Shanna Strauss
Mixed-media visual artist
Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
Masters of Social Work with Honors, McGill University - Montreal, Quebec
BFA with Distinction, Painting and Drawing, California College of Arts - San Francisco, California
EXHIBITIONS
Solo and Two Person Exhibitions:
2017 - ‘Jiggen Yuy Soppi’ Changemakers: Ndar, Gallery Ethiopique - Saint Louis, Senegal
2016 - Howl Arts Festival - Cajibi - Montreal, Quebec
2015 - Remembering: A sister Project, Destiny Arts Center -Oakland, California
2015 - The Floating Homeland, Vues D'Afrique Rally Expo - Maison Parent-Roback - Montreal, Quebec
2009 - Recent paintings: Shanna Strauss - Umoja Arts Center - Arusha, Tanzania
2005 - Dreamscapes - Fotini Gallery - Arusha, Tanzania
2004 - Bila Shaka - Purple Plum Restaurant - Oakland, California
2003 - Ndoto za Mashariki/ Dreams the East - West Gallery - San Francisco, California
Group Exhibitions:
2018 - Here We Are Here: Black Canadian Contemporary Art - Montreal Museum of Fine Arts - Montreal
2018 - When She Rises - Los Angeles, California
2018 - Obvious Magic: This Womanist Imaginary, Ashara Ekundayo Gallery – Oakland, California
2017 - Policing Black Lives - Grande Bibiliothéque - Montreal, Quebec
2017 - The Black Woman is God: Divine Revolution, SOMArts Gallery - San Francisco, California
2017 - Take Care of Your Self - Pop Up Gallery -3845 St. Laurent Blvd - Montreal, Quebec
2017 - POP Montreal - Apt 200 - Montreal, Quebec
2017- While No One Was Looking, Mainline Gallery - Montreal, Quebec
2017- Cabaret Anti-racine, Maison D’Haiti - Montreal, Quebec
2016 - Black Fem' Art - Espace Mushagalusa, Montreal, Quebec
2016 - Art Afro - Art District Gallery, Montreal, Quebec
2016 - Changemakers- MAI Center Gallery - World Social Forum 2016, Montreal, Quebec
2016 - Defi 35 - Articule Artist Run Centre - Montreal, Quebec
2016 - Égéries Noire/Black Muses, Place des Arts - La Salle George Emile Lapalme Gallery, Montreal Quebec
2015 - Common Aliens - Z Art Space -Montreal, Quebec
2015 - SalonEsque - MAI (Montréal Arts Interculturels) Gallery - Montreal, Quebec
2014 - Action Against Racism Group Exhibition- Centre Communautaire de Loisir de la Côte-des-Neiges - Montreal, Quebec
2010 - Braeburn Art Fair - Arusha, Tanzania
2009 - Visa to Dance: Tanzanian Women Artists - Diamond Jubilee Hall - Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
2009 - East African Art Biennale - Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
2005 - Art and Development Conference - Wilfred Laurier University - Waterloo, Ontario
2003 - Senior Group Show - California College of Arts - Berkeley, California
STREET ART AND MURALS
2018 - Public art piano - Montreal, Quebec
2018 - Mural honoring Chyna Gibson - Collaboration with Jessica Sabogal, Sacramento, California
2017 - Mural honoring Ellen Gabriel and Mary Two Axe Earley - Unceded Voices: Anti-Colonial Street Artists
Convergence, Montreal
COMMISSION
2018 - Public art piano - City of Montreal
2018 - Mural for The Women's Resouce Center - The University of Arizona
2018 - Mural honoring Chyna Gibson - The California Endowment
2017 - Artwork for 'Frames for Life Liberation and Belonging' Booklet - Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society at UC Berkeley
2016 - Artwork for Égéries Noire/Black Muses exhibition at Place des Arts - La Table ronde du Mois de l’histoire des Noirs /Black History Month Round Table, Montreal Quebec
RESIDENCIES
2018 - Mikw Chiyâm Teaching Artist Residency, Waskaganish, Cree Nation/Quebec
2017 - Waaw Artist Residency - Saint Louis, Senegal (November 2017)
AWARDS AND GRANTS
2015 - Akonadi Foundation; The beloved community grant recipient, Oakland, California
2014 - Toronto Dominion Bank; Then & Now 2015 Grant recipient, Montreal, Quebec
2014 - Lotte Marcus Sheldon Prize; Innovative arts-based service project, Montreal, Quebec
ARTIST TALKS
2018 - Unceded Voices - Panelist - Tucson, Arizona
2017 - While No One Was Looking - Panelist - Mainline Gallery, Montreal
2017 - Change Agents of East Africa - Panelist - Concordia University, Montreal
2016 - Diaspora Speaking Conference, Montreal, Quebec
2016 - Howl Arts Festival, Montreal, Quebec
2016 - 21st Century Learning: Critical Thinking, Collaboration and Creativity. Art and Social Justice Panelist - Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec
2005 - World University Service of Canada Art and Development Conference, Wilfred Laurier University - Waterloo, Ontario
BOOKS
2017 - Frames for Life, Liberation & Belonging - Published by Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive
Society at UC Berkeley
MAGAZINE/JOURNALS
2018 - M: Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, May - Aug 2018
2017 - Americana E-Journal of American Studies in Hungary, Volume 13, Number 1, Spring 2017
http://americanaejournal.hu/vol13no1mixed/joachim
2017 - Montreal Serai, Volume 30, Issue 3
https://montrealserai.com/article/indigenous-street-artists-create-holy-alliances/
2017 - The Humans Magazine, May 2017, Issue # 3
2017 - Articulation, Spring 2017 Issue - While No One Was Looking
2015 - Tic Art Toc, Issue #5 - Liaisons Dangereuses
MEDIA
2018 - Sacramento News & Review: https://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/altar-for-chyna-doll/content?oid=26270462
2017 - CULT MTL http://cultmontreal.com/2017/10/st-henri-mural-defaced/
2017 - The Eastern Door http://www.easterndoor.com/2017/08/29/mohawk-change-makers-grace-brand-new-mural/
DOCUMENTARIES
2017 - Unceded Voices 2017 Documentary Series - Episode 5
https://www.facebook.com/uncededvoices/videos/2035687000045424/
2017 - SAYSPORA SPEAK SERIES - Navigating diasporic identities & authenticity in the
African context https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5gzO_3yRL0
BLOGS
2017- word and color https://wordandcolour.com/2017/05/19/diaspora-blues-nailah-king/
https://wordandcolour.com/2017/05/29/goodnight-again-ajay-mehra/
2016 - SAYASPORA http://sayaspora.com/?s=changemakers
2015- Mlle Parker Blog http://mlleparker.com/connecting-canadians-to-black-history-and-culture-10-must-see-events/
2015 - L'Initiative https://linitiative.ca/?s=shanna+strauss
2015 - Cameroon Voice http://www.cameroonvoice.com/news/article-news-17815.html
ARTS EDUCATOR/ COMMUNITY ART
2018 (September - October) - Art Teacher for Mikw Chiyâm Arts Concentration Program at Wiinibekuu
High School , Waskaganish, Cree Nation/Quebec
2013-2017 - DESTA Black Youth Network - Montreal, Quebec - Community worker and program
coordinator, designing and implementing arts-based programs
2009-2010 - Umoja Arts Center - Arusha, Tanzania - Visual art instructor for children and youth
2008-2010 - Braeburn School - Arusha, Tanzania - High school art teacher
2005-2006 - Mkombozi - Arusha, Tanzania - Visual art instructor for street-involved youth