Mia Watkins is a Comox Valley based visual artist working primarily with oil painting. She holds a BFA from the University of Victoria. Her work has been exhibited in Victoria, Vancouver, and New Zealand most recently at the “Pigeon Bay Art Exhibition" at Pigeon Bay Hall in the Banks Peninsula of New Zealand’s South Island during 18 month experience abroad. Her work has been featured in print and online art magazines including the Unexposed Magazine (2014).
Mia's work portrays ideas of escapism from one's physical self through breaking, blurring, and negating the solid form in portraiture. She focuses on presence rather than narrative and through contrasting elements of surrealism and realism she leaves her painting open to interpretation.
Education
2013 BFA, University of Victoria, Visual Arts, Victoria BC
Exhibitions
Solo
2015 'Remember Now the Still and Quiet Places', Ministry of Casual Living, Odeon Alley, Victoria BC
2014 'All About Humans', The Fifty Fifty Arts Collective, Victoria BC
2014 'Solstice Café Show', Solstice Cafe, Victoria BC
Group
2018 'Pigeon Bay Art Exhibition', Pigeon Bay Hall, Pigeon Bay, New Zealand
2017 'Art Victoria Now', Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria, Victoria BC
2016 'Boxed Sanctuary', The Robert Bateman Centre, Victoria BC
2016 'Lowden - Watkins - Jonker', The Trounce Alley Gallery, Victoria BC
2015 'This Could Be Yours', The Ministry of Casual Living, Victoria BC
2013 'WORK', UVIC Grad Show, The Audain Gallery & Atrium, Victoria BC
2009 'Harmony Showcase Exhibition', Ferry Building Gallery, Vancouver BC
2009 'Scholarship Show', Arts Pacific Gallery, Bowen Island BC
Professional Experience
2017-18 Volunteer Gallery Minder, Orion Powerhouse Gallery, Akaroa, New Zealand
2016-18 Programs and Operations Manager, The Bateman Foundation, Victoria BC
2017 Volunteer Member, Emerging Museum Professionals Sub Committee, Victoria BC
2016 Programs and Operations Assistant and Marketing Coordinator, The Bateman Foundation, Victoria BC
2016 Member of Curatorial Committee, The Bateman Foundation, Victoria BC
2014-15 Gallery Assistant, The Madrona Gallery, Victoria BC
2013-16 Gallery Assistant and Marketing Coordinator, The Bateman Foundation, Victoria BC
2013 Communications and Marketing Coordinator, The Bateman Foundation, Victoria BC
2012-13 Volunteer Marketing Assistant, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria BC
2011 Creative Intern, Copeland Communications, Victoria BC
2009 Gallery/Administrative Assistant, Young Canada Works, Bowen Island Art Gallery, Bowen Island BC
Media Coverage
2014 ”All About Humans”, Exhibit V (video feature), April 2014
2014 The Unexposed Magazine (featured artist). Spring Issue 2014, April 2014
2014 The Region Magazine (featured artist), January 2014.
2013 Art Darlings (featured artist), Art Blog, September 2013.
2013 “Work”, The Audain Gallery & Atrium (featured artist), online article, Spring 2013
Awards
2017 Best in 2D, 'Art Victoria Now', Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria, Victoria BC
2009 1st Place, Daniel Dulong Memorial Scholarship, Bowen Island Arts Council, Bowen Island BC
E-mail - danica119@hotmail.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MiaWatkinsArt
Instagram - @danicamiamore