ABOUT THE ARTIST
Chris Cowan is a multidisciplinary artist originally from Brooklyn, New York, raised in Toronto, and now based in the Ottawa Valley. She holds an MFA in Oil Painting from Kyoto City University of Arts in Japan and a BFA from NSCAD University, including a research residency at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana. She was awarded the prestigious Monbukagakusho Scholarship—a four-year grant from the Japanese government to study fine arts in Kyoto, Japan.
In addition to her studio-based practice, Chris regularly engages in public speaking and educational initiatives on AI technology in art. She is a member of the German-based Women in AI & Robotics, and in 2024 was an artist-in-residence at Rockland Woods in Bremerton, Washington. She teaches art privately and has exhibited her work internationally.
CURRICULUM VITAE
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
The ArtRemains Collective, 2024
Digital Arts Resource Centre, Ottawa, 2024
Women in Ai & Robotics, 2024
EDUCATION
Master of Fine Art - Oil Painting, Kyoto City University of Arts, Kyoto, Japan - 2012
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Interdisciplinary Studies, NSCAD University, Halifax, Canada - 2005
Research Residency, Kwame Nkrumah University College of Art, Kumasi, Ghana - 2004
RESIDENCIES
Artist in Residence, Rockland Woods, Bremerton, Washington, 2024
PRESENTATIONS/SCREENINGS
Resolutions - Digital Arts Resource Centre Member Screening, Arts Court Theatre, Ottawa, January 23rd, 2025
Eye on AI: AI and Creators - Provocation Ideas Festival 2024, Toronto Reference Library, June 3rd 2024
The New Media Show and Tell - The Khyber Centre for the Art, Halifax, 2004
Disapation - The Bella Muse, Halifax, 2004
Basic Sound Propaganda Machine, sound work played on CKDU 97.5, Halifax, 2001
GRANTS AND AWARDS
The Monbukagakusho Scholarship, 2008-2012
Ontario Council for the Arts Production Grant, 2008
The Mackenzie Fund Scholarship for Visual Arts, 2002
The Marguerite and Leroy Zwicker Fellowship for Visual Arts, 2002
The Effie May Ross Memorial Scholarship for Visual Arts, 2002
The William H. Williams Scholarship for Visual Arts, 2000
The Patrick West Art Scholarship for Visual Arts, 2000
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES
Private Art Teacher, Deep River, Canada, 2023-24
Head Festival Coordinator - Art Walk, Sarnia, Canada, 2012-13
Art Teacher - DOWN@Art, Kyoto, Japan, 2009-12
Registrar - Permanent Collection, Gallery Lambton, Sarnia, Canada, 2007-08
Video Art Curator, Gallery Lambton, Sarnia, Canada, 2007-08
Head Curator, The Lawrence House Centre for the Arts, Sarnia, Canada, 2005
Head Curator - Halifax Gay Pride 2004 – Fine Arts Show, Halifax, Canada, 2004
Coordinator of The North Street Drawing Circle, Halifax, Canada, 2003-04
Visitor Services, Dalhousie Art Gallery, Halifax, Canada, 2004
Docent, The Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Canada, 2000
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
DRLAC Art 2025, Deep River Public Library, Deep River, Canada 2025
$acred Motherhood, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago USA, 2025
Art 2023, Deep River Public Library, Deep River, Canada, 2023
ROE 2.0 - It Ain’t Over Yet!, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, USA, 2023
DRLAC Art 2022, Deep River Public Library, Deep River, Canada 2022
Celebrated Locals, Press Vinyl Cafe, Toronto, Canada, 2019
Mistletoe Magic, John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto, Canada, 2018
Foreign Arts, The Kyoto Arts Center, Kyoto, Japan, 2011
Locaten, The Kyoto City University of Arts, Kyoto, Japan, 2011
Sesakuten, The Kyoto City Municipal Museum, Kyoto, Japan, 2011
Foreign Arts, The Kyoto Arts Center, Kyoto, Japan, 2010
Locaten, The Kyoto City University of Arts, Kyoto, Japan, 2010
Frescoten, The Kyoto City University of Arts, Kyoto, Japan, 2010
Locaten, The Kyoto City University of Arts, Kyoto, Japan, 2009
Onon, The Kyoto City University of Arts, Kyoto, Japan, 2009
Sesakuten, The Kyoto City Municipal Museum, Kyoto, Japan, 2009
Foreign Arts, The Kyoto Arts Center, Kyoto, Japan, 2008
Locaten, The Kyoto City University of Arts, Kyoto, Japan, 2008
Canatara Creations, Energy Exchange, Sarnia, Canada, 2007
Native Plants Garden, Energy Exchange, Sarnia, Canada, 2007
Art Walk, Sarnia, Canada, 2007
Ero-tica, Andrómeda Gallery, San Jose, Costa Rica, 2007
Pride Show, The Khyber Centre for the Arts, Halifax, Canada 2004
Foreign Arts, The Kyoto Arts Center, Kyoto, Japan, 2002
NSCAD Printmaking Show, The Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax, Canada, 2002
Arts Initiative, The Y Arts Centre, Toronto, Canada, 2002
Introductions, The Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Halifax, Canada, 2001
Vigor and Vim, The Praxis Gallery, Toronto, Canada, 2000
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
Invocations, Kyoto City University of Art, Kyoto, Japan, 2012
安定≥安らき, Kyoto City University of Art, Kyoto, Japan, 2010
Phantasmagoria, Gallery Lambton, Sarnia, Canada, 2008
Little Girls Love Animals, Collaborative project with Jenna Ross,
Venus Envy, Halifax, Canada, 2007
Cityscapes, Black Water, Sarnia, Canada, 2007
Heart Break Café, The Moon Bean, Toronto, Canada, 2006
Recent Works, Alternative Grounds, Toronto, Canada, 2006
Bedroom, The Khyber Centre for the Arts, Halifax, Canada, 2004
Hiroshima, The Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax, Canada, 2004
We Are Lost, Collaborative project with Jen Marchand, The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana, 2004
I Need, The Khyber Centre for the Arts, Halifax, Canada, 2003