Janet Werner (b. 1959, Winnipeg, Manitoba) lives and works in Montreal, Quebec. She received her MFA from Yale University in 1987. Solo exhibitions include Parisian Laundry (Montreal), Galerie Julia Garnatz (Cologne), Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts (Montreal), Whatiftheworld Gallery (Cape Town) and Plug Institute of Contemporary Art (Winnipeg). Group exhibitions include AXENEO7 (Gatineau), MASS MoCA (North Adams), Musée d’art contemporain (Montreal), Kenderdine Art Gallery (Saskatoon). A solo survey exhibition entitled, “Another Perfect Day” organized by the Kenderdine Art Gallery, University of Saskatchewan, toured to five locations in Canada from 2013-2015, including the Esker Foundation (Calgary); the McIntosh Gallery, (Ontario); Galerie de l’UQAM (Montreal); and the Doris McCarthy Gallery (Toronto). Werner’s work is in the collections of the Musée du Québec, Musée d’art contemporain (Montreal), The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), Toronto, Owens Art Gallery (Sackville), the Canadian Embassy in Berlin, University of Lethbridge (Alberta), Winnipeg Art Gallery, the Mendel Art Gallery and numerous private and corporate collections.

Janet Werner The Splits, 2018
Anat Ebgi, Installation view
About
Images

Green Lake, 2021
Oil on canvas
24 x 20 inches / 61 x 50.8 cm

Neapolitan, 2020
Oil on canvas
76 x 60 inches / 193 x 152.4 cm

Winona, 2020
Oil on canvas
84 x 67 inches / 213.4 x 170.2 cm

Winona, 2020
Detail

Lemieux, 2020
Oil on canvas
22 x 18 inches / 55.9 x 45.7 cm

Cowboy with white hat, 2007
Oil on canvas
48 x 36 inches / 121.9 x 91.4 cm

Cowboy with white hat, 2007
Oil on canvas
48 x 36 inches / 121.9 x 91.4 cm

Roxy, 2020
Oil on canvas
16 x 20 inches / 40.6 x 50.8 cm

Roxy, 2020
Oil on canvas
16 x 20 inches / 40.6 x 50.8 cm

Bauhaus, 2020
Oil on canvas
24 x 20 inches / 61 x 50.8 cm

Twister, 2020
Oil on canvas
60 x 48 inches / 152.4 x 121.9 cm

Dee (yellow dress), 2020
Oil on canvas
24 x 20 inches / 61 x 50.8 cm

Carter, 2020
Oil on canvas
26 x 33 inches / 66 x 83.8 cm

Girl with blue bow, 2020
Oil on canvas
44 x 36 inches / 111.8 x 91.4 cm

AJ top, 2020
Oil on canvas
24 x 20 inches / 61 x 50.8 cm

Untitled (Claire), 2020
Oil on canvas
44 x 36 inches / 111.8 x 91.4 cm

Anat Ebgi, Installation view

Lean (greenline), 2019
Oil on canvas
33 x 26 inches / 83.8 x 66 cm

Caspar (CDF), 2020
Oil on canvas
63 x 51 inches / 160 x 129.5 cm

Anat Ebgi, Installation view

Bungalow, 2020
Oil on canvas
31 x 24 inches / 78.7 x 61 cm

Anat Ebgi, Installation view

Oil on canvas
87.25 x 66.5 inches / 221.5 x 169 cm

Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, Quebec, Installation view

Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, Quebec, Installation view

Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, Quebec, Installation view

Green Room, 2018
Oil on canvas
48 x 60" [HxW] (121.92 x 152.4 cm)
Inventory #JW1011

Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, Quebec, Installation view

Oil on canvas 66 x 53 inches / 167.5 x 134.5 cm

Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, Quebec, Installation view

Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, Quebec, Installation view

Dolores (Girl with Flowered Hat and Landscape), 2018
Oil on canvas,
55 x 45 inches

Goldie, 2018
Oil on canvas
44 x 36 inches

Bather (Blue Lips), 2018
Oil on canvas
84 x 67 inches / 213.4 x 170.2 cm

Oil on canvas
84 x 67 inches / 213.4 x 170.2 cm

Anat Ebgi, Installation view

Bitten, 2018
Oil on canvas
67 x 60 inches / 170.2 x 152.4 cm

Anat Ebgi, Installation view

Anat Ebgi, Installation view

Anat Ebgi, Installation view

Bubble Girl, 2014
Oil on canvas
55 x 45 inches / 139.7 x 114.3 cm

Anat Ebgi, Installation view

Crying Eyes, 2011
Oil on canvas
87 x 67 inches / 221 x 170.2 cm

Anat Ebgi, Installation view

Poppi (Red Curls), 2018
Oil on canvas
40 x 32 inches / 101.6 x 81.3 cm

Jane VV, 2018
Oil on canvas
36 x 29 inches / 91.4 x 73.7 cm
Exhibitions

Janet Werner: Call Me When You Start Wearing Red

Good Company: The Remix

Good Company: Pt. 1

Anat Ebgi | Minnesota Street Project

Janet Werner: The Splits

Janet Werner: The Splits
News

Janet Werner: Call Me When You Start Wearing Red
This show was selected as part of Los Angeles Oomph—a roundup of the best contemporary art exhibitions and events held by galleries, museums, and institutions in L.A. during February 2023 on the occasion of Frieze Los Angeles art fair. Curated by Mousse.
Mousse, February 2023
8 Must-See Gallery Solo Shows in February
Creating composite characters that speak to the complexity of women’s roles today, Werner successfully subverts the narrative by smartly revealing the psychological challenges of acting the parts that the media ultimately wants women to play. — Paul Laster
Galerie Magazine, February 2023CV
Janet Werner
- 1959
- Born in Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Lives in Montréal, QC, Canada
Education
- MFA in Painting, Yale University, School of Art and Architecture, New Haven, CT, USA
- BFA in Painting, Maryland Institute, College of Art, Baltimore, MD, USA
Solo Exhibitions
- 2023
- Call Me When You Start Wearing Red, Anat Ebgi, Los Angeles, CA
- 2022
- Crush, Arsenal Contemporary, New York, NY
- 2021
- There There, Bradley Ertaskiran, Montréal, QC
- 2019
- Janet Werner, Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, Montréal, QC
- What Time Is It, Mr. Wolf?, Art Gallery of Guelph, Guelph, ON
- 2018
- The Splits, Anat Ebgi, Los Angeles, CA
- 2017
- Sticky Pictures, Parisian Laundry, Montréal, QC
- 2015
- Zero Eyes, Esther Massry Gallery, Albany, NY, USA
- Drop, drop slow tears, Parisian Laundry, Montréal, QC
- 2014
- Abby and Snow, Birch Contemporary, Toronto, ON
- 2013
- Another Perfect Day, touring exhibition, Kenderdine Gallery, Esker Foundation, Galerie de l’UQAM, MacIntosh Gallery, London, ON with catalogue
- 2012
- Mad Bad Glad Sad, What if the World Gallery, Woodstock, Cape Town, South Africa
- Earthling, Parisian Laundry, Montréal, QC
- VOLTA NY, New York, NY
- 2011
- Beauty takes a holiday, Birch Libralato, Toronto, ON
- 2010
- Janet Werner, Julia Garnatz, Cologne, Germany
- Who’s Sorry Now? Parisian Laundry, Montréal, QC
- 2009
- Is Anything Alright? Art Gallery of Windsor, Windsor, ON
- 2008
- Too much happiness, Parisian Laundry Montréal, QC
- New Work, Birch Libralato, Toronto, ON
- 2007
- Buttercup I love you, Galerie Julia Garnatz, Cologne, Germany
- 2006
- Up here in heaven, Birch Libralato Gallery, Toronto, ON
- Misfits, Galerie Joyce Yahouda, Montréal, QC
- 2005
- Janet Werner, Liane & Danny Taran Gallery, Saidye Bronfman Centre, Montréal, QC
- 2004
- Janet Werner, Robert Birch Gallery, Toronto, ON
- Janet Werner, Tracey Lawrence Gallery, Vancouver, BC
- 2002
- Since first I cast eyes on you/ Depuis mon premier regard sur toi, Ottawa Art Gallery, Ottawa, ON
- Janet Werner, Robert Birch Gallery, Toronto, ON
- Since first I cast eyes on you, Tracy Lawrence Gallery, Vancouver, BC
- 2001
- Janet Werner: New Work, Paul Kuhn Gallery, Calgary, AB
- Janet Werner, The Gallery Art Placement, Saskatoon, SK
- 2000 Beautiful Losers (with Michael Fernandes), Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina, SK
- New Work, Robert Birch Gallery, Toronto, ON
- Trust, Thames Art Gallery, Chatham, ON
- Trust, Estevan National Exhibition Center, Estevan, SK
- 1999
- Trust, Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver, B.C.
- Portraits, MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie, ON
- Trance (with Patrick Traer), Plug In Contemporary Art, Winnipeg, MB
- Trust, Art Gallery of Mississauga, Mississauga, ON
- New Paintings, Paul Kuhn Gallery, Calgary, AB
- Portraits, Tableau Vivant, Toronto, ON
- 1998 Trust, Optica, Montréal, QC
- Lucky, Owens Art Gallery, Sackville, NB
- 1997
- Lucky, Southern Alberta Art Gallery, Lethbridge, AB
- Trance, The Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
- Listen (with Beaty Popescu), AKA Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
- 1996
- Slow Pictures, Robert Birch Gallery, Toronto, ON
- 1995
- Janet Werner/Kathleen Sellars* Eye Level Gallery, Halifax, N.S.
- Figures and Fields, Sir Wilfred Grenfell Gallery, Corner Brook, NF
- Scat, Galerie Axe NEO 7, Hull, QC
- 1994
- Lingua, La Centrale, Galerie Powerhouse, Montréal, QC
- 1992
- Reflections on Language and the Appearance of Things, Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina, SK
- 1991
- Reflections on Language and the Appearance of Things, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
- Reflections on Language and the Appearance of Things, Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Calgary, AB
- 1990
- Paintings, Garnet Press Gallery, Toronto, ON
- 1989
- Rehearsing the World, Plug In Contemporary Art, Winnipeg, MB
Selected Group Exhibitions
- 2021
- North by Northeast: Contemporary Canadian Painting, Kasmin, New York, NY
- Keer Tanchak & Janet Werner: Romantik, Gallery 12.26, Dallas, TX
- Good Company: Pt.1, Anat Ebgi, Los Angeles, CA
- This Sacred Vessel pt.2, Arsenal Contemporary, New York, NY
- This Sacred Vessel pt.1, Arsenal Contemporary, New York, NY
- The Conversation, Anat Ebgi at Minnesota Street Project, San Francisco, CA
- Flower Petal Tongues, curated by Corrie Jackson, Griffin Art Projects, Vancouver, BC
- 2017
- C’est ainsi qu’entre la lumière, Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, Montréal, QC
- 2016
- PDA Lovers, Four Six One Nine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Summertime in Paris: Solstice, Parisian Laundry, Montréal, QC
- Jupe bleue, une blonde, des calculatrices et un nu couché, Parisian Laundry, Montréal, QC
- 2015
- Her Story Today, Montréal Museum of Fine Arts, Montréal, QC
- Summertime in Paris: Spectiveretro, Parisian Laundry, Montréal, QC
- 2014
- The Portrait Society Gallery, Milwaukee, WI
- Masquerade, Musée du Bas St Laurent, Rivière-du-Loup, QC
- 2013
- The Painting Project, curated by Louise Déry, Galerie de l’UQAM, Montréal, QC
- Painting Perspectives curated by Jennifer Lefort, Axenéo 7, Gatineau, QC
- 2012
- Oh, Canada, curated by Denise Markonish, MassMoCA, North Adams, MA
- 2008
- Intrus/Intruders, curated by Melanie Boucher, Musée du Québec, Québec, QC
- Generation, curated by Catherine Crowston, Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
- Entre/Voir, curated by Louise Déry, UQAM, Montréal, QC
- 2007
- Some Girls, curated by James Campbell, McClure Gallery, Montréal, QC
- Framed: The art of the portrait, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton, ON
- 2006
- Peindre, Centre d’Exposition de Baie Sainte Paul, Baie Sainte Paul, QC
- 2005
- Individuation, Galerie Esthésio, Québec City, QC
- 2004
- Sweet and Sour, Tracey Lawrence Gallery, Vancouver, BC
- 2003
- Prague Biennale, “ Lazarus Effect, “ Prague, Czech Republic
- Dog Days, Tracey Lawrence Gallery, Vancouver, B.C.
- Woman, James Baird Gallery, St. John's, NB
- 2002
- Posers, curated by Mathew Reichertz, St. Mary's University Art Gallery, Halifax, NS
- Beautiful Stranger, curated by Mitch Robertson, The Physics Room, Christchurch, New Zealand (with Micah Lexier and Kelly Mark)
- Portraits - Robots, curated by Eric Simon, Galerie Graff, Montréal, QC
- 2001
- Defining the Portrait, curated by Sandra Paikowsky, Leonard and Bina Ellen Art Gallery, Montréal, QC
- 2000
- Tableau Vivant Gallery, curated by Wren Jackson, Toronto, ON
- Small Craft Warning, curated by Francois Dion, Gallery 101, Ottawa, ON
- 1999
- Les Peintures, Galerie René Blouin/Galerie Lilian Rodriguez, Montréal, QC
- Ten Years Later, Contemporary Art from the Collection of the Mendel Art Gallery, Swift Current National Exhibition Center, Swift Current, SK
- 1998
- Ten Years Later, Contemporary Art from the Collection of the Mendel Art Gallery, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
- Mixed Messages, Kenderdine Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
- 1993 Anima <-> Materia, Kenderdine Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
- The Heliotropic, I, curated by Jennifer McMackon, Mercer Union, Toronto, ON
- 1992
- Propositions/Painting, curated by Lucy Hogg, Charles Scott Gallery, Vancouver, B.C.
- 1991
- Remembering and Telling: Reflections on Identity and Location, curated by Lynn Bell, Mackenzie Art Gallery, Regina, SK
- 1990
- Memory and Subjectivity, curated by Janice Andrae, Garnet Press Gallery, Toronto, ON
- Tom Thomson Memorial Art Gallery, Owen Sound, ON
- Thunder Bay Art Gallery, Thunder Bay, ON
- Laurentian University Museum and Art Centre, Sudbury, ON
Collections
- Desjardins Collection, Montréal, QC
- McEvoy Foundation for the Arts, San Francisco, CA
- Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, ON
- Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, Montréal, QC
- Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, Québec, QC
- Canadian Embassy in Berlin, Germany
- Collection of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ottawa, ON
- Leonard and Bina Ellen Art Gallery, Montréal, QC
- Mackenzie Art Gallery, Regina, SK
- Owens Art Gallery, Sackville, N.B.
- Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
- Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina, SK
- Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, MB
- Kenderdine Art Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
- University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB
- Saskatchewan Arts Board, Regina, SK
- Canada Council Art Bank, Ottawa, ON
- Aldo Group Collection
- Claridge Collection
- Caisse de dépot et placement du Québec, QC
- Banque Nationale, Canada
- Private Collections Germany, Canada and USA
Awards
- 2015
- Vermont Studio Centre Fellowship
- 2012
- Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, Development Grant
- 2011
- Canada Council project grant
- 2010
- Canada Council project grant
- 2007
- Canada Council project grant
- 2005
- Peindre, Symposium Internationale d’art Contemporain, Baie Sainte Paul, QC
- 2004
- Canada Council B Grant
- 2003
- Canada Council New York Studio, International Studio Program, NY, USA
- 2001
- Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, A Grant
- 1999
- Canada Council B Grant
- 1998
- Women and Paint thematic residency, The Banff Center
- Saskatchewan Arts Board B Grant
- 1996
- Canada Council B Grant
- 1995
- Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, France, Canada Council Studio
- 1994
- Canada Council B Grant
- Leighton Studios, Banff, AB
- 1993
- Yaddo Artist Colony, Saratoga Springs, New York, Fellowship
- Saskatchewan Arts Board B Grant
- 1990
- Saskatchewan Arts Board B Grant
Press
- "Janet Werner “Call Me When You Start Wearing Red” at Anat Ebgi, Los Angeles", Mousse Magazine, 21 February, 2023 (Link)
- Laster, Paul, "8 Must-See Gallery Solo Shows in February", February 2023 (Link)
- Schwabsky, Barry, "Janet Werner", Arsenal Contemporary Art, NY, Review, Artforum, December 2022
- Osterweil, Ara, “Between the glossies and the grotesque Janet Werner paints a world,” Border Crossings Issue #153, 2020
- Osterweil, Ara, Janet Werner, Review, Artforum, January 2020
- Charon, Marie-Ève, “Secrets d’atelier avec Janet Werner et Anthony Burnham”, Le Devoir, 7 Octobre 2017
- Osterweil, Ara, Janet Werner, Review, Artforum, December 2017
- Osterweil, Ara, “Janet Werner,” Musee d’art contemporain de Montréal, Review, January 2020
- Campbell, James, Janet Werner, Review, Whitehot Magazine, December 2019
- Campbell, James, Janet Werner, Review, Frieze, Oct. 2017
- Petrowski, Nathalie, “Le détournement d’images de Janet Werner", 11 Septembre 2017
- Feldman, Melissa, "Pictures of You," Canadian Art, Winter 2019
- Goodden, Sky, “Janet Werner’s Truer Subject, the Women Unseen”, Momus, 25 February 2015
- Kissick, John, “Someone, Something, Nothing”, Border Crossings, June 2013
- Henry, Joseph, “REVIEW: Janet Werner Refashions the Female Form”, BLOUIN ARTINFO, 16 November 2013
- Jordan, Betty Ann : Janet Werner, Canadian House & Home, Fall 2012
- Balzer, David, “Janet Werner on What Makes a Good Painting, Artist Statements, Professionalization Pressures & More”, Canadian Art, 28 November 2012
- Balzer, David, “Janet Werner”, Modern Painters, Summer 2012
- “Transforming the Earthling – in conversation with Janet Werner”, M-KOS, 23 April 2012
- Skeene, Cameron, Janet Werner,, Border Crossings, 2010
- Ring, Nancy, “Awkward Beauty”, in Too Much Happiness, Parisian Laundry, 2008
- Sloan, Johanne, “Janet Werner and the Surface of Things,” Too Much Happiness, Parisian Laundry, 2008
- Dewolfe, Stacey, Women and animals, Mirror, 2010
- Baert, Renee, “Real Enough,” Janet Werner, SBC Gallery, 2008
- Balzer, David, “Up here in heaven”, Canadian Art, Spring 2007
- Cote, Nathalie, Et moi et moi et moi, Voir Quebec, July 7, 2005
- Crevier, Lyne, « Tout sucre », Ici Montréal, 14 July, 2005
- Tousignant, Isa, “Piece and Parcel: Janet Werner splits her portraits back into pieces”, Hour, 28, July 2005
- Lehmann, Henry, “A probing look at portraits”, The Montréal Gazette, 16 July 2005
- Lamarche, Bernard, « Portraits d’idéaux », Le Devoir, 14 August 2005
- Campbell, James, “Janet Werner”, Border Crossings, Winter 2005
- Dault, Julia, “Portraits of Pretend People,” The National Post, December 30, 2004
- Dault, Gary Michael, “Tawdry, exhausting and possibly brilliant”, The Globe and Mail, 1 May, 2004
- Osborne, Catherine, “Painter gets down to basics”, The National Post, 17 April 2004
- Hartland-Rowe, Sara, “Around and About Painting”, Border Crossings, Winter 2003
- Ghaznavi, Corinna, “Surfacing: Janet Werner at Robert Birch”, Dart, Fall 2002
- Reichertz, Mathew, Posers, St. Mary’s University Art Gallery, 2002
- Baert, Renee, Since first I cast eyes on you/Depuis mon premier regard sur toi, Ottawa Art Gallery, 2002
- Enright, Robert, “Mute Ability: Janet Werner changes the face of portraiture”, Border Crossings, Summer 2002
- Elliott, David, “Paint person”, Canadian Art, Summer 2002
- “Painting as Patchwork”, The Globe and Mail, 23 September, 2000
- Mark, Lisa, “The Language of Eyes” in Trust, Art Gallery of Mississauga, 2000
- Keindl, Anthony, Beautiful Losers, Dunlop Art Gallery, 2000
- Budney, Jen, "Small Craft Warnings," Parachute 100, 2000
- Laurence, Robin, “Face Off”, Border Crossings, Winter 1999
- Lee, James-Jason, “Trust puts Gallerygoers’ faith to test,” Georgia Straight, Aug. 5-12, 1999
- Enright, Robert, “Head Games”, The Globe and Mail, 20 November 1999
- “Portraits that hide much more than they reveal”, The Globe and Mail, 17 April 1999
- Severson, Anne, “Unusal portraits of our time” (review), Fast Forward, Calgary, June 3 - 9, 1999
- Massier, John, “Trust”, Lola, Summer 1999
- Evans, Gary, “Trust,” Lola, Issue #4, Summer 1999
- Warland, Betsy, “Patrick Traer and Janet Werner”, C Magazine, Spring 1998
- Ring, Dan, Trance, Mendel Art Gallery, 1998
- Maclear, Kyo, “Blurred vision,” Toronto Life, April 1999
- Williamson, Janice, “Scat”, in Janet Werner, Sir Wilfred Grenfell Art Gallery, 1998
- O’Neill, Colleen, “Figures and fields”, in Janet Werner, Sir Wilfred Grenfell Art Gallery, 1998
- Mark, Lisa, “Getting our hands dirty”, C Magazine, Fall 1998
- Baerwaldt, Wayne, Trance, Mendel Art Gallery, 1998
- Tousley, Nancy, “First Language”, Canadian Art, Fall 1997
- Laing, Carol, “The Silence of the World” in Lucky, Southern Alberta Art Gallery, 1997
- Lilburn, Tim, “Angels of History”, Border Crossings, Fall 1997
- Morin, Manon, Lingua, La Centrale, Galerie Powerhourse, 1994
- Blatherwick, David, « Peindre les failles du Langage », Spirale, March 1995
- Liss, David, “La Centrale/Galerie Powerhouse...” (review), The Gazette, Montréal, Nov. 26, 1994
- McMackon, Jennifer, The Heliotropic, Mercer Union, 1993
- Hogg, Lucy, Propositions/Painting, Charles Scott Gallery, 1992
- Lilburn, Tim, “Clear Suspicions”, Border Crossings, Winter 1992
- Grenville, Bruce, Reflections on Language and the Appearance of Things, Mendel Art Gallery, 1991
Videos
Janet Werner: Call Me When You Start Wearing Red
Artist Talk by Janet Werner and conversation moderated by writer and curator Ashton Cooper.
February 2023