How To Be An Artist In The World with Wendy Welch

Opus Resource Library

"I wanted to make a school where people can learn about contemporary art, but also learn basic techniques and things, and not to be afraid of contemporary art."

– Wendy Welch

In this episode of Living A Creative Life, we talk with artist & educator, Wendy Welch.

Wendy Welch is a Victoria-based artist whose practice includes drawing, painting, sculpture, installation, art writing and curatorial work. She's had solo exhibitions at the Southern Alberta Art Gallery, the Richmond Art Gallery and Open Space, and has been included in group shows in Montreal, Calgary, Portland and Los Angeles.

In 2004, she founded VISA, the Vancouver Island School of Art, a post-secondary accredited learning community dedicated to the advancement of art education through comprehensive programs for adults of all ages.

In today's episode, we caught up with Wendy Welch to discuss why everyone needs art in their life, and her journey to where she is today, making an integral contribution as an artist to society.

The classroom at VISA.

A presentation at the VISA gallery.

Wendy Welch's Bio

Wendy Welch is a Victoria-based artist with a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Victoria and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Concordia University in Montreal. Wendy also completed a year of graduate work at California State University, Los Angeles. Her art practice includes painting, drawing, collage and installation. Wendy had solo exhibitions at the Southern Alberta Gallery, Richmond Art Gallery, Open Space and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and her work has been shown in Los Angeles, Portland, Montreal, Vancouver and Victoria. She has also written articles for publications such as Border Crossings and Canadian Art and was the art writer for a a Victoria weekly, Monday Magazine, from 2000-2007.

Wendy has taught at the Victoria College of Art, the University of Victoria and Camosun Collage. Wendy is Executive Director of the Vancouver Island School of Art, an independent post-secondary institution located in Victoria BC, which she founded in 2004.