Leesa Streifler: The Performance of Being presents a retrospective survey of the work of one of Canada’s leading feminist artists over the course of her 40-year career. The exhibition explores Streifler’s sustained interest in the representation, performance and politics of “Othered”, marginalized, and non-conforming bodies. Drawing on her own lived experience and informed by feminist theory, her powerful, emotionally-charged, and expressive works present figures that defy social conventions, behavioural ‘norms’ and traditional gender roles to engage in critical discourse on body-image, sexuality, agency, performativity, relationships, motherhood, illness and aging. Drawn from public and private collections nationwide, this survey brings together over one hundred works in drawing, painting, mixed media, photography and installation, exemplifying the significant contributions of Streifler’s critically-acclaimed practice towards feminist art in Canada.

Leesa Streifler received a BFA honours from the University of Manitoba and an MFA from Hunter College in New York. She taught in the Department of Visual Arts at the University of Regina for over 30 years influencing generations of art students. She has exhibited widely in Canada and internationally and has been the recipient of numerous grants and awards from SK Arts, Manitoba Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts. Her work is included in major public collections, including the National Gallery of Canada, Canada Council Art Bank, SK Arts, MacKenzie Art Gallery, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Dunlop Art Gallery and Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery. Streifler is passionate about feminism and art education, actively mentoring other artists through MAWA (Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art) in Winnipeg, MB.

Organized by the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery in partnership with the Nickle Galleries (Calgary, AB), Art Gallery of Swift Current (Swift Current, SK), Plug-In Institute of Contemporary Art (Winnipeg, MB) and Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba (Brandon, MB).

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MJM&AG acknowledges the funding support provided by the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage Museum Assistance Program, the City of Moose Jaw, SK Arts, Government of Saskatchewan, SaskCulture, Saskatchewan Lotteries and Canada Council for the Arts. Support for the exhibition is provided by the National Gallery of Canada.