Nature. Reflections. Land. Water. Texture. Transparency. Photography that captures a moment that will never be the same.
Camille Myles - Bio, Artist Statement & CV
About
"I translate the energy of nature into playful art that inspires us to embrace change."
Bio
Camille Myles, a Canadian contemporary artist and Park Superintendent, intertwines nature and history in her transformative artworks, sparking conversations about identity and motherhood. With a BFA from Ottawa University and an MA in Heritage Conservation from Carleton University, she exhibits widely, including at Quest Art Gallery, Paradigm Gallery, and PxP Contemporary. Myles has received prestigious art residencies at Studio H International and MOTHRA, as well as grants from RBC Arts Incubator ('23) and the Ontario Arts Council ('22 & '24). Passionate about public art's social impact, she creates murals and sculptures in Midland and Penetanguishene. Her work has been recognized by the Jealous Curator, Art Seen, Create! Magazine, Toronto Star, and various publications and podcasts. Originally from Gatineau/Ottawa, she now resides in Tiny, Ontario, with her husband and three children, drawing inspiration from the shores of Georgian Bay.
Artist Statement
In my art practice, I’m inspired by the natural world around me and its precarity - constant change and threats to our environment and our identity shape how I see the world. Bringing together found objects, natural and synthetic elements, I’m interested in imagery rooted in feminist ideals of strength, the labours of motherhood and the effects of gender roles.
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Whether working with reflective materials in large-scale public art projects in sculptural installations or capturing the essence and complexities of a place through painting and drawing, my work is layered with meaning, history and textures. As a conservation activist and visual artist, art that speaks to its environment and draws the viewer in as an active participant, is of particular interest to me. I use elements that combine an interest in the history of the place and its tie to the environment. I like to challenge the viewer’s perspective, incorporating components that appear to defy gravity, trick the eye, and offer elements that are ever-changing. Through reflections and distortions, my work grounds the spectator in the present, encouraging each viewer to see themselves as part of, not separate from, the story it tells. I encourage the viewer to “play” with art.
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I'm reminded that our time on this Earth is finite, that everything comes back to a natural state of being. We all need to listen a little more closely to the pleas of our world.
CV
Education
BFA, Sculpture & Installation, University of Ottawa
2005 - 2008
MA, Heritage Conservation, Carleton University, Ottawa
2001 - 2004
1999 - 2001
DEC Visual Arts, Dawson College, Montreal
Continuing Education
2019-2022
Pottery Techniques, Fergusonvale Pottery Studio, Ontario
2022
Advanced portrait painting, New York Academy of Arts
2015
Park Leadership Course, Canadian Parks Council
2013
Integrated Brand Management Certificate, Canadian Marketing Association
2009-2012
Printmaking & Encaustic courses, Ottawa School of Art
Awards
2023
Shortlist - International Emerging Women Art Prize by Arts to Hearts Project
2023
Ontario Arts Council Grant
2023
RBC Art Incubator Grant
2023
Partial Scholarship, Contemporary Art Course, Venice Italy, summer 2023, European Cultural Academy
2022
Shortlist, Women United in Art Prize, Painting
2012
Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal
2006
Bursary and Internship at ICCROM (International Centre for the Restoration of Cultural Property), Rome, Italy.
2004
Jacqueline Fry Prize
2004
Suzanne-Rivard LeMoyne Prize
2002
RBC Canadian National New Painting Competition Finalist
Professional Experience
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Park Superintendent, Georgian Bay Islands National Park and Beausoleil Island National Historic Site, Parks Canada, 2017-
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External Relations Manager, Parks Canada, 2013-2017.
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Brand Manager and Corporate Identity Advisor, Parks Canada, 2009-2013
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Heritage Development Officer, National Trust for Canada, 2006-2009
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Teaching Assistant, Classical Studies Course in Ancient Greek and Roman Civilization, Carleton University, 2006-2007.
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Public advocacy advisor and intern, ICCROM, Rome, Italy (International Center for the Restoration of Cultural Property, affiliated to UNESCO) 2006.
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Multimedia technician / editor, film and video, SOMA Media, Ottawa, Los Angeles and San Francisco, 2005-2006.
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Assistant Coordinator of the Contemporary Artimage gallery, Gatineau 2004-2005.
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Assistant Archaeologist, Bamburgh Project, Northumberland, UK, Summer 2004.
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Information Officer, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, 2003.
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Gallery assistant, Center d'artistes Axene07, Gatineau Quebec, 2001-2003.
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Researcher in the history of contemporary art with Dre. Anne Bénichou, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, 2002-2004.
Public Art
Summer 2022 - 100' Mural commission in Midland, Ontario
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​July 2022 - "Just a Moment" installation, solo pop up community art event for women's mental health awareness and support
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February- March 2022 - Two mural commissions on the theme of playful nature at the children activity centre in Penetanguishene, Ontario. Blog about the mural experience: here
2021 - “Sown”, Public Art Sculpture for King Street in Midland, Ontario by artist team Holly Archer & Camille Myles, Fabrication Lafontaine Iron Werks, Industrial Design Jonathan Killing, https://engagingmidland.ca/sown-public-art-installation
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2020 - “The Land of the White Rolling Sands”, Public art sculpture on Main Street Penetanguishene, in partnership with Lafontaine Iron Werks, Penetanguishene.
2013, Public art mural at the Gatineau Hospital (Wakefield train).
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Exhibitions
August-September 2023 - Solo show “SPARK”, Megamindful Living, Midland.
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August 2023 - “Eclipse” MOTHRA group show, The Assembly Gallery, Hamilton.
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August 2023 - International Emerging Women Art Prize shortlist group exhibition, (RE)Emergence ceramic sculptures, Arts to Hearts Project.
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June 29-August 5 2023 - Solo exhibition/installation “Re-Emergence” at Quest Art Gallery, Midland, Ontario.
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July-August - “Home” group show, Quest Art Gallery.
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January 2023- ongoing "Crying Landscapes" selected works available through PxP Contemporary Gallery.
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April 2023 - "Drive for Art Fundraiser" curated show in support of Quest Art Gallery and School.
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March-April 2023 - "Spring Bloom", Group exhibition at Quest Art Gallery, Midland.
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March-April 2023 - "Inside a Memory", Group exhibition Visionary Art Collective curated by Ekaterina Popova.
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Aug 2022 - "Suck it up Buttercup" vintage collage series for the "Ready to Wear" International Group Show, Arts to Hearts Project.
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July 2022 - "Crying Landscapes" series part of "For the Love of Trees" pop up gallery show in Penetanguishene, Ontario with Holly Archer.
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July-Aug 2022 - "Dust to Life" sculpture series as part of Eternal/Ephemeral Exhibition by Visionary Art Collective, curated by PXP Contemporary.
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July-Aug 2022 - "Danger in Fairyland"encaustic painting as part of the group show "The Way to Fairyland" at Quest Art School + Gallery
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July 2022 - "Just a Moment" installation, solo pop up community art event for women's mental health awareness and support
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June-July 2022 - "Just a Moment" encaustic painting series, solo Exhibit at Art Mums United
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June 2022 - Art Residency at Studio H Canada International, Victoria BC
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May 2022 - Group Show "Like a Mother", BHA Gallery, curated by Erika B Hess.
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April 2022 - Forest Awakens Series presented as part of the group show “The World Would Wake Into Itself Again”, Quest Art Gallery, Midland.
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2021- 2022 (ongoing) - Mentorship and contemporary art exhibition as part of the Art Incubator program for the Motherhood Chronicles social art project (in development), Quest Art Gallery, Midland.
2021 - "Sun, life, my lifelines", Egg Tempera on wood, members' exhibition "November Sun", December, Quest Art Gallery, Midland.
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2021 - “Motherhood Chronicles: Welcome Back to Parking Lot Views”, watercolour piece in the member show “Welcome Back”, Sept-Oct 2021, Quest Art Gallery, Midland.
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2020 - “Underwater at Awenda”, Zine Virtual Exhibit - Quest Art - https://questart.ca/events/camille-myles/, Midland.
2020 - “Silver Lining” art piece as part of the group installation for “We’ve Got the Silver” exhibit, Quest Art Gallery, Midland.
April-June 2015: Quest Art Gallery. Sculptural piece on the theme of Georgian Bay landscapes, Midland
November 2011: All Aboard! Oil and Encaustic paintings. Solo exhibition at the Café aux quatre jeudis, Hull, Québec.
March 2011: Reverb. Group exhibition at the Ottawa Art Gallery.
May 2009 : Forgotten Landscapes of Alberta: Finding the Wild West. Solo exhibition at the Café aux quatre jeudis, Hull, Québec.
March - April 2007 : Paysages en mouvance. Solo exhibition at Café aux quatre jeudis, Hull, Québec.
Summer 2005 : A series of seven paintings. Exhibition in the context of the Ottawa Fringe Festival, Ottawa.
April 2004 : Multimedia installation « Mythe et réalité? » Collective exhibition of the recent graduates of the Fine Arts programme at the University of Ottawa. Awarded a honourable mention for excellence.
March 2004 : Exhibition of a painting of the series « Perdus, maintenant retrouvés ». University Centre, Ottawa University.
March 2004 : Solo Exhibition at Gallery 115. Exhibition « Me, You and the Computer’, video installation, Ottawa.
September 2003 : Group show at Gallery 115. Video installation for the Jacqueline Fry Bursary, Ottawa.
September – October 2003 : Group show and silent auction at Café Nostalgica, Ottawa.
17 avril 2003 : Experimental video projection evening at Mercury Lounge, Ottawa. Televised interview with the station the New RO.
December 2002 – January 2003 : Solo exhibition at the Café aux quatre jeudis, Hull, Québec.
October 2002 : Group show at the City of Ottawa Art Gallery, City Hall, for the Canadian Art National New Painting Competition.
September 2002 : Exhibition of the finalists of the Canadian Art New Painting Competition, Place Ville-Marie, Montréal.
September – October 2002 : Solo exhibition at the Bistro le Troquet, Hull, Québec.
August – October 2002 : Solo exhibition at the Café Gaïa, Hull, Québec.
May 2001 : Group show of the graduating class at Dawson College, Montréal.
Recent volunteer experiences & artist memberships
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MOTHRA Art Collective 2023-
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Broken Forests Art Collective 2021-
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CARFAC Member
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Founding Member of The Works by I Like Your Work, Erika B Hess 2022 -
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Founding Member of the Art Queens Society 2021-
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Quest Art Gallery Member 2014-
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Board of Directors of the Southern Georgian Bay Chamber of Commerce 2018-
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Board member of the Culture Alliance of the Heart of Georgian Bay 2020-2022