Angela Grauerholz facts for kids

Angela Grauerholz, born on January 10, 1952, is a talented photographer, graphic designer, and teacher. She was born in Germany but now lives in Montreal, Canada.

About Angela Grauerholz

Early Life and Education

Angela was born in Hamburg, Germany. She studied graphic design at a special art school there. She also studied literature and languages at the University of Hamburg.

In 1976, she moved to Canada. With help from the Canada Council, she earned a Master's degree in photography from Concordia University.

Career and Teaching

During the 1980s, Angela ran her own graphic design studio. She designed magazines, catalogs, and books.

In 1988, she started teaching graphic design at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM). In 2008, she became the director of the Centre of Design at UQAM. She is now a Professor Emerita there, which means she is a retired professor who still holds an honored title.

Angela also helped start the Artexte Information Centre in 1980. This center collects information about art. She has also made digital copies of her own artwork and old images from newspapers. Her work is shown in art galleries in Montreal, Toronto, Berlin, and Paris.

Angela's Photography Style

Angela Grauerholz's photographs often have a soft, hazy look. She creates this by using long exposures when taking pictures. This means the camera's shutter stays open longer. Sometimes, she even overlaps images to create unique effects.

Her photos often show everyday things. But because of her style, these common subjects look timeless. Angela loves to try new things in her art. She has used multiple images and even sculptures in her art installations. An installation is a type of art where the artist creates a whole environment or experience.

Later in her career, Angela explored ideas about unconscious experiences and how time passes. She often creates a series of photos instead of just one picture. For example, between 1984 and 1985, she photographed 16 important women in the Montreal art scene. Her portraits often have a special, artistic style.

Exhibitions and Awards

Angela Grauerholz's art has been shown in many places around the world. She has had exhibitions in Canada and other countries.

Major Exhibitions

Some of her notable exhibitions include:

• La Biennale de Montreal in 2002.
• The Biennale of Sydney in 1990.
• Documenta 9 in Kassel, Germany, in 1992.
• The Carnegie International in Pittsburgh, USA, in 1995.

In 2010, the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography held a special show. It was a retrospective of her work, meaning it looked back at her art over many years. She has also had solo shows at the Musée du Québec and the Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago.

Awards and Recognition

Angela has received many awards for her amazing work. These include:

• The Award of Excellence from the American Federation of Arts.
• The Prix Paul-Émile-Borduas, a very important art award in Quebec.
• The Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts in 2014, one of Canada's highest honors for artists.

In 2018, she received an honorary doctorate from Emily Carr University. This is a special degree given to people who have achieved great things.

Where to See Her Work

Angela Grauerholz's art is part of many important art collections. This means her work is kept and displayed in museums and galleries for people to see.

Some of the places where her work is collected include:

• The Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
• The Art Gallery of Ontario in Canada.
• The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in Canada.
• The National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.
• The Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal in Canada.
• The Vancouver Art Gallery in Canada.
• The Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, USA.
• The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth in Texas, USA.