CAROLLYNE YARDLEY is an interdisciplinary artist-researcher based on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən speaking peoples known today as the Songhees and Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) Nations. She holds an MFA from Emily Carr University of Art + Design and a BA in Art History from the University of Victoria. Her research-creation practice is informed by a years-long relationship with native and introduced urban animals whose territory includes her home.
Photo credit: Suzanne Wilkinson.
She is represented by Fazakas Gallery (Vancouver), Madrona Gallery (Victoria) and has exhibited across Canada, as well as internationally. In 2022, Carollyne was awarded a Governor General’s Gold Medal for her MFA thesis. Most recently, her art research has been published in Ecocene: Cappadocia Journal of Environmental Humanities and becoming-Feral, a print and digital publication creatively exploring the relations between humans/other-animals.
Yardley researches the ethology of grey squirrels and their links to human systems to speculate possible futures in hybrid human development through artistic practice. Humans living in urban spaces interact daily with nonhumans as cities spread out into the natural world and technology reshapes our existence. She began creating art and thinking with grey squirrels after an interspecies boundary was crossed when she held an injured squirrel in her hands. The intimacy of the encounter touched Yardley and evoked a desire to document her alliance to the squirrel through artwork—thus, Squirrealism was born. Squirrealism developed into a method of art-making that channels conceptual and material connections between species to think and make, sympoetically.
Yardley has garnered all levels of press in Canada, featured by Canadian Art Magazine, Border Crossings, The Globe and Mail, The National Post, CTV News, CBC Radio, and the covers of several books and magazines. She was also successful in maintaining her registered trademark Carollyne® after being subjected to an expungement proceeding by a large U.S. toy manufacturer.
#synanthropes #squirrealism #transgene #intuitiveinterspeciescommunication #collaboration #urbananimals #biodiversity #sympoiesis #kinship #animality #hybrid #anti-colonialism
Carollyne with doe and fawn. June 29th, 2018. Photo credit: Anonymouse.
EDUCATION
2021 MFA, Emily Carr University of Art + Design (Advisor: Dr. Randy Lee Cutler, Committee members: Dr. Natalie Loveless and Dr. Magnolia Pauker)
1997 BA (Psychology and Art History, Double Major), University of Victoria
AWARDS
2022 Governor General’s Academic Medal (Gold), Highest Academic Standing, Emily Carr University of Art + Design
GUEST SPEAKER
2023 “Squirrealism: Psychometry (IIC) in artistic practice.” [Online presentation] International Multispecies Methods Research Symposium, University of Saskatchewan, May 8-12.
2022 “Becoming-with Squirrel: A companion of thought.” HUMN 308-F091-2022, Studies in Illustration Genres (Characterization of Animals Relations) at Emily Carr University of Art + Design.
REPRESENTATION
Fazakas Gallery, Vancouver BC
Madrona Gallery, Victoria, BC
PUBLICATIONS
2023 Yardley, C. (2023, May 8-12). Squirrealism: Psychometry (IIC) in artistic practice. [Online paper] International
Multispecies Methods Research Symposium, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada, forthcoming.
2021 Yardley, Carollyne. “Eastern Grey Squirrel.” becoming-Feral: a book of beasts. Objet-a-Creative Studio, Glasgow, Nov. 2021, pp. 116-119.
2021 Yardley, Carollyne. Sympoetics of Squirrealism. 2021. Emily Carr University of Art and Design Library, MFA thesis.
2021 Yardley, Carollyne. “Holobionts: Making and Living through Squirrealism.” Ecocene: Cappadocia Journal of Environmental Humanities, vol. 2, no. 1, July 2021, pp. 109-17, doi:10.46863/ecocene.36.
SOLO & DUO EXHIBITIONS
2022 Becoming Plastic, Deluge Contemporary Art, Victoria BC (March 18 to April 16)
2017 Shapeshifting (with Rande Cook), Fazakas Gallery, Vancouver BC
2014 Ravenous (with Rande Cook), Alcheringa Gallery, Victoria BC
2013 Romancing the Squirrel, Apartment Gallery, Victoria BC
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022 The Show, MFA Graduate Exhibition, Libby Leshgold Gallery, Vancouver BC
2021 Becoming, Thesis Exhibition, Emily Carr University of Art+ Design, Vancouver BC
2021 Colours of Summer XII, Madrona Gallery, Victoria BC
2020 Living Room, Fazakas Gallery, Vancouver BC
2020 Colours of Summer XI, Madrona Gallery, Victoria BC
2019 Unstoppable, Winchester Galleries, Victoria BC
2019 Shape/Colour/Form, Winchester Galleries, Victoria BC
2018 Sole Train to Night Market, Fluevog Shoes, Victoria BC
2017 In the Mood for Love, Poly Culture Art Centre, Vancouver BC
2017 FIVE, Winchester Galleries, Victoria BC
2017 SHE-I-LA: Women, Art, and Production, Fazakas Gallery, Vancouver BC
2016 All Together is the Best Example, Fazakas Gallery, Vancouver BC
2016 Divergent Convergence, Fazakas Gallery, Vancouver BC
2016 Imaginary Friends, Open Space Arts Society, Victoria BC
2015 SHE: Diversity in Feminism, Fazakas Gallery, Vancouver BC
2015 Co-Mix Art, Martin Bachelor Gallery, Victoria BC
2015 Pride in Art: The Queer Truth & Nothing But, Fifty-Fifty Arts Collective, Victoria BC
2013 Difference and Repetition, Slide Room Gallery, Victoria BC
2013 #Strangelings: Paintings by Pixel Wizards, Massey Gallery, Victoria BC
2013 Curiouser: Contemporary Responses to Alice in Wonderland, Fifty-Fifty Arts Collective, Victoria BC
ART FAIRS
2018 Art Toronto, via Fazakas Gallery, Toronto ON
2018 Seattle Art Fair, via Fazakas Gallery, Seattle WA.
2018 Papier Montréal, via Fazakas Gallery, Montréal QC
2017 Art Toronto, via Fazakas Gallery; Toronto ON
2016 Art Toronto, via Fazakas Gallery; Toronto ON
PRINT MEDIA
2020 Yardley, Carollyne, and Rande Cook. Metamorphosis/Tlayilela Mask. Cover image. Exile Quarterly, vol. 43, no. 02, 2020.
2017 Walsh, Andrea, Ph.D. “KəˌlabəˈrāSH(ə)n Mask.” Exhibition text.
2016 Shrumm, Regan. “The Art of A. Banana Unpeeled.” Connecting a Collection, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria & Open Space. Image, pp. 20-21.
2013 Yardley, Carollyne. Squirrealism, ISBN 978-0-9919419-0-2.
2013 Coach House Books: Fall 2013 Catalogue. Cover Image.
2013 Focus Magazine. Vol. 25, no. 5 (Feb) Cover Image.
2012 Focus Magazine, Vol. 25, no. 3 (Dec). Cover Image.
2012 Monday Magazine, No. 3829 (July) Cover Image.
2012 Willey, Philip. Days in the Life. Ahndai Books. Image p. 13.
2012 Koubaa, Bart. De Brooklyn Club, Querido Publishing, Cover Image.
PRESS
2020 Newton, Steve. ” Unearthing: art by Valérie Chartrand, Robert Morris, Ben Oswald, Suzanne Paleczny, Jennie Vallis, Carollyne Yardley.” The Georgia Straight. Dec 11, 2020. Weblog.
2020 Grauer, Perrin. “The eerie objects and compositions are grounded firmly in reflections on the blurry boundary between the human and non-human worlds.” Emily Carr University of Art and Design. Nov 02, 2020. Weblog.
2020 “Art under lockdown: Vancouver art exhibitions entered around understanding change.” Curated Tastes. Oct 14, 2020. Weblog.
2020 Lederman, Marsha. “Covid-19 masks make meaningful, whimsical debuts at art galleries in Vancouver and Banff.” Globe and Mail. Oct 4, 2020.
2018 Walsh, Meeka. “Papier 18 | Editor’s Picks Day 2,” Border Crossings. Weblog.
2018 Herman, Pee-wee. “For Squirrel Appreciation Day, check out Carollyne Yardley’s squirrel art!” peewee.com. Weblog
2017 Slavens, Kerry. “Do Tell,” Yam Magazine Jan/Feb: pp 74. Print
2016 Balzer, David. “7 Best Bets for Art Toronto – Mask at Fazakas Gallery,” Canadian Art Magazine. Weblog.
2016 Landau, Emily. “The 10 most exciting artists to check out at Art Toronto,” Toronto Life. Weblog.
2016 Blazenhoff, Rusty, “Rusty’s Electric Dreams,” Inbox Zine. Weblog.
2016 White, Laurie. “Seriously Silly, Horse Heads and Flower Beards in the Work of Carollyne Yardley,” Analogue Magazine. Print.
2016 Wright, Andy. “From Portrait Painters to College Applicants, Squirrel Obsessives Through the Ages,” Atlas Obscura. Weblog.
2015 Lundy, Susan. “Secrets and Lives: Carollyne Yardley, Artist,” Boulevard Magazine. Print.
2015 Thomson, John. “Canadian Artist Goes Squirrely,” DZine Trip Design Magazine. Weblog.
2015 Blazenhoff, Rusty. “Banksy Squirrel Character with Mask by Carollyne Yardley,” Blazenfluff May 19. Weblog.
2014 Amos, Robert. “First Nations Art, meet squirrels,” (review) Time Colonist. Print.
2014 Cino, Kate. “Alcheringa Gallery presents Ravenous with Rande Cook and Carollyne Yardley.” Art Openings. Weblog.
2014 Willey, Philip. “Ravenous: Carollyne Yardley and Rande Cook,” Exhibit-V. Weblog
2014 Madden, Aaren. “Ravenous, Alcheringa Gallery,” (review) Focus Magazine. Print.
2014 Simcoe, Luke. “B.C. artist battles Mattel’s American Girl over trademark,” Metro News. Weblog.
2014 Fisher, Gavin. “B.C artist facing down Mattel in expensive copyright fight.” Globe and Mail. Weblog.
2014 McCulloch, Sandra. “Artist goes after U.S. giant Mattel over trademark to her own name,” Times Colonist. Print.
2014 Hopper, Tristin. “Toymaker Mattel fighting Canadian ‘Squirrealism’ painter Carollyne Yardley over trademark to her own name,” National Post. Print.
2014 Lus, Steven. “It’s Caroline vs. Carollyne in a fight at the Canadian Intellectual Property Office,” CBC News. Web log.
2014 Editorial. “Canadian Art Fights Mattel’s American Girl Over Trademark,” Huffington Post. Web log.
2014 Wahl, David. “Here’s an awkward family photo for the ages,” Archie McPhee’s Endless Geyser of AWESOME! Web log.
2013 Schlauch, Matthew. “#Strangelings: Paintings by Pixel Wizards,” Snap’d Magazine. Print.
2013 Willey, Philip. “Carollyne Yardley, Jose Brand and Paul Dowd at AGGV,” Exhibit-V. Weblog.
2013 Smart, Amy. “Creative process shines, digitally and otherwise,” (review) Times Colonist Print.
2013 Wahl, David. “Our recent post about Carollyne’s Saint Squirrel and Pope Pinenuts,” Archie McPhee’s Endless Geyser of AWESOME! Weblog.
2013 Lindsay, Teresa. “Revealing an Incredible Journey through Pop Surrealism,” Vic42.com. Weblog.
2013 Beneteau, Nicole. “Artists Take a Crack at Carroll Classic,” Nexus Newspaper. Print.
2013 Madden, Aaren. “The Unbearable Lightness of Squirrels,” Editorial. Focus Magazine. Print.
2013 Focus Magazine, Advertisement, Jan. pg. 13 Print.
2013 Threlfall, John. “Culture Goes Pop,” Editorial. Yam Magazine. Print.
2012 Willey, Philip. “Days in the Life,” Illus. by Carollyne Yardley, pg. 13, Ahndai Books. Weblog.
2012 Wahl, David. “Hey Look, It’s a Gingerbread Squirrel!” Archie McPhee’s Endless Geyser of AWESOME! Weblog.
2012 Green, MaryEllen. “Artist Is Nuts for Squirrels,” Monday Magazine.Print.
2012 Wahl, David. “As Many of You Probably Know by Now, We Have A Soft Spot for Squirrels | Archie McPhee’s Endless Geyser of AWESOME!” Weblog
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SELECTED TELEVISION, YOUTUBE, RADIO
2016 Johnson, Andrew. “Victoria artist wins trademark name fight,” CTV News. Television
2015 de Blois, Maude. “Paroles d’artists,” CILS.FM 107.9. Radio
2014 Quiroz, Efren. “Ravenous: Opening Reception,” Exhibit-V. Youtube
2014 Quiroz, Efren. “Interview with Carollyne Yardley & Rande Cook,” Exhibit-V. Youtube
2014 Stanton, Kylie. “Vancouver Island artist takes on U.S. toymaker over name,” Global News. Television
2014 Grieves, Chandler. “Victoria artist takes on toy giant,” CTV Vancouver Island. Television
2014 Rankin, Eric. “Mattel’s American Girl name fight,” CBC News. Television
2014 Off, Carol. “Canadian artist takes on giant toymaker Mattel,” As It Happens, CBC Radio
2014 Elgersma, Karen. “Victoria Whisky Festival, Society Squirrel Painting,” Shaw. Television
2013 Sawatsky, Adam. “#Strangelings: Paintings by Pixel Wizards,” CTV News. Television
CURATORIAL PROJECTS
2013 Yardley, Carollyne, “Strangelings: Paintings by Pixel Wizards.” Art Gallery of Greater Victoria’s Massey Gallery. Victoria, BC
2011 Yardley, Carollyne, “Never Dine Alone.” The Sculpture Studio, Victoria, BC. Weblog.
GUEST SPEAKER AND PANELS
2023 “Squirrealism: Psychometry in artistic practice” Interspecies communication action project: International Multispecies Methods Research Symposium, University of Saskatchewan, forthcoming.
2016 Guest Speaker. “Rande Cook (K’alapa) and Carollyne Yardley discuss collaboration,” Sidney Fine Art Show Opening Night, Mary Winspear Centre
2015 Guest Speaker. “Business of Art Workshop,” Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria, Victoria College of Art
2013 Guest Presenter. “Creating Squirrealism,” Studio 30, Les Passmore Centre
2013 Guest Presenter. “How animals influence my artistic practice,” Saanich Peninsula Arts and Crafts Society, Mary Winspear Centre
2012 Guest Speaker. “Art and Community.” PechaKucha, Volume 11, DIY Edition, Victoria Event Centre
2012 Artist in Residence, Massey Gallery, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Integrate Arts Walk
JURY PANEL
2014 Community Council of Greater Victoria, 15th Annual LOOK Show
2012 Victoria Emerging Art Awards, Emerging Art Gallery
SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY
2022 Present. Director, Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Society
2022 Present. Volunteer, Community Trees Matter Network
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
2023 Attendee. The Wildlife Society – BC Chapter & Canadian Section 2023. Joint Conference.
2023 Attendee. “Carceral Logics and Animal Law” Annual Lecture in Animal Rights Law and Policy, University of Victoria. Lecture by Justin Marceau, JD Sturm College of Law, University of Denver (USA).
OTHER WORK
2001–2013 Founder, Co-owner, Creative Director, Star Global Advanced IT Corp. Ltd.
Star Global was an award-winning agency of 5 staff serving over 700 clients throughout North America and an expert in: Interface Design & Web Development, Video Production, Content Development, Blogs & Social Media Networking, Programming & Web Application, Database Modelling, E-Business & E-Commerce, IT Consulting & Training, Hosting & Domain Registration, Outsourcing and Maintenance, SEO
1997–2001 Founder, Co-owner, Creative Director, IAIG Media Design
Produced award-winning websites that focused on provincial heritage and archaeological sites under contract to Industry Canada (Schoolnet, Canada’s Digital Collection Program). Proposal/Grant Writer, Project Manager, Content Provider, Graphic Designer, Content Liaison with BC Ministry of Education and BC Heritage, HTML, Video Production, Hiring and Training in HTML and Graphic Design.
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