---
title: Gillian Frise
description: "Gillian Frise is a Canadian painter working with the natural world, dreams, and transformation."
url: "https://www.artsume.com/a/gillian-frise"
type: artist
createdAt: 2026-04-13
updatedAt: 2026-04-13
disciplines:
  - Visual Arts
  - Installations
  - Multimedia
location: "Toronto, ON, Canada"
---

# Gillian Frise

*Gillian Frise is a Canadian painter working with the natural world, dreams, and transformation. | Visual Arts, Installations, Multimedia | Based in Toronto, ON, Canada*

## Curriculum Vitae

### Education

- **1997** - M. Ed., in Counselling Psychology, OISE, University of Toronto, Toronto
- **1992** - B.A. Honours, in Cultural Geography, McGill University, Montreal

### Solo Exhibitions

- **2024** - "Come Out a Lion," The Drey Gallery Toronto
- **2023** - "The Original Mother, She is You," PMC Wychwood Art Gallery Toronto
- **2023** - "This Burning Liquid Being That I Am," The Drey Gallery Scarborough
- **2022** - "Woman in the Woods," Show Gallery Toronto
- **2013** - "Wake Up You Sleepy Heads," (((Parentheses))) Gallery Halifax
- **2008** - "New Watercolours," Fran Hill Gallery Toronto
- **2003** - "New Drawings," Fran Hill Gallery Toronto
- **2002** - "New Drawings," Fran Hill Gallery Toronto

### Group Exhibitions

- **2025** - "Art Toronto," The Drey Gallery Toronto
- **2025** - "Gallery B Gallery," Gallery B Gallery Castine
- **2024** - "Art Toronto," The Drey Gallery Toronto
- **2024** - "Pictorial Coherence," Van Der Plas Gallery New York
- **2024** - "Gallery B Gallery," Gallery B Gallery Castine
- **2023** - "Art Toronto," The Drey Gallery Toronto
- **2019** - "Never Better," Show Gallery Toronto
- **2013** - "Misfits," (((Parentheses))) Gallery Halifax
- **2011** - "TeddyFest," Gladstone Hotel Toronto
- **2009** - "Let's not pretend it's real," Paul Petro Multiples Toronto
- **2009** - "Stuff, books, tins, toys and things," Fran Hill Gallery Toronto
- **2007** - "Group Show," KIAC Dawson City
- **2007** - "Group Show," Fran Hill Gallery Toronto
- **2006** - "Group Show," Fran Hill Gallery Toronto
- **2005** - "TAFFI," Gladstone Hotel Toronto
- **2005** - "Wake me up before September ends," Lonsdale Gallery Toronto
- **1997** - "Nylons," A Space Toronto
- **1996** - "Mach II," A Space Toronto
- **1996** - "Sparkle Dogs," Free Parking Toronto

### Awards & Grants

- **2007** - Artist Residency, Klondike Institute of School & Culture (KIAC)

### Bibliography

- **2020** - Di Rica Cerbarano, "Vogue Italia," *Vogue Italia*
- **2002** - Betty Ann Jordan, "Art in July," *Toronto Life*
- **2001** - Lola Egon Von Bark, "Shot Gun Reviews," *Shot Gun Reviews*
- **1999** - Cameron Baily, "Now Magazine," *Now Magazine*

## Portfolio

### Nest (2026)

*ink and watercolour on paper*

*10" x 14"*

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### The falls fill up my head she says.  (2026)

*ink and watercolour on paper*

*10" x 14"*

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### Wear my body like an octopus. Lanky. Pooling.  (2026)

*ink and watercolour on paper*

*10" x 14"*

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### Known to Herself (2026)

*ink and watercolour on paper*

*22"x 30"*

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### Green Fructose (2026)

*2025*

*10"x14"*

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### She Wolf (2026)

*ink and watercolour on paper*

*22"x 30"*

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### Sauvage (2026)

*ink and watercolour on paper*

*22" x 30"*

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### Skeleton Tree (2026)

*cyanotype on paper*

*12" x 18"*

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### Surrogate (2026)

*ink and watercolour on paper*

*22" x 30"*

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### Nest  (2026)

*cyanotype, ink, watercolour on paper*

*8" x 12"*

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### Living on seashells and ocean breeze (2026)

*ink and watercolour on canvas*

*22"x30"*

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### Swan Living (2026)

*ink and watercolour on canvas*

*22" x 30"*

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### Caravan Coat (2026)

*ink and watercolour on paper*

*22" x30"*

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### I'll make a fortune you say. The way geese fly in a v. (2026)

*ink and watercolour on paper*

*22" x30"*

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### My mother is a woman inside a woman. (2025)

*ink and watercolour on paper*

*10" x 14"*