Biennial Juried Exhibition 2025 at Glenhyrst Art Gallery

Biennial Juried Exhibition

September 6 – November 7, 2025
Opening Reception: Thursday, September 11, 7 – 9pm
Glenhyrst Art Gallery, Brantford

Curated by Matthew Ryan Smith

Glenhyrst Art Gallery’s Biennial Juried Exhibition celebrates the diverse and dynamic practices of artists from across Ontario, offering a professional platform for the presentation of original artwork. This much-anticipated exhibition brings together emerging, mid-career, and established artists working across a range of media and disciplines. For some participants, it represents their first opportunity to exhibit their work in a public art gallery—an important milestone that can lead to increased visibility, professional development, and new creative directions.

The exhibition not only nurtures individual artistic growth but also strengthens connections within the province’s broader creative ecosystem. Exhibitions like this play a vital role in amplifying diverse voices, fostering critical dialogue, and creating opportunities for artists to reach new audiences. By inviting the public to engage with contemporary creative trends and expressions, the Biennial Juried Exhibition affirms Glenhyrst’s commitment to supporting Ontario-based artists and to cultivating a vibrant, inclusive, and accessible arts community in Brantford and beyond.

$1,750 in Prizes:

• 1st prize – $1,000.00
• 2nd prize – $500.00
• People’s Choice – $250.00

Jurors:

Bill Clarke was born in London, Ontario and is a curator, editor, writer, and collector. Since 2005, his writing has appeared in numerous national and international publications, including Canadian Art, C Magazine, Border Crossings, ARTnews, Modern Painters, and ArtReview. From 2009 to 2017, he served as Editor-in-Chief of Magenta Magazine Online, and in 2016, he co-founded the Edition Art Book Fair. Clarke was Associate Director of Angell Gallery in Toronto from 2017 to 2019. He is currently pursuing a certificate in American Sign Language (ASL) at Seneca College.

Megan Ellen Macdonald was born in Belleville, Ontario, and earned a BFA in Drawing and Painting from OCAD University in 2013. Her work challenges traditional aesthetic hierarchies by developing a visual language from elements often regarded as diminutive or feminine. Using 3D software to construct still-life arrangements, which she then translates into paintings, Macdonald explores the intimate and sometimes destructive relationships between objects. Her practice examines the complexities of embracing both femininity and power. Macdonald has exhibited her work in Canada, Europe, and the United States. In 2021, her debut U.S. solo exhibition, Modern Love, was showcased at Hashimoto Gallery in Los Angeles. The following year, her exhibition Unnatural Order was featured at Glenhyrst Art Gallery.

Acknowledgements

Glenhyrst Art Gallery respectfully acknowledges that we are located on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabe, and Haudenosaunee peoples. This land is part of the Dish with One Spoon Treaty, an agreement between the Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe peoples to share and protect resources while promoting peace. The City of Brantford is situated on the Haldimand Tract, land promised to the Six Nations, which includes six miles on either side of the Grand River.

Accessibility

Glenhyrst Art Gallery is fully accessible, featuring an elevator and an accessible washroom. The main entrance is reached via a concrete pathway and can be opened using an automatic door opener. If you require assistance or have any questions about the gallery, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Admission is free, donations are appreciated, and all are welcome.

Glenhyrst Art Gallery
20 Ava Road
Brantford, ON N3T 5G9
glenhyrst.ca
info@glenhyrst.ca
(519) 756-5932

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