Michael Pszczonak, born in 1981 in Windsor, ON, received his MFA from Western University and his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Guelph.
The recipient of numerous grants and awards, Pszczonak was the inaugural winner of the 2023 CIBC C2 Create and Curate National Visual Arts Prize. He has also received an Ontario Arts Council’s Emerging Artist Grant, and a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Grant.
His artwork is in the collections of CIBC and Museum London and private collections across North America.
He maintains an active studio practice in London, ON and currently teaches within the Fine Art Program at Fanshawe College.
June 1 - June 28 - 2024
Interested in the simple act of looking, Michael Pszczonak's new paintings capture the perceptual phenomenon of light and image reflected in windows ranging from storefronts, hotels and restaurants.
MoreEDUCATION
2015 Masters of Fine Arts. Department of Visual Arts, Western University, London, Ontario.
2009 Bachelor of Education. Faculty of Education, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario.
2008 Bachelor of Arts Honours (with distinction), major in Studio Art with a minor in French studies. School of Fine Art & Music, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario.
2003 Ontario College Diploma. Tradigital Animation Program, St. Clair College of Applied Arts & Technology, Windsor, Ontario.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2024 (solo exhibition) Window Reflections, Michael Gibson Gallery, London, ON
Sunscreen, Newzones, Calgary, AB
2023 (solo exhibition) No Thanks, I’m Just Looking, CIBC Headquarters, 81 Bay Street, Toronto, ON
2022 (solo exhibition) On The Other Hand, Michael Gibson Gallery, London, Ontario.
2021 (solo exhibition) The Colour of the Window, Michael Gibson Gallery, London, Ontario.
2019 (solo exhibition) Refractor. Campus Gallery, Georgian College, Barrie, Ontario.
2018 Can I Kick it, The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa, Ontario. (curated by Pete Smith).
2016 Plexus, DNA Artspace, London, Ontario. 2015 (solo exhibition) Hand-Eye. McIntosh Gallery, Western University, London, Ontario.
2015 Periphery/Core. Satellite Space, London, Ontario.
2015 [un]Bored. Concourse Gallery, Western University, London, Ontario.
2014 Sum of two and three, One more than four. Artlab Gallery, Western University, London, Ontario.
2014 (solo exhibition) Retrospective of an Emerging Artist. Petrified Forest Gallery, London, Ontario. Curated by Matthew Purvis.
2014 Painting (Jared Peters, Mike Pszczonak, and Matt Tarini). Michael Gibson Gallery, London, Ontario.
2009 Insights 2009: A Juried Art Exhibition. Wellington County Museum and Archives, Fergus, Ontario.
2008 No Common Ground. Paul Petro Special Projects Space, Toronto, Ontario.
2008 stART Exhibition. Studio21, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
2008 This Must be the Place. Zavitz Gallery, University of Guelph. (student run exhibition).
2008 Enhanced Recycling. Artery Gallery, University of Waterloo. (student run exhibition).
2008 untitled (God is Dead, Painting is Not). Zavitz Gallery, University of Guelph. (student run exhibition)
2007 Juried Art Show. University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario.
2007 Asbestos You Can. Zavitz Gallery, University of Guelph. (student run exhibition)
GRANTS AND AWARDS
2023 CIBC C2 Create & Curate Award, CIBC, Toronto, ON
2022 Visual Artists Creation Projects Grant, Ontario Arts Council.
2020 Professional Artists Community Arts Investment Program, London Arts Council.
2018 Visual Artists Creation Projects Grant, Ontario Arts Council.
2015 Emerging Artist Grant, Ontario Arts Council.
2014 – 2015 SSHRC – CGS Masters Research Scholarship. University of Western Ontario. London, Ontario.
2014 – 2015 Ontario Graduate Scholarship. University of Western Ontario. London, Ontario. (*Declined)
2013 – 2014 Western Graduate Research Scholarship. University of Western Ontario. London, Ontario.
2013 Chairs Entrance Scholarship. University of Western Ontario. London, Ontario.
2009 Insights 2009: Painting Award, Wellington County Museum and Archives. Fergus, Ontario.
2008 Faculty Painting Award. Juried Art Show. University of Guelph. Guelph, Ontario.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Whitney South, “Student Artist Hopes to Inspire with Pop-Up Gallery.” London Community News, London, Ontario. February 21, 2014.
Kelly McKenzie, Kim Neudorf, and Matthew Purvis,Sum of Two and Three, One More Than Four Catalogue Essay. London, ON: Pistol Press, 2014.
Matthew Purvis, “Deflated Man and Inflated Meat.” Retrospective of an Emerging Artist Catalogue Essay. London, ON: Petrified Forest Press, 2014.
Elissa Barnard, “Different Strokes at Studio 21.” The Chronicle Herald, Halifax, Nova Scotia. March 25, 2008.
“Rope Ladder: A Catalogue of Selected Undergraduate Art.” Jeunesse Press, Guelph, Ontario. 2007.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
2018 Residency Committee, Forest City Gallery, London, Ontario.
2015 Board Member, Forest City Gallery, London, Ontario.
2015 Western Open Studios, Organizer. University of Western Ontario.
2014 – 2015 Visual Arts Graduate Student Association, Chair. University of Western Ontario.
2014 Western Open Studios, Organizer. University of Western Ontario.
2007 – 2008 Fine Arts Network, Social Coordinator. University of Guelph.
2006 – 2007 College of Arts Student Union, University of Guelph.
VISITING ARTIST TALKS AND CONFERENCE PANELS
2015 Open it Out, Set it Going. BOREDOM: Western University Visual Arts Graduate Conference. Panel discussion (Mike Pszczonak, Cinthya Guzman, and Dave Kemp, moderated by Kelly Jazvac). University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario.
2013 Visiting Artist. Nipissing University, North Bay, Ontario.
CURATORIAL PROJECTS
2014 – 2015 Pszczonak Contemporary Projects Window Gallery. University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario.
AUCTIONS AND FUNDRAISERS
2023 Art with Heart, Casey House in conjunction with Art Gallery of Ontario. Toronto, Ontario.
2022 Art with Heart, Casey House in conjunction with Art Gallery of Ontario. Toronto, Ontario.
2023 Up with Art Silent Auction, Unity Project in conjunction with Museum London. London, Ontario.
2022 Up with Art Silent Auction, Unity Project in conjunction with Museum London. London, Ontario.
2021 Up with Art Silent Auction, Unity Project in conjunction with Museum London. London, Ontario.
2016 Up with Art Silent Auction, Unity Project in conjunction with Museum London. London, Ontario.
2015 Blank Canvas Art Auction, Museum London. London, Ontario.
2015 50/50, Artspace, Peterborough, Ontario.
2015 Wish List Members Show. Forest City Gallery, London, Ontario.
2008 Manhattan’s Silent Auction, in conjunction with the University of Guelph School of Fine Art and Music. Guelph Ontario.
COLLECTIONS
CIBC
Museum London
Private Collections in Canada and the US