• Barbara Elizabeth Mercer:
  • Portrait Of The Artist.

The painter Barbara Elizabeth Mercer , born in Galt, Ontario, had her first exhibition in 1962. Her subsequent career took her to New York and San Francisco for a time, then back to Toronto, where she worked with the Canadian Opera Company, the CBC, the National Ballet of Canada, the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, and TV Ontario.

By the late 1970's she was painting full time. In the 1980's her work was strongly influenced by her experience among the glacial moraines of the Caledon Hills, just north -west of Metropolitan Toronto, a retreat she called Spirit Pond. Today she lives and works in Old Cabbagetown.
Though Barbara works primarily in acrylics, egg tempera, pen and ink, mixed media, she is also an accomplished printmaker, sculptor, music composer, writer and poet.

Memberships

  • Canadian Authors Association
  • Canadian Poetry Association
  • World Poets
  • Canadian Artists Representation, Ontario
  • Canadian Artists Representation Copyright Collective
  • The Arts and Letters Club of Toronto
  • The Canadian Portrait Academy

Mercer Collectors

  • Public Collections
  • The University Of Toronto Art Center
  • The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa
  • Corporate Collections
  • Imperial Oil
  • Private Collections
  • Canada, USA, Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, Ireland and Mexico City.

Exhibition Highlights

  • 2004 - Summer Juried Exhibition: Arts & Letters
    2004 - Shadow Box Auction: Arts & Letters
    2004 - Small Works Exhibition: Arts & Letters
    2004 - Small Works Auction: John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto
    2001 - University of Toronto Faculty Club
    1999 - University of Toronto Faculty Club
    1994 - The Thames Art Gallery, Chatham Cultural Centre
    1994 - The Art Gallery of Peel, Brampton
    1993 - The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa
    1990 - The College of Family & Consumer Studies, University of Guelph
    1990 - University of Guelph , Faculty Club
    1989 - The Madison Gallery, Toronto
    1987 - The Madison Gallery, Toronto
    1981 - The Bau-XI Gallery, Toronto

International Group Exhibition Highlights

  • 2003 Biennale Internazionale Dell¹Arte Contemporanea, Citta di Firenze
    2003 R.J. Page Fine Art Gallery, Camelford, Cornwall, UK
    2003 Canadian Portrait Academy, Ajax, On Canada
    1991 Autumn Exhibition of The Scandinavian Shield, Arkus, Karlsvic, Sweden
    1963 The Soul Gallery, New York, N.Y., U.S.A.
    1963 The Greenwich Village Art Exhibition, New York, N.Y., U.S.A.
    1991 - Autumn Exhibition of The Scandinavian Shield, Arcus Karlsvic, Sweden - Invitational
  • 1963 - The Soul Gallery, New York, N.Y.
    1963 - The Greenwich Village Art Exhibition, New York, N.Y.

Film

  • 1981 -"The View From Vinegsr Hill" CBC Production. A film on Barbara's work/shown nationally and internationally

Books

  • 1997 - HOME TRUTHS A Celebration Of Family Life By Canada¹s Best
    Loved Painters - Author - Joan Murray
    ISBN 1-55013 - 882 - 0 Plate 116 Page 145
    SHIP'S WHEEL MOON

    1997 - TORONTO WOMEN
    Changing Faces 1900 - 2000
    Eastend Books, Toronto
    ISBN 1-896973-04-3
    Barbara Elizabeth Mercer - Portrait of The Artist AS A Young Woman - Page 10

    1993 - DREAMS OF THE NIGHT
    Paintings By Barbara Elizabeth Mercer - Exhibition Catalogue
    Joan Murray, Essay, Joel Siegel, Essay
    Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa
    ISBN 0-921500-38-6

Poetry

  • 2004 - EXPLORERS
    A Collection of Contemporary Literature
    ISBN 81-8253-018-0 First Edition: 2005
    Cyberwit.net
    Allahabad-211004 (U.P.) India
    MEXICAN BUTTERFLY - Author - Barbara Elizabeth Mercer - Page 27

    2004 - NEW PEGASUS
    An Anthology of World Poetry
    ISBN 81-8253-003-2
    Cyberwit.net
    Allahabad-211004 (U.P.) India
  • THE HOUSE ON CHESTNUT PARK - Author - Barbara Elizabeth Mercer - Page 16

    2003 - THE COLORS OF LIFE
    International Library of Poetry, USA
    ISBN 0-7951-5239-6
    Anthology
    REUNITED IN MYTH - Author - Barbara Elizabeth Mercer - Page 108
  • 2003 - THE BEST POEMS AND POETS OF 2003
    International Library of Poetry, USA
    ISBN 0-7951-5245-0
    Anthology
    MEXICAN BUTTERFLY - Author - Barbara Elizabeth Mercer - Pages 2 and 3
  • 2003 - CELEBRATE
    ! Poets Speak Out
    Spring 2003
    Anthology
    Creative Communications Inc. - Logan, Utah, USA
    MY HEART SINGS - Author - Barbara Elizabeth Mercer - Page 2-3

    2003 - SYMPHONIES - Anthology
    Cyberwit.net
    India ISBN 81-901366-3-1
  • INNOCENCE TO DREAM - Author - Barbara Elizabeth Mercer - page 36
  • "Home Truths A Celebration of Family Life by Canada's Best Loved Painters" Author Joan Murray
  • "Dreams of The Night" Paintings by Barbara Elizabeth Mercer
    Essays by Joan Murray and Joel Siegel
  • "Toronto Women" Changing Faces 1900 - 2000
    Photo and Biography of Barbara Elizabeth Mercer- Eastend Books

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