employs these mediums to create ordered, detailed, and meticulously researched works. From small-scale pieces to large murals, her art emanates a warm and passionate connection to people and their narratives, as well as a contemplation of historical events related to these subjects. One notable example of her interest in people can be seen in her mural Tiles of the Times, 1983, at the Ottawa Police Headquarters. Additionally, her series of paintings titled Dualities, 1991-94, reflects Grey’s response to the Gulf War and was exhibited at venues such as the Carleton University Art Gallery, the Canadian Museum of Civilization, and the Abdullah Salem Exhibition Hall in Kuwait. Another notable mural by Grey is La compassion au cœur du monde, 2011, consisting of three panels which celebrates the lives and work of the Sisters of Charity in Ottawa and beyond.
Grey’s artwork has received national and international recognition, with her participation in solo and invitational exhibitions. Her pieces can be found in numerous public and private collections, including the acquisition of her series Rare Spirits: A Personal Tribute, 1996, to Vintage Elders by The Portrait Gallery of Canada/Public Archives. Grey was elected to the Royal Canadian Academy of Art in 1984.