Bio
Ilze Bebris is a West Coast artist and educator working in installation, sculpture and collage.
She was born in Toronto and moved to Vancouver to attend university in the 1970’s. After graduating from Simon Fraser with a degree in education she then received an LLB from the University of British Columbia. After a short-lived practice as a lawyer she attended Emily Carr institute of Art and Design followed by a Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Victoria.
She has worn many hats: teacher in the public schools, lawyer, education coordinator at a number of public galleries in the Vancouver area and instructor at the University of Victoria and the University of the Fraser Valley. She is interested in public art education and the intersection of art and the every day and has sought out opportunities to create installations in storefront spaces and points of intersection with pedestrian traffic.
Much of her works are temporary installations in public spaces and public galleries, directly addressing the site, allowing it to inform the work. She is interested in the narratives that shape the culture of contemporary everyday life and how a cultural of mass consumption shapes our very perceptions and understandings of the natural world. Working mainly through a process of bricolage and collage she works with the vocabulary of every day mass-produced materials to create sculptural works and installations that explore the tensions around ideas of the natural and the artificial.
She has continued her interest in exploring materials in series of collages, initially sourcing materials she used in her installations but now has extended her curiosity into a wealth of materials resulting in collages incorporating drawing, printmaking and painting processes.
She has shown both nationally and internationally and is the recipient of several awards.
Solo Exhibitions
2019 Metropolis, Roundhouse, Vancouver, B.C.
2018 Look, Ma!, Dutil, Vancouver, B.C.
2015 Drift, Silver Platter Contemporary Art Projects, Toronto, Ont.
2014 Bust! Atrium Gallery, City of North Vancouver
2012 Warren 2, Truck +15 Gallery, Calgary, Alta.
2011 Warren, Convenience Gallery, Toronto, Ont. Warren, Ministry of Casual Living, Victoria, B.C.
2007 Reform, University of Victoria, MFA thesis exhibition
2007 Unwind, E-Text and Textiles, Riga, Latvia
2000 Unruly Bodies, Dynamo Gallery, Vancouver
1997 Missing Nature, Vancouver Community Arts Council, B.C.Selected Group Exhibitions
2022 I wanted to go on a Space Walk but I had Nothing to Wear, Cityscape Gallery, North Vancouver, B.C.
2018 Ilze Bebris and M.A. Tateshi, The Cultch, Vancouver, B.C.
2015 Restless, Pop Up Downtown, Regina, Saskatchewan
Migration, Burrard Arts Foundation, Vancouver, B.C.
2012 Drawing: Expanded Medium, Evergreen Cultural Centre, Coquitlam
Urban Flaneur, Cityscape Gallery, North Vancouver, B.C.
The “F” Word, Port Coquitlam, B.C.
2009 Boundless, Peak Gallery, Toronto, Ont.
Align, Cityscape Gallery, North Vancouver, B.C.
2008 Figurations of Knowledge, SLAS conference, Berlin, Germany
Latvian Roots, FiberScene Gallery, www.Fiberscene.com/gallery
2007 Production Studios Exhibitions, Vancouver, B.C.
RPM, Deluge Contemporary Arts, Victoria, B.C.
Dimmer Switch, Vancouver Island School of Arts, Victoria, B.C.
2006 Gifted, Deluge Contemporary Arts, Victoria, B.C.
2005 All you Can Eat: 13 Sculptors, Capilano College, North Vancouver
Breakage, Cityscape Gallery, North Vancouver, B.C.
Im-material, Alterrnator Gallery, Kelowna, B.C.
2004 Explore, Richmond Art Gallery, B.C.
2002 Collaboratory, Open Space, Victoria, B.C.
2000 Transformations, Nanaimo Art Gallery, Nanaimo, B.C.
1999 Candy, Dynamo Arts Association, Vancouver, B.C.
Transformations, Prince George Art Gallery, Prince George, B.C.
From the Gigantic to the Miniature, Seymour Art Gallery, North Vancouver, B.C.
1998 Transformations, Evergreen Cultural Centre, Coquitlam, B.C.
Transforming Identities, Gulf of Georgia Museum, Richmond, B.C.
1997 Transformations, Concourse Gallery, Emily Carr College
Chairs, Evergreen Cultural Centre, Coquitlam, B.C.
Eclectomania, Access Gallery, Vancouver, B.C.
1996 Designs for Living: Chairs, Seymour Gallery, North Vancouver, B.C.
P. M. S. Show, Concourse Gallery, Emily Carr College
Beyond the Surface: Collaborations, Scott Gallery, Vancouver, B.C.
1992 Design Week, Granville Island, Vancouver, B.C.
Awards and Grants
2007 Canada Council Travel Grant
1996 Judy Dennis Emerging Artist Scholarship
Residencies
2007 E-text+textiles, Riga, Latvia
2014 Re Making, Banff, Alberta
Education
2007 Master of Fine Arts: University of Victoria
1997 Diploma: Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design
1986 Bachelor of Law: U. B. C.
1976 Bachelor of Education: S. F. U.
Published Texts
The Art of Work Experience, B.C. Art Teachers Association Journal, June, 2003
Rumpelstiltskin’s Cupboard, catalogue essay, Burnaby Art Gallery, 2003
Volumes, Artichoke, Special Edition no.2, 2002.Vol.14. No. 4
The Colonizing Gaze, Planet of the Arts, Sept. 1997
Bibliography
“Notes on the Creative Process, “ Neatkariga, Nov. 23, 2007
“Refusing the Myths of Femininity” Ubyssey, March 2001
“Touch-me art at gallery,” Prince George Free Press, Jan. 17, 1999
“Not your average art exhibit, “ Tri-City News, March 18, 1998
Curatorial projects
Slippage, Cityscape Gallery, North Vancouver, B.C. 2012
Artroom= Classrooom, Roundhouse, Vancouver, B.C. 2004
Volumes, Burnaby Art Gallery, Burnaby, B.C. 2003
Transformations, Touring exhibition, B.C. 1998-2000