268 Taché Hall
University of Manitoba
(Fort Garry Campus)
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2M6
W. mesparks.com
IG. @msprks
Education
BFA, NSCAD University
MFA, Emily Carr University of Art + Design
Creative Work & Research
M.E. Sparks uses painting, collage, and—most recently—video to examine relationships between surface and image, materiality and content, legibility and disorientation. Through a practice of pulling apart and recombining borrowed forms, both art historical and autobiographical, she is interested in the moment an image loses its representational solidity. While figurative traces often remain within her paintings, Sparks explores how and when a form slips from its origins and resists singular classification.
In recent work, this method of abstraction occurs through the cutting, draping, and layering of painted canvases and recycled fabrics. By working with unstretched paintings, Sparks reimagines the flatness and rigidity of the painted surface, as well as its own history, as malleable, soft, and unfixed. This work plays with the experience of not knowing, not being able to pin down and define, and the vulnerability and transformative potential that arise when we are not quite able to name what we see.
In recent work, Sparks confronts the historically burdened form of the female figure. By culling shape, colour and pattern from mid-twentieth century depictions of femininity, she digs into complex tensions of working from and within patriarchal perspectives. The work addresses ideas of uncertainty and unsettled spaces of representation, as well as reconciliation and transformation of historical narrative.
M.E. Sparks holds an MFA from Emily Carr University and BFA from NSCAD University. Her work has been exhibited at Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Art (North Vancouver), Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art (Kelowna), Trapp Projects (Vancouver), Access Gallery (Vancouver), The Painting Center (NYC), ace art inc. (Winnipeg), among others. Sparks was a finalist in the 2016 and 2017 RBC Painting Competitions and a recipient of numerous awards, including the Nancy Petry Award in 2016. She has received research funding from Canada Council for the Arts, Manitoba Arts Council, Winnipeg Arts Council, BC Arts Council, and Arts Nova Scotia. She has participated in residencies in Canada, United States, Germany, and Finland—most recently at the Vermont Studio Center and NARS Foundation International Residency.
Solo and Two-Person Exhibitions
2025 — Perennial, aceartinc., Winnipeg, MB (solo)
2022 — and a Rag in the Other, Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art, Kelowna, BC (solo)
2021 — A Fine Line, Trapp Projects, Vancouver, BC (two-person)
2019 — Hiatus, The Ou Gallery, Duncan, BC (solo)
2019 — Pleated Fingers Parted, The Fifty Fifty Arts Collective, Victoria, BC (solo)
2018 — near channels, Support, London, ON (two-person, organized by Graham Macaulay)
2018 — Inside Out, SiteFactory, Vancouver, BC (two-person, organized by Leah Weinstein)
2018 — Mother Tongue, Dynamo Arts Association, Vancouver, BC (two-person)
2016 — Still Here, Point Gallery, Salt Spring Island, BC (solo)
2015 — LINEUP, Helen For Now Gallery, ECUAD, Vancouver, BC (two-person)
2015 — Drift, First Floor Gallery, Barrie, ON (two-person)
2014 — Image Search, Corridor Gallery, VANS, Halifax, NS (solo)
2014 — From There to Here, Eventide Art Gallery, New Glasgow, NS (solo)
2014 — Still Life, Anna Leonowens Gallery, NSCAD, Halifax, NS (solo)
Selected Group Exhibitions
2025 — Soft Power; Galerie Shibumi; New York, NY (curated by Folana Miller)
2025 — Touchy; 226 Main St. Gallery; Winnipeg, MB
2025 — Turned and Turning Still; The Painting Center; New York, NY
2025 — Undercurrents; NARS Foundation; New York, NY (curated by Joyous Pierce)
2025 — Piece and Parse; 226 Main St. Gallery; Winnipeg, MB (curated by Lindsay Inglis)
2022 — We can only hint at this with words.; Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Art; North Vancouver, BC (curated by Kate Henderson)
2019 — 13suite15; 2244 East Hastings; Vancouver, BC
2019 — Road Trip; Monica Reyes Gallery; Vancouver, BC
2019 — some body, anybody; SOMA Gallery; Vancouver, BC
2017 — A Terrible Signal; Access Gallery; Vancouver, BC (curated by Kimberly Phillips)
2017 — 19th Annual RBC Painting Competition; National Gallery of Canada; Ottawa, ON
2017 — Dear Home; GlogauAIR; Berlin, Germany
2017 — Shape Form Colour Line; Elissa Cristall Gallery; Vancouver, BC
2016 — A Beast Salient; Franc Gallery; Vancouver, BC (curated by Brynn McNab)
2016 — 18th Annual RBC Painting Competition; The Power Plant; Toronto, ON
2016 — Endless Summer; Elissa Cristall Gallery; Vancouver, BC
2016 — Fresh Paint / New Construction; Art Mûr; Montreal, QC
2016 — see level; Charles H. Scott Gallery; Vancouver, BC
2016 — Still Here; MFA Thesis Exhibition; Concourse Gallery, ECUAD; Vancouver, BC
2015 — Salt Spring National Art Prize Exhibition; Mahon Hall; Salt Spring Island, BC
2015 — Flight Lines; Concourse Gallery, ECUAD; Vancouver, BC
2014 — By and By; Port Loggia Gallery; Halifax, NS
2014 — Redux; The Craig Gallery; Dartmouth, NS (curated by Teto Elsiddique)
2013 — Emerging NSCAD Artists; NSP Headquarters: Studio 21 Fine Art; Halifax, NS
Awards & Research Funding
2025 — Canada Council for the Arts: Concept to Realization Grant
2025 — Manitoba Arts Council: Professional Development Travel Grant
2025 — Winnipeg Arts Council: Professional Development Travel Grant
2025 — Manitoba Arts Council: Individual Project Grant
2025 — Salt Spring National Art Prize: Finalist; Mahon Hall; Salt Spring Island, BC
2024 — Canada Council for the Arts: Arts Abroad Residencies Grant (Vermont Studio Center)
2024 — Manitoba Arts Council: Learn/Travel (Vermont Studio Center)
2023 — Winnipeg Arts Council: Individual Project Grant
2022 — Winnipeg Arts Council: Professional Development Travel Grant
2021 — BC Arts Council: Project Assistance Grant
2020 — Canada Council for the Arts: Research and Creation Grant
2020 — Canada Council for the Arts: Arts Abroad Residencies Grant
2019 — Salt Spring National Art Prize: Finalist
2018 — Canada Council for the Arts: Research and Creation Grant
2018 — BC Arts Council: Project Assistance Grant
2017 — 19th Annual RBC Painting Competition: Finalist
2016 — 18th Annual RBC Painting Competition: Finalist
2016 — Nancy Petry Foundation Award: Royal Canadian Academy of Arts & Joseph Plaskett Foundation
2016 — Valedictorian; Master of Fine Arts; Emily Carr University of Art + Design
2015 — Salt Spring National Art Prize: Juror’s Choice Award
2015 — BC Arts Council Scholarship
2014 — Gordon and Marion Smith Painting Scholarship; Emily Carr University
2013 — Nova Scotia Talent Trust Scholarship
2013 — Arts Nova Scotia Creation Grant
2012 — Robert Pope Foundation Painting Scholarship; NSCAD University
Public Talks & Panels
2025 — Soft Power: Reimagning Form and Feeling; Panelist; Galerie Shibumi; New York, NY
2025 — Perennial; in conversation with Suzie Smith; aceartinc.; Winnipeg, MB
2024 — Wrestling with Static; Panelist; Ace Art Inc.; Winnipeg, MB
2022 — "Hard Edge, Soft Body: On the Paintings of Christina Senkiw"; Lecture; Oseredok Ukrainian Cultural Centre; Winnipeg, MB
2022 — We can only hint at this with words; Online Panelist; Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Art
2022 — Conversations in Contemporary Art (CiCA); Online Panelist; Concordia University
2020 — Emily Carr University; MFA Program; Visiting Speaker + MFA Studio Visits; Vancouver, BC
2020 — NSCAD University; Media Toolbox Course; Artist Talk with Matthis Grunsky; Halifax, NS
2019 — Simon Fraser University; MFA Program; Visiting Speaker + Studio Visits; Vancouver, BC
2018 — some body, anybody; Panelist; SOMA Gallery; Vancouver, BC
2018 — University of the Fraser Valley; Artist Talk; Abbotsford, BC
2018 — Overly Dedicated; Artist Podcast hosted and produced by Claire Scherzinger
2018 — AFK Paradise Valley Summer School; Artist Talk; Squamish, BC
2017 — A Crimp in the Fabric: Situating Painting Today; Panelist; Simon Fraser University
2017 — Emily Carr University; Alumni Presentations; Vancouver, BC
2016 — see level; Panelist; Charles H. Scott Gallery; Vancouver, BC
Residencies & Mentorships
2026 (forthcoming) — MAWA Mentorship Program; Lead Mentor; Winnipeg, MB
2025 — NARS Foundation International Artist Residency; Brooklyn, NY
2024 — Vermont Studio Center Residency Program; Johnson, VT
2023 — MAWA Focused Mentorship; “Painting & The Studio”; Lead Mentor; Winnipeg, MB
2017 — GlogauAIR; Artist in Residence; Berlin, Germany
2017 — Arteles Creative Residency: Silence Awareness Existence; Artist in Residence; Finland
2017 — Institut für Alles Mögliche; Artist in Residence; Berlin, Germany
2013 — NSCAD Studio Residency; New Glasgow, NS, Canada
Writing & Contributions to Publications
2024 — “Blanket Charades (Thoughts on Taking Shape)”; exhibition text for Wrestling with Static; Ace Art Inc.; Winnipeg, MB
2022 — in_your_painting; zine publication; Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art; Kelowna, BC
2022 — We can only hint at this with words.; exhibition publication; Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Art; North Vancouver, BC
2019 — Paperwait; Volume 21; Ace Art Inc.; Winnipeg, MB
2018 — Materials; Volume 4; July 2018; Support; London, ON
2018 — “Surfacing: Looking at the Paintings of Ben Reeves”; exhibition catalogue essay for Floating Among Phantoms; Art Gallery at Evergreen; Coquitlam, BC
Interviews & Press
2025 — Annie Kierans; “Sundialing”; written response to solo exhibition Perennial; aceartinc.
2025 — Madeline Bogoch; “Handle with Care”; exhibition essay; 226 Main St. Gallery
2025 — Lindsay Inglis; “Liminal Gathering”; exhibition essay; 226 Main St. Gallery
2024 — Lindsay Inglis; “Cutting Through Dominant Histories: In Conversation with M.E. Sparks”; interview for Public Parking; online journal; April 2024
2024 — Canthius: Feminism and Literary Arts; artist feature and interview; Issue 13; Ottawa, ON
2022 — Jayne Wilkinson; “Surface Tensions: On Works by Russna Kaur and M.E. Sparks”; essay included in exhibition publication for We can only hint at this with words.; Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Art
2022 — Katherine Pickering; and a Rag in the Other // An Interview with M.E. Sparks; Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art
2018 — Kevin Griffin; “ART SEEN: Art installation in a school bus…”; Vancouver Sun; June 2018
2018 — Joe O’Brien; “Inside Out”; exhibition text; SiteFactory
2018 — Angela Glanzmann; “Mother Tongue”; exhibition text; Dynamo Arts Association
2017 — Kimberly Phillips; “A Terrible Signal”; curatorial essay; Access Gallery
2017 — RBC Painting Competition Catalogue; Canadian Art; September 2017
2017 — “15 Artists Named Finalists in RBC Painting Competition”; Canadian Art; September 2017
2017 — Lucien Durey; “Vancouver Report: From Black and White to Coloured Lights”; Canadian Art
2016 — RBC Painting Competition Catalogue; Canadian Art; September 2016
2015 — SSNAP Finalist Exhibition Catalogue; Art Barn International; October 2015