Solo Exhibitions
2023
Surfacing, Chin Chin, Tainan Taiwan
2020
Fine Line: Check Check, Grand Forks Art Gallery, Grand Forks, BC
2019
Fine Line: Check Check, Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art, Kelowna, BC
Fine Line: Check Check, VOART, Centre d’exposition de Val-d’Or, Val-d’Or, Quebec
2017
Selections from the Reinventing Consumption Project, Estevan Art Gallery and Museum, Estevan, SK
2016
The Chamber, Two Rivers Gallery, Prince George, BC
At the End of the Tunnel, Illges Gallery, Columbus Georgia
2105
Fish Tales, Museum of Contemporary Art, Jacksonville, Florida
2014
At the End of the Tunnel, Dawson Creek Art Gallery, Dawson Creek, BC
2013 – 2015
Ian Johnston: Reinventing Consumption, Esplanade Art Gallery, Medicine Hat, Art Gallery of Swift Current, Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina, Robert McLaughlin Art Gallery, Oshawa, McMaster Museum of Art, Hamilton, Access Gallery, Vancouver,
2013
Sometimes, Things Are Exactly As They Appear, Cambridge Galleries, Cambridge
2011
Swimming Upstream in the Comfort of: Homage to Yves Klein, Museum London, London, ON
Archaeology of Process, Paul Kuhn Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
2009 – 2010
Ian Johnston: Transnational Absolute, Surrey Art Gallery, Surrey, BC
Refuse Culture: Archaeology of Consumption, Touchstones Museum of Art and History, Nelson, BC, Kelowna Art Gallery, Kelowna, BC,
Vernon Public Art Gallery, Vernon, BC, Kootenay Gallery of Art, History and Science Castlegar, BC, Grand Forks Art Gallery, Grand Forks, BC
2005
Tangible Shadows: Intersections, Oxygen Art Centre, Nelson, BC
Richmond Art Gallery, Richmond, BC
Langham Cultural Centre, Kaslo, BC
2003
Leftover and Under, Mildred Erb Gallery, Nelson Museum, Nelson, BC
Crafthouse, Crafts Association of BC, Vancouver, BC
Group Exhibitions
2019
Playing With Fire, Museum of Anthropology at UBC, Vancouver, BC
2018
Flow: From the Movement of People to the Circulation of Information, Surrey Art Gallery
2017
Upstream Benefits, Touchstones Nelson Museum of Art and History, Nelson, BC
2016
Building the World We Want, Kootenay Gallery, Castlegar, BC
2015
Quoting the Quotidian, Wil Aballe Art Projects, Vancouver
2013
Beyond The Vessel’s Edge, Permanent Collection, Surrey Art Gallery
Invested, Pendulum Gallery, CCBC 40th Anniversary, Vancouver
In Between, with Shayne Brandel, Castlegar Sculpture Walk, Castlegar
2012
Forest for the Trees, Touchstones Nelson, Nelson, BC
San Angelo National Ceramic Competition, San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, TX
2011
5th East-West Ceramics Collaboration, University of Hawaii, Manoa
6th World Ceramic Biennale, Icheon World Ceramic Center, Icheon, Korea
2009
Module, Kelowna Art Gallery, Kelowna, BC
METAFIGURATIVE, Paul Kuhn Gallery, Calgary
Colour Aside, Paul Kuhn Gallery, Calgary
2008
Taiwan Ceramics Biennale, Taipei County Yingge Ceramics Musuem, Taipei,
Contemporary Craft in BC: Excellence within Diversity, Vancouver Museum,
2007
Jingdezhen Intl. Contemporary Ceramic Art Exhibition, Jingdezhen, China
5th Cheongju International Craft Biennale/Competition, Cheongju City, Korea
4th World Ceramic Biennale, Icheon World Ceramic Center, Icheon, Korea
Clay +, East Kootenay Regional touring ceramic exhibition, Cranbrook, BC
Cartographies: Faculty Past and Present, Touchstones Nelson, Nelson, BC
2004
Selected gallery artists, Shaw Cramer Gallery, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
15th San Angelo National Ceramic Competition, San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, Texas
2002
Clay Creates Culture, Visual Arts Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
2000
Clay Out of Province, Discovery Gallery, Alberta Craft Council, Edmonton, Alberta
Arts 2000, Royal Canadian Academy of the Arts, Gallery Stratford, Stratford, Ontario
1999
BC Festival of the Arts, Nelson, BC
Basin Best, Regional touring art exhibition of Columbia Basin artists, BC
Collections
Bauhaus Dessau Foundation, Dessau, Germany
The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Government of Canada
Icheon World Ceramic Center, Icheon, Korea
International Ceramic Research Center, Denmark
Red Deer College, Red Deer, Alberta
San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, Texas
Sanbao Ceramic Art Institute, Jingdezhen, China
Surrey Art Gallery, Surrey, BC
University of Hawaii, Manoa
Grants and Awards
2021
Canada Council for the Arts, Media Arts, Explore and Create
2018
Canada Council for the Arts, Media Arts, Explore and Create
2017
Project Assistance for Media Arts, BC Arts Council
2016
Canada Council for the Arts, research grant to professional artists
City of Nelson Cultural Ambassador
2014
Project Assistance Grant, BC Arts Council
2013
Award of Merit, 2nd,with Shayne Brandel, Castlegar Sculpturewalk
2012
Major Project funding, Columbia Basin Trust
BC Arts Council, Touring Initiative
2011
Canada Council for the Arts, research grant to professional artists
2010
Project Assistance, BC Arts Council
2009
Winifred Shantz Award for excellence in ceramic art, Honourable Mention
Award of Excellence, North-West Ceramics Foundation (unsolicited provincial award)
2008
Project Assistance, BC Arts Council
Major Project funding, Columbia Basin Trust
2007
Project Assistance, BC Arts Council
2005
Professional Development Assistance Award, BC Arts Council
Project Assistance Award, BC Arts Council
Canada Council for the Arts, Creation/Production grant to professional artists
2004
Award of Merit, 15th San Angelo National Ceramic Competition
1999
Professional Development Assistance Award, BC Arts Council
Related Professional Activities
2023
Residency, Tainan National University of the Arts, Graduate Ceramic Program Studio, Taiwan
2017
Residency, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Banff, Canada
2016
Lecture, Columbus State University, Columbus, GA
2015
Jury member, Canada Council for the Arts, Ottawa, ON
Jury member, BC Arts Council, Victoria, BC
Panel member, Elephant Mountain Literary Festival, Nelson, BC
2014
Lecture, McMaster University, Hamilton
Residency, Dawson Creek Art Gallery, Dawson Creek, BC
2013
Lectures, University of Victoria, Camosun College, Victoria
2012
Oxygen Art Centre, board director, 2012-2015, 2018-2020
Teaching, Resident Scholar for the Visiting Artists and Scholars Program at Columbus State University, Columbus Georgia
Residency, Oxygen Art Centre, Nelson, BC
Guest lectures, Tulane University, New Orleans, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, University of North Carolina, Charlotte
2011
Residency, Red Deer College, Red Deer, AB
Commission, The Works Art and Design Festival, Edmonton, AB
Residency, 5th East-West Ceramics Collaboration, University of Hawaii, Manoa
2010
Residency, European Ceramic Work Centre, Hertogenbosch, NL
Guest artist, Red Deer College, Red Deer, AB
2009
Residency, Kelowna Art Gallery, Kelowna, BC
2008
Curator for John Cooper Retrospective: Golden Years, Touchstones Nelson: Museum of Art and History, Nelson, BC
Residency, International Ceramic Research Center, Guldagergaard, Denmark
2007
Guest artist, International ceramic workshop, Sanbao Ceramic Art Institute, Jingdezhen, China
Residency, The Pottery Workshop, Experimental Factory, Jingdezhen, China
Guest Artist in Residence, Medalta Artist in Residency Program, Medicine Hat, AB
Guest Artist in Residence at The Clay Studio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jury, workshop presenter, Clay +, East Kootenay regional touring exhibition
Workshop presenter, Alberta Potters Association, Red Deer, Alberta
2006
Workshop presenter, Kootenay School of the Arts, Nelson, BC
1995-2006
Kootenay School of the Arts, Nelson, BC, part-time visiting critic and lecturer in all years of a three-year craft diploma program
2005
Participant, Summer School, Ceramic Sculpture/Installation, with Johan Creten and Walter McConnell, Alfred University, Alfred, New York
2003
Jury member, BC Arts Council, Victoria, BC
2000
Presenter, BC Festival of the Arts, Nelson, BC
1990-1995
Bauhaus Dessau Foundation, Interdisciplinary Academy (now Kolleg), Dessau, Germany, co-development and implementation of an interdisciplinary, international term study program, focusing on group creative process.
Education
1990
Bachelor of Architecture, with distinction, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario
1981
Diploma, Architecture Technology, Algonquin College, Ottawa, ON
Bibliography
2021
“Project Atrium: 10 Year Anniversary” MOCA Jacksonville, pp. 76-79.
Johnston, Ian. “John Cooper, Wild Artist, Lover of Humanity”, Articulate Fall/Winter 2021-22, pg 30.
2020
Mayer, Carol, “Playing With Fire” UBC Museum of Anthropology , pp. 34-37.
Whitley, Kay, “Playing with Fire: Ceramics of the Extraordinary”, Ceramics Monthly, 2020
2019
Laurence, Robin, “MOA show Playing With Fire blows away ceramic stereotypes”, Georgia Straight, Nov 27, 2109
2017
Johnston, Ian, “Geoffrey Farmer’s A Way Out Of The Mirror“, Articulate, Fall Winter 2017-18, pp. 10-11.
2016
Johnston, Ian, “Bridget Corkery and Wayne King Retrospectives“, Articulate, Fall/Winter 2016-17, pp. 8-10.
2015
Griffin, Kevin, “The Chamber reveals and hides the excess of consumption”, Vancouver Sun Visual Arts Blog, June 25, 2015.
McElroy, Gil, “Ian Johnston, Reinventing Consumption”, Ceramics: Art and Perception, Sheridan, Wyoming. Issue 99, pp. 3-5.
Tessman, Margaret. “Ian Johnston: The Chamber”, ARTiculate Spring/ Summer, pp. 18-19
2014
Beatty, Gregory, “Some Thoughts On Stuff”, Regina, Saskatchewan, Prairie Dog Magazine.
Clark, Garth, “Ian Johnston: Refuse Culture“. Santa Fe, NM, CFile blog, April 29.
Clark, Garth, “Ian Johnston: Reinventing Consumption” Santa Fe, NM, CFile blog, May 13
MacPherson, Alex, “Reinventing Consumption” Regina, SK, Verb Magazine, Pg. 9.
McElroy, Gil, “Ian Johnston at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery in Oshawa”, Toronto, ON, Akimbo Blog, May 20
McElroy, Gil, “Ian Johnston: Reinventing Consumption”, Hamilton, NJ, International Sculpture Center blog, July 2
Nay, Eric. “Hybrid Sculptor Ian Johnston (Un)Covers Waste with Clay”. Toronto, ON. Alternatives Journal Blog. May 2.
Smith, Mathew Ryan, “Trans Canada Art Tour”. Toronto, ON, Alternatives Journal Magazine, Pg. 59.
2013
Holubiszky, Ihor, Phillips, Kimberly “Reinventing Consumption“, Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre, Art Gallery of Swift Current, Dunlop Art Gallery, McMaster Museum of Art, Access Gallery.
2012
Alfoldy, Sandra. The Allied Arts, Architecture and Craft in Postwar Canada, McGill-Queens University, pp. 121-123
2010
Laurence, Robin. Ian Johnston explores the theme of mass production in Transnational Absolute. Vancouver, BC, Georgia Straight. Pg 24
Wylie, Liz. Bag Suite in 4/4tTime. Kelowna, BC, Kelowna Art Gallery Dossiers
2009
Andrews Grace, Susan. “Reduce Refuse Repurpose”. Galleries West, Fall/winter 2009 Vol 8 No 3, pp. cover, 40-43.
Culen, Lubos. Refuse Culture: Archaeology of Consumption. Vernon, BC: Vernon Public Art Gallery, 2009.
Gogarty, Amy. “Ian Johnston, Refuse Culture: Archaeology of Consumption“, ESPACE Sculpture, Summer 2009, Issue 88, pp. 36-37.
MacKay, Sheryl, Radio interview, broadcast on CBC’s North by Northwest, Vancouver, BC, March, 2009.
Loxam-Kohl, Deborah. Context, Materiality and Consumption: Exploring the process and material narratives of Ian Johnston’s Refuse Culture: Castlegar, BC; Kootenay Gallery.
Mercedes, Anne & Segurado, Dominique. Wall pieces, London, UK, A&C Black, 2009, pp.29-30.
O’Rourke, Margaret. Clay, Light and Water, London, UK, A&C Black, 2009
Priegert, Portia. “Module, Kelowna Art Gallery, Eliza Au, Ian Johnston, Lylian Klimek”. Galleries West, Fall/winter 2009 Vol 8 No 3, p. 34.
Tessman, Margaret. Ian Johnston, Refuse Culture: Archaeology of Consumption, ARTiculate Spring/ Summer, 2009, pp. 8-9
Wylie, Liz. More than the sum of its parts:Working with Module: Kelowna, BC, Kelowna Art Gallery, 2009.
_____. Trash Talking: a note on Ian Johnston’s Refuse Culture series. Castlegar, BC; Kootenay Gallery, 2009.
2007
Bowman, Stephanie Portico. “Reverence“, Ceramics: Art and Perception, Issue 68, 2007, pp. 90-95.
MacKay, Sheryl. Radio interview, broadcast on CBC’s North by Northwest, Vancouver, BC, Jan., 2007.
2006
Andrews Grace, Susan. Invocations, Fusion magazine, Spring, 2006, pp. 18-22.
_____. “Tangible Shadows: Intersections“, Nelson, BC: Oxygen Art Centre, 2006.
2004
Gustafson, Paula. A Question of Multiplicity, Artichoke, Summer, 2004, pp. 14-15.
2003
Matzkuhn, Bettina. Ian Johnston and Stephanie Fischer, Exploration and Collaboration, Fusion magazine, Autumn, 2003, pp. 20-24.
1994
Document Kiez. Dessau, Germany: Furstenwalder Verlagshaus GmbH, various authors.
1996
Czegledy, Nina. “The Twilight Zone”. Azure, Nov. Dec., pp. 28-30.
1994
Document Kiez. Dessau, Germany: Furstenwalder Verlagshaus GmbH, various authors.
1993
Hass, Horst, “75 Jahre Bauhaus (75 years Bauhaus)”, Illustrated Weekly Magazine, Stuttgart, Germany, May 1993. pp 6-7.
“Hofprojekt”, Bauahus Dessau – Review 1993, Dessau, Germany, December 1993. Pg. 43.