Vanessa Lam investigates the dynamics of form, space and the unconscious through collage and mixed media painting. She refers to Abstract Expressionism in her work through gesture and automatic painting. Her action-oriented process involves a balance between chance and control. Although her mark making may appear random, Vanessa loosely directs paint through the immediacy of her brushwork and use of non-traditional painting tools. This spontaneity translates into her collage process. It engages her to instinctively respond to materials for shape, texture, line and colour. At the same time, the element of juxtaposition in collage allows Vanessa to create contrast through the placement of paint and the variance of her mark making. It is the fluid movement between chance and control that attracts her to examine both disciplines.

Vanessa Lam lives and works in Vancouver, British Columbia as a mixed media painter. She was awarded the Vancouver Regional Award and Grand Prize Award for the 2017 Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series. Her work was also selected to be in recent issues of Create Magazine and Uppercase Magazine, and she has exhibited and sold her work at various community venues and public galleries in the Lower Mainland. Vanessa recently completed a one month residency at Takt Kunstprojektraum Artist Residency in Berlin, Germany.

Vanessa-Lam-Just-Of-Out-Of-Grasp-16x16-Online-Art-Galleries

Just Out Of Grasp

2017
Mixed media on wood panel
16” x 16”
Unframed
$900

Vanessa-Lam-Looking-for-the-silver-lining-30x22-Online-Art-Galleries

Looking For The Silver Lining

2017
Mixed media on paper
30” x 22”
Unframed
$900
ON HOLD

Vanessa-Lam-The-Dilemma-30x22-Online-Art-Galleries

The Dilemma

2016
Mixed media on paper
30” x 22”
Unframed
$900.00
ON HOLD

Vanessa-Lam-Clarity-30x22-Online-Art-Galleries

Clarity

2017
Mixed media on paper
30” x 22”
Unframed
$900.00
ON HOLD

Vanessa-Lam-Being-There-30x22-Online-Art-Galleries

Being There

2017
Mixed media on paper
30” x 22”
Unframed
$900.00
ON HOLD

EDUCATION

2010- 2012
Continuing Studies, Emily Carr University of Art and Design, Vancouver, BC
1993-1998
Bachelor of Science, Dietetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2019 A Handmade Night, Ian Tan Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2018 There is Another Sky, Openhouse Gallery, New York, USA
2017 Studio Series, Gam Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2015 Scrapyard Chronicles, Place des Arts, Coquitlam, BC
2015 Scrapyard Chronicles, Deer Lake Gallery, Burnaby, BC

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2019 Expeditions, Art Rental & Sales operated by Vancouver Art Gallery, Kafka’s, Vancouver, BC
2017 Bombay Artisan Series Final, Scope Miami Beach, Miami, USA
2017 Bombay Artisan Series, Winsor Gallery, Vancouver, BC, Juried Exhibition
2017 Let Go: Summer A.I.R. Group Show 2017, Kunstraum Tapir, Berlin, Germany
2015 Re:Semblance, Ferry Building, West Vancouver, BC, Juried Exhibition
2014 Mixx, Emily Carr University Concourse Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2014 Discovery: Air Exhibition, Seymour Art Gallery, North Vancouver, BC, Juried Exhibition

AWARDS AND RESIDENCIES

2019 Artist in Residence, Gordon Smith Gallery, Paradise Valley Summer School of Visual Art, Squamish, BC
2017 Vancouver Regional & Grand Prize Winner, Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series
2017 Artist Residency, Takt Kunstprojektraum, Berlin, Germany

SELECTED MEDIA & BIBLIOGRAPHY

Portia Priegert, “A Handmade Night – Vanessa Lam’s interest in words and writing informs her latest abstract paintings”, Galleries West Magazine online. October 2, 2019. https://www.gallerieswest.ca/magazine/stories/a-handmade-night/
Danielle Krysa, “Vanessa Lam,” The Jealous Curator, online. June 11, 2018.

Daria Zlobina, “Artist Vanessa Lam Discusses Art Collaboration with Bombay Sapphire and Artsy,” Art Versed, online. June 6, 2018. http://www.artversed.com/vanessalam-bombay- sapphire-artsy-collaboration/
“Sculpture/Volume: What is the intersection of sculpture and volume?”, Uppercase Magazine, Vol. 44 Jan 2020. Print.
Special Feature. Canadian Art Magazine. Spring 2018. Print
Create! Magazine. Vol. 4 May 2017. Print

LECTURES

2019 Artist Talk, University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC
2018 Artist Talk: Artist Salon Series, Richmond Art Gallery, Richmond, BC
2017 Artist Talk: Studio Series, Gam Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2016 Artist Talk: Hot Talks- Eastside Culture Crawl 2016, Hot Art Wet City Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2015 Artist Talk: Scrapyard Chronicles, Deer Lake Gallery, Burnaby, BC