Vanessa McKernan - As I Lay Sleeping

Click here to see the paintings from this exhibition

For nearly 20 years McKernan has religiously documented her dreams. Fragments of her own sleeping visions form part of her artistic inspiration. This brings a surreal sense of illusiveness to her work. In addition to her otherworldly inspiration, McKernan’s recent work has been influenced by a big move from urban environments to the Ottawa Valley countryside. There, she has restored a pool house into a unique, light-filled studio. For McKernan, the studio is a space to explore her psyche and the collective unconscious. 

In this collection, McKernan continues to paint flora, fauna, and nature/human hybrids, expressing herself more freely than ever before. Her new location has unlocked a sense of connection with the wilderness, infusing her work with new ideas and a fresh perspective. She lures audiences into her dreamlike realm with painterly pieces, filled with symbolism and familiar elements drawn from art history. In this collection McKernan continues to reach beyond the conscious mind, questioning life, death, love and the nature of self. 

As an emerging artist, McKernan has exhibited frequently in Toronto and Ottawa. Additionally, her work has been shown in San Jose and Los Angeles. Later this year Spence Gallery will debut McKenan's work at the Seattle Art Fair and will feature her in a New York fair for the second time.

McKernan’s Solo-Exhibition with Spence Gallery will run from June 22nd – July 6th, 2024. The public is invited to an open house on Saturday, June 22 from 2 -5 pm where the artist will be present. 

McKernan studied painting and drawing at Concordia University. In 2024 she received a 2nd grant from the prestigious Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation, and an emerging artist grant from the Ontario Arts Council.