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CV
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Bio

Christopher William (Will) Gill was born in Ottawa, Ontario on July 5, 1968. He moved to Sackville, New Brunswick in 1987 to begin his formal training in art through a BFA at Mount Allison University, with a main focus on sculpture. After graduating from Mt. A, Halifax was home for several years. An opportunity presented itself in 1997 to move to St. John’s, Newfoundland, to work as an apprentice at a bronze-casting foundry for sculpture. He has been in St. John’s ever since.

Gill has maintained a studio practice, since graduation, that has evolved from solely sculptural exploration, to one that encompasses sculpture, painting, photography and video work. He has a wide-ranging exhibition history that includes shows in artist-run centres, commercial galleries, and public galleries/museums at home and abroad. Considerable attention has been paid to his work in the form of critical writing in magazines, newspaper articles and radio and tv spots. Peer juries have consistently recognized and supported his work through grants from both the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts.

Gill was selected to the national longlist in the 2004, 2006 and 2023 Sobey Art Award competitions. The Sobey Art Award is Canada’s premiere award for acknowledging contemporary artists. He also won the Beaverbrook Art Gallery's inaugural Theodore Prize in 2023. His work is in many private and public collections and is handled exclusively through the Christina Parker Gallery in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Education

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), 1991

     Major in sculpture
Mount Allison University
Sackville, NB, Canada

Grants & Awards

2023

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2022

  • ArtsNL: Professional Project Grant - Visual Arts

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2021

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2019

  • ArtsNL: Travel Grant

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2018

  • ArtsNL: Professional Project Grant - Visual Arts

  • Visual Artists Newfoundland and Labrador (VANL-CARFAC) Excellence in Visual Arts Awards - The Milestone Award Shortlist (Top 3)

 

2017

  • Canada Council For The Arts: Research and Creation Project Grant

  • ArtsNL: Travel Grant

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2015

  • Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council: Professional Project Grant - Visual Arts

 

2014

  • Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council: Professional Project Grant - Visual Arts

  • VANL/CARFAC Excellence in Visual Arts (EVA) Awards: Large Year Award

 

2013

 

2012

  • Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council: Professional Project Grant - Visual Arts

 

2008

  • Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Visual Arts Prize: Arts and Letters

  • Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council: Project Grant

 

2007

  • Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council: Artist of the Year Short List (Top 3)

  • Canadian Museums Association Visual Arts Summit (Ottawa): Bursary to Attend

  • City of St John's: Project Grant

  • Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council: Project Grant

  • Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council: Travel Grant

  • Government of Newfoundland and Labrador: Purchase Award

  • Canada - Newfoundland Comprehensive Economic Development Agreement Grant

 

2006

  • Sobey Art Award: National Longlist

  • VANL/CARFAC Excellence in Visual Arts (EVA) Awards: Large Year Award

  • Canada Council For The Arts: Visual Arts Project Grant

  • Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council: Project Grant

  • Tourism and Culture Newfoundland: CEDP Marketing Grant

  • Government of Newfoundland and Labrador: Purchase Award

 

2005

  • Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Visual Arts Prize: Arts and Letters

  • Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council: Artist of the Year Short List (Top 3)

  • Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council: Project Grant

 

2004

  • Sobey Art Award: National Longlist

  • Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council: Project Grant

  • Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council: Travel Grant

  • Tourism and Culture Newfoundland: CEDP Marketing Grant

 

2003

  • Canada Council For The Arts: Visual Arts Creation/Production Grant

  • Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council: Project Grant

  • City of St John's: Project Grant

 

2002

  • Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council: Project Grant

  • Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council: Travel Grant

  • Government of Newfoundland and Labrador: Purchase Award

 

2001

  • Vermont Studio Center: Partial Fellowship

  • Canada Council For The Arts: Visual Arts Creation/Production Grant

  • Canada Council For The Arts: Visual Arts Travel Grant

  • Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council: Travel Grant

  • Government of Newfoundland and Labrador: Purchase Award

  • Canada - Newfoundland Comprehensive Economic Development Agreement Grant

 

1999

  • Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council: Project Grant

  • Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council: Travel Grant

 

1998

  • Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council: Project Grant

 

1991

  • Mount Allison University: Phelp Drawing Prize (Graduating Student)

Related Pursuits

2024

  • Centre for Research & Innovation - Solo Residency. Corner Brook, NL, August 2024

  • Gallery Technician: The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery and Museum, St. John’s, NL

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2023

  • Installation Technician: The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery and Museum, St. John’s, NL

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2022

  • Artist Talk: DarkNL Photography Community Speaker Series, St John’s, NL

  • Installation Technician: The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery and Museum, St. John’s, NL

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2021

  • Installation Technician: The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery and Museum, St. John’s, NL

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2020

  • Installation Technician: The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery and Museum, St. John’s, NL

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2019

  • Artist Talk: Forum + Function, Interior Designers of Canada, MUN Battery Campus, St John’s NL

  • Installation Technician: The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery and Museum, St. John’s, NL

 

2018

  • Installation Technician: The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery and Museum, St. John’s, NL

 

2017

  • Fogo Island Arts - Solo Residency (1 month), Fogo Island, NL, November 2017

  • Installation Technician: The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery and Museum, St. John’s, NL

 

2016

  • Artist Talk: Eastern Edge Panel, Land of Mirrors, St John’s NL

  • Installation Technician: The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery and Museum, St. John’s, NL

 

2015

  • Installation Technician: The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery and Museum, St. John’s, NL

 

2014

  • The Arctic Circle Residency, aboard a tall ship out of Svalbard Norway, October 2014

  • Canada House Carpet Commission, Trafalgar Square, London, England. Design for a 11 foot by 14 foot hand made carpet for the Newfoundland Room

  • Sculpture Commission ($100,000) for Eastport Properties' 351 Water Street, St John’s, NL. 2013/2014

  • Installation Technician: The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery and Museum, St. John’s, NL

 

2013

  • Artist Talk: The Banff Centre, Banff, AB. October 2013

  • Artist Talk: Two Rivers Gallery, Prince George, BC. October 2013

  • Artist Talk: Art Marathon Festival 2013, Eastern Edge Art Gallery, St. John’s, NL

  • Artist Talk: Words in Edgewise 37: Newfoundland in Venice, Eastern Edge Art Gallery, St. John’s, NL

  • Installation Technician: The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery and Museum, St. John’s, NL

 

2012

  • Artist Talk: Electric Speed, Surrey Art Gallery, Surrey, BC

  • Installation Technician: The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery and Museum, St. John’s, NL

 

2011

  • Artist Talk: ArtExploits, Grand Falls-Windsor, NL

  • Installation Technician: The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery and Museum, St. John’s, NL

 

2010

  • Installation Technician: The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery and Museum, St. John’s, NL

 

2009

  • Jury Member: St John's Municipal Art Procurement Program, St. John's, NL

  • Peer Assessment Committee Member for Project Grants: Canada Council For The Arts, Ottawa, ON

  • Artist Talk: Eastern Edge Art Gallery, St. John’s, NL

  • Children's Workshop Instructor: 24 Hour Art Marathon, Eastern Edge Gallery, St. John's, NL

  • Installation Technician: The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery and Museum, St. John’s, NL

 

2008

  • Adjudicator: Provincial Art Procurement Program, St. John’s, NL

  • ArtSmarts Instructor: Beachy Cove Elementary, St. Phillips, NL

  • Props Creator: "Screamers 2", A Feature Film by Pope Productions and Futuristic Films, St. John’s, NL

  • Production Designer: "A Fine Catch", A Short Film by Sherry White, St. John’s, NL

  • Animation Artist: "Vive La Rose", An Animated Film by Bruce Alcock, NFB, Global Mechanic Studios, Vancouver, BC

  • Head Technician: The Garden Studio & Foundry, St. John’s, NL

 

2007

  • Adjudicator: Newfoundland and Labrador Arts and Letters Awards

  • Site Development Committee Member, The Rooms Provincial Gallery, Museum and Archives, St. John’s, NL

  • Head Technician: The Garden Studio & Foundry, St. John’s, NL

 

2006

  • ArtSmarts Instructor: Beachy Cove Elementary School, St. Philip's, NL

  • Head Technician: The Garden Studio & Foundry, St. John’s, NL

 

2005

  • Guest Artist: Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, Corner Brook, NL. Artist Talk and Sculpture Symposium (1 week)

  • Board member: Visual Artists of Newfoundland and Labrador

  • Head Technician: The Garden Studio & Foundry, St. John’s, NL

 

2004

  • Prairie North Creative Residency and Artist Talk: Grande Prairie, AB (2 weeks)

  • Head Technician: The Garden Studio & Foundry, St. John’s, NL

 

2003

  • Artist Talk: MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie, ON

  • ArtSmarts Instructor: Beachy Cove Elementary School, St. Philip's, NL

  • Programming Committee Member: Eastern Edge Gallery, St. John’s, NL

  • Head Technician: The Garden Studio & Foundry, St. John’s, NL

 

2002

  • Artist Talk: Art Gallery Of Newfoundland and Labrador/VANL

  • Head Technician: The Garden Studio & Foundry, St. John’s, NL

 

2001

  • Artist-in-Residence and Artist Talk: Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT, USA. (4 weeks)

  • Artist-in-Residence and Artist Talk: Terra Nova National Park, NL (2 weeks)

  • Head Technician: The Garden Studio & Foundry, St. John’s, NL

 

2000

  • Artist Talk: Marble Carving Symposium, Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, Corner Brook, NL (2 weeks)

  • Head Technician: The Garden Studio & Foundry, St. John’s, NL

 

1999

  • Board member: Eastern Edge Gallery, St. John’s, NL

  • Head Technician: The Garden Studio & Foundry, St. John’s, NL

 

1998

  • Board member: Eastern Edge Gallery, St. John’s, NL

Collections
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