Joanne Tod facts for kids

Joanne Tod RCA was born in 1953 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She is a Canadian artist and teacher. Her paintings are famous for looking very real, a style called Realism. They often make people think about important social issues.

You can find her art in big museums. These include the National Gallery of Canada and the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto. Her work is sometimes described as "postmodern," which means it challenges traditional art ideas.

Joanne Tod's Early Art Career

After finishing art school at the Ontario College of Art (now OCAD University), Joanne Tod quickly became known. In 1982, her art was part of a big show called YYZ Monumenta in Toronto. This exhibition helped launch her career. It brought her work to national attention.

Tod was part of a lively art scene in Toronto in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Many Canadian artists moved to the Queen Street West area. She became known for her paintings that look like photographs. She uses a clever technique called irony in her art. This helps her question common ideas about women, different cultures, and social status.

Her painting skills were noticed early on. She uses her talent to surprise viewers. She often puts strange or unexpected objects next to very realistic images. This makes her art interesting and thought-provoking.

Art from the 2000s Onward

In 2000, Joanne Tod had an exhibition called "The Republic of Private." An art critic from The Globe and Mail newspaper, Gary Michael Dault, wrote about it. He called her paintings "dizzying realism." He also noted her "sensuous, meditative brushwork." This means her paintings look very real but also make you think deeply.

Dault described Tod as a "virtuoso." This means she is extremely skilled at painting. Her detailed paintings are often mysterious and "lushly crafted." They are also sometimes funny, with subtle jokes and puzzles hidden within them.

The "Oh, Canada — a Lament" Series

One of her important series is "Oh, Canada — a Lament." From 2007 to 2011, she painted 121 small portraits. These portraits honored Canadians who died in Afghanistan. The Walrus magazine published this series as a visual essay in 2011.

Working with Ceramics

Joanne Tod has also worked with the Gardiner Museum for many years. She knows a lot about their collection of old ceramics. She decorated a series of plates with modern figures and pop culture themes. She used ideas from the museum's historical works.

In an exhibition called "Invited Invasion," her ceramic pieces were placed among the museum's old collection. They were "hiding in plain sight." This challenged how people usually look at art in a museum. As a feminist artist, she pointed out something important. Historically, women were often only allowed to decorate ceramics, not create the pieces themselves.

You can find more information about Joanne Tod at Library and Archives Canada.

Teaching and Judging Art

Joanne Tod shares her knowledge by teaching. She lectures in the Visual Studies program at the University of Toronto. In 2020, she also appeared on TV. She was a judge on the show Landscape Artist of the Year Canada.

Selected Public Exhibitions

Joanne Tod's art has been shown in many public galleries and museums. Here are some of the places where her work has been exhibited:

• Hamilton, ON, Art Gallery of Hamilton
• Kingston, ON, Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Queen's University
• Lethbridge, AB, University of Lethbridge
• Montreal, QC, Leonard and Bina Ellen Art Gallery, Concordia University
• Montreal, QC, Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal
• Oakville, ON, Oakville Galleries
• Oshawa, ON, Robert McLaughlin Gallery
• Ottawa, ON, Canada Council Art Bank
• Ottawa, ON, House of Commons, Government of Canada
• Ottawa, ON, National Gallery of Canada
• Sarnia, ON, Sarnia Public Library
• Sudbury, ON, Laurentian University and Art Centre
• Toronto, ON, Art Gallery of Ontario
• Toronto, ON, Hart House, University of Toronto
• Vancouver, BC, Vancouver Art Gallery

Awards and Recognition

Joanne Tod has received several important grants and awards for her art:

• Canada Council Project Grant, 2011
• Canada Council Senior Artist Creation/Production Grant, 2000
• Ontario Arts Council, Senior Artist Grant, Research/Production, 1993
• Canada Council B Grant, 1983
• Ontario Arts Council Project Grant, 1983