Stephanie is a multidisciplinary artist working in sculpture, ceramics, and textiles. Her studio practice is based in Edmonton, Alberta, where she also offers workshops and teaches with local art organizations.
Artist Statement
Stephanie Jonsson’s work explores themes of capitalism, wealth production, traditionally female dominated arenas of life (domesticity as a revolutionary act), the patriarchal world and its histories, the handmade, craftivism, and oppressive systems. Through the lens of a sculptural craft-based practice and the use of metaphorical tools, she aims to create wider conversations about uncomfortable social issues. Her work usually has a pleasant or “formal” aesthetic with some amount of the uncanny and a subtle sensory juxtaposition of hard ceramic and soft textiles, or, in the case of her video work, a juxtaposition of the traditionally feminine visual lightness with traditionally male visual roughness and dirt.
Jonsson is based in Edmonton, AB where she teaches ceramics out of her studio at Stephanie Jonsson Creative. She has been teaching clay for over 20 years to people from all ages and abilities and walks of life in the Edmonton area and beyond. She’s worked with the Art Gallery of Alberta, the Nina Haggerty for the Arts, and Harcourt House Artist Run Centre to deliver quality programming. In 2013/14, she taught all levels of ceramics at Kwantlen Polytechnic in Surrey, BC. She’s also taught classes at Medalta Potteries in Medicine Hat and was the Sculpture technician at the U of A for six years before starting her own ceramics studio.
Exhibition History
dhARTworld (Edmonton, AB)
“Party” (September 24)
Group exhibition Co-Curated by Jill Davies-Shaw and Dana Holst
Art Gallery of Alberta (Edmonton, AB)
“Sweetie” (April - June 21) Group exhibition as part of the Sidewalk Cinema
FAB Gallery, University of Alberta (Edmonton, AB)
“Gallimaufry : A Medley of Things” (October 19)
Group exhibition of Technical Staff at the University of Alberta
femlab, University of Alberta (Edmonton, AB)
“Against the Patriarchy: Tools for the Revolution” (August 19) Solo exhibition
Bleeding Heart Art Gallery (Edmonton, AB)
"Against the Patriarchy: Tools for the Revolution" (April 17) Solo Exhibition
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts (Gatlinburg, TN)
"Nature and Neon" (Dec 17) Group Exhibition, juried by Garth Johnson
Gallery of BC Ceramics (Vancouver BC)
"Spurious Synthetics" (Feb 17) Solo Exhibition
Multicultural Centre Gallery (Stony Plain AB)
"Artificial Bionomics" (Nov 15) Solo Exhibition
EPCOR tower (Edmonton AB)
"The Body in Question" (June 15) Group Exhibition
Yuill Family Gallery (Medicine Hat AB)
"Artificial Bionomics" (June 15) Solo Exhibition for Year Long Residency
Yuill Family Gallery (Medicine Hat AB)
"Medalta Artists in Residence Annual Holiday Exhibition" (Dec 14) Group Exhibition
Lake Country Art Gallery (Lake Country BC)
“Through the Strange - New Essences, Making the World Anew” (Oct 14) Two-person exhibition curated by Katie Brennan
Vancouver Fairmont Waterfront Hotel (Vancouver BC)
“68” (April 14) Exhibition curated by Krisitna Fiedrich and Annie Briard for the 2014 Vancouver Eco Fashion Week
Newton Cultural Centre (Surrey BC)
“Back to the Wall” (October 13) Fraser Valley Potters Guild Juried Group Exhibition
The Charles H. Scott Gallery (Vancouver BC)
“Degree Exhibition” (May 12) Thesis exhibition of MAA Candidates from Emily Carr University
The Concourse Gallery (Vancouver BC)
“Big Clever Gorgeous” (April 11) Group exhibition of 1st year MAA Candidates from Emily Carr University
1612 Gallery (Vancouver BC)
“In It For the Money” (September 10)
Group exhibition of 1st year MAA Candidates from Emily Carr University
The Alberta Craft Council (Edmonton AB)
“The Recipients of the 2009 Alberta Craft Awards” (Jan 10)
Group exhibition of Award Recipients
The Alberta Craft Council (Edmonton AB)
“THIRTY” (Jan 10) Juried group exhibition of Craft Council Members
The Other Gallery (Banff, AB)
“Fabricated Ecologies” (Oct 09)
Final solo exhibition for two month residency at the Banff Centre for the Arts
The WORKS Art and Design Festival (Edmonton, AB)
“Too Hot to Handle” (May/June 09)
Leighton Art Centre (Calgary, AB)
“Planet Earth Exhibition” Alberta Society of Artists (Mar/April 09)
Harcourt House Gallery (Edmonton, AB)
“Urban Organic Absurdity” (Oct 08) Final solo exhibition for the 2007/2008 residency
McMullen Gallery, University of Alberta Hospital
“Form Unfolding” (Aug 08) Juried group exhibition with the Sculptors’ Association of Alberta
The WORKS Art & Design Festival(Edmonton, AB)
“Malleable Revelations” (Jun 08) Solo exhibition at the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald
Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts (Edmonton, AB)
“Worse Things Have Happened to Better People” (Jun 08)
Group staff exhibition at the Nina Haggerty
Professional Training
Year-Long Residency, Medalta International Artist in Residence
July 2014 - August 2015
• Created a body of work for a solo exhibition
• Taught two adult classes and several childeren's classes for the duration of the residency
MAA degree, Emily Carr University of Art and Design
Sept 2010 - Oct 2012
Master of Applied Arts Degree comprised of an extensive visual body of work and thesis
Banff Centre for the Arts Self-Directed Creative Residency
Aug 31 09 – Oct 31 09
Two Month Residency (Banff, AB)
• Created a new body of work during a two month self-directed residency.
Harcourt House Residency
Nov 07 – Nov 08
Year Long Residency (Edmonton, AB)
• Created a body of work for a solo exhibition
• Taught one class for the duration of the residency
Raku Pottery
Summer 2006
One Week Series course through Red Deer College
(Red Deer, AB)
• Expanded existing knowledge of ceramics through the experimental process of raku firing
Internship Scholarship Program
Summer 2005
The WORKS Art & Design Festival (Edmonton, AB)
• Completed the Works to Works professional enhancement education program, which covered preparation planning, install/dismantle, light/sound, basic construction, inventory, teamwork and safety
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Arts and Design
2001 – 2005
University of Alberta (Edmonton, AB)
Awards
2009 Top 40 Under 40 Award Winner, Avenue Magazine
2009 Award of Achievement from the Alberta Craft Council
2008 Enbridge Emerging Artist Award
Selected Collections
Cartiere and Strauss Collection, Vancouver, BC
Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Edmonton, AB
Paula Miller, Calgary, AB
Spruce Grove Composite High School, Spruce Grove, AB