Rodney Graham
(1949–)
Rodney Graham
1949–
Rodney Graham (1949–) is a prominent multidisciplinary Canadian artist. He creates Conceptual work, photography, film, music, performance and painting, often conflating personal and art historical references addressing themes of nature, music, and pop culture. He was a member of the Vancouver School of Artists. Graham studied at the University of British Columbia where he studied under Ian Wallace and befriended Jeff Wall.
Graham’s work uses humour and irony to address the relationship of civilization and nature, often using elements of disguise, and the transformation of banality in traditional narratives. Graham’s notable lightbox works blend the personal and collective memory, recreating elaborate historical scenes with himself featured as an obvious character.
Selected solo exhibitions include Charles H. Scott Gallery, Emily Carr University of Art and Design, Vancouver, Canada (2014); Vancouver Art Gallery, Canada (2012); Museum der Moderne, Salzburg, Austria (2011); Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, CA, USA (2004); and Whitechapel Art Gallery, London, UK (2002), among many others. He has participated in group exhibitions such as Carnegie International (2013), the 13th, 14th and 17th Sydney Biennales, Australia (2002, 2006, 2010), and the Whitney Biennial, New York, USA (2006). His work has been met with international acclaim and he represented Canada at the 1997 Venice Biennale. Graham has been recognized with prestigious awards such as the 2006 Kurt-Schwitters-Preis and the 2004 Gershon Iskowitz Prize. In 2016, Graham was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada for his extensive contributions to Canadian contemporary art.
