Suzy Lake

 

Suzy Lake is a American - Canadian artist currently based in Toronto. known for her work as a photographer, performance artist and video producer. Suzy moved from Detroit in the 1960's due to the political and social unrest at the time. In her work, Suzy Lake explores social issues such as gender, body, and identity. Suzy Lake changed the course of art history, taking up her camera as a tool to investigate how we manufacture the self, often using her own body as a model. As an activist, Lake has shown a commitment to feminism and civil rights. Her artistic output spans more than forty years, and today she is recognized as one of the world’s most important image-makers.

Image from Suzy Lake Website

Activities and Achievements

2021     Paul de Hueck and Norman Walford Career Achievement Award Nomination
2021     Art Canada Institute Online Book Launch. Suzy Lake: Life and Work by Dr. Erin Silver.
2016     Scotiabank Photography Award
2016     Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts  
2013     Dazibao Artist Book Prize launched Suzy Lake: Performing an Archive (2015)
2014     Art Gallery of Ontario Full Career Retrospective: Introducing Suzy Lake
2012 - 2024     Represented by Georgia Scherman Projects
2011     Political Poetics (and tour), University of Toronto Art Centre, Toronto; curated by Matt Brower and Carla Garnet 
2008     Professor Emerita, University of Guelph
2007     WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution (and tour), Los Angeles, Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, California, curated by Connie Butler
2007     Identity Theft: Eleanor Antin, Lynne Hershman and Suzy Lake 1972-1978, Santa Monica Museum, Santa Monica, California, curated by Jori Finkel
2004     Elected to the Royal Canadian Academy for the Arts
2000      Kodak Lecture Series, Ryerson University
1997     Greater Toronto Arts Foundation, Visual Arts Award
1994 - 2011     Represented by Paul Petro Contemporary Art, Toronto
1993     A Point of Reference, Retrospective Exhibition & Tour, the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography of the National Gallery of Canada
1991     Named "Honourary Friend of the Teme Augama Anishnabai" (Bear Island Band) for exhibition and agit/prop support for their land claim
1989     Named Honorary Vice President, "Mois de la Photo"
1988 - 2008     University of Guelph, Full Time Faculty
1978 - 1983     Toronto Photographers Workshop, board member (founding member through Toronto Photographer's Co-op)
1977 - 1988     Represented by the Sable Castelli Gallery, Toronto
1975 - 1978     Concordia/Loyola Photographer's Workshop, Animateur
1974 - 1978     Represented by Galerie Gilles Gheerbrant, Montreal
1971 - 1976     Vehicle Art Inc. (Montreal), Founding Member and Board Member

1969 - 1976     Montreal Museum School of Art, Full-time and Sessional Instructor