curriculum vitae
BARBARA COLE
Visual Artist (Photography)
Toronto, ON, Canada
www.barbaracole.com | Instagram: @barbaracoleart
GALLERIES
Holden Luntz Gallery – Palm Beach, Florida, USA
Bau-Xi Photo – Toronto and Vancouver, Canada
Galerie de Bellefeuille - Montreal, Canada
BORN
Toronto, Ontario, 1953
ARTIST PROFILE
Toronto-based visual artist working primarily in photography. My practice explores time, identity, transformation, and the body through a materially engaged approach that combines historical photographic processes with contemporary digital techniques. I create immersive photographic environments using custom-built sets, painted backdrops, costume, and controlled lighting.
ARTISTIC TRAINING
Self-directed artistic training in photography and image-making developed through long-term experimentation, research, and professional practice since the early 1980s. Ongoing study of historical photographic processes, including wet collodion tintype, alongside underwater photography and contemporary digital imaging techniques. Professional development through work in editorial, fashion, television commercials, with a parallel sustained fine art practice.
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2026 PAINTING WITH A CAMERA, Bau-Xi Vancouver, Canada
2025 IMPERMANENCE, Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2025 SECOND GLANCE, Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2023 Pictures in the HALF-LIGHT, Holden Luntz Gallery, Palm Beach, Florida
2023 SOMEWHERE, Galerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal, Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, Canada.
2024 SHADOW DANCING, Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2023 MOVING PICTURES, The Lenticulars, Galerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal, Canada
2022 APPEARANCES, Galerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal, Canada
2022 BEAT, Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2022 BETWEEN FORMS, Pellas Gallery, Boston, MA, USA
2021 APPEARANCES, Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2020 VIRTUAL SHOW due to covid, Galerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal, Canada
2019 SURFACING, Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto & Galerie LeRoyer, Montreal, Canada
2019 SURFACING, Art Angels, Los Angeles, CA, USA
2018 MONOGRAPH 2018 Launch/Retrospective, Galerie LeRoyer, Montreal, Canada
2018 MONOGRAPH 2018 Launch/Retrospective, Contact Photography Festival, First Canadian Place, Toronto, Canada
2017 FIGURE PAINTING, Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2017 FALLING THROUGH TIME, Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver & Galerie LeRoyer, Montreal
2016 FALLING THROUGH TIME, Bau-Xi Photo, Toronto, Canada
2015 COUNTERPOINT, Rosenbaum Contemporary, Florida, USA
2015 MIROIR D’EAU/MEDITATIONS, Galerie LeRoyer, Montreal, Canada
2014 MIROIR D’EAU/MEDITATIONS, Bau-Xi Photo, Toronto, Canada
2014 DUPLICITY, Bau-Xi Photo, Toronto & Galerie LeRoyer, Montréal, Canada
2013 MONOGRAPH 2013 RELEASED
2013 UNDERWORLD, Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, Canada
2012 Two People Walking a Tightrope in an Ordinary Life Full of Extraordinary Moments, Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto & Galerie LeRoyer, Montreal, Canada
2011 CHROMATICS and WHITE NOISE, Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, Canada
2011 WHITE NOISE, Art Gallery of Grimsby, Grimsby, Canada
2010 CHROMATICS, Bau-Xi Photo, Toronto, Canada
2009 WHITE NOISE, Airspace Gallery, Toronto International Airport, Toronto, Canada
2008 WHITE NOISE, Gallery 345, Toronto, Canada
2007 PAINTED LADIES, Iris Gallery, Great Barrington, MA, USA
2006 UNDERWORLD, Iris Gallery, Great Barrington, MA, USA
2004 UNDERWORLD, CANADIAN EMBASSY WASHINGTON D.C.USA
2003 UNDERWORLD, CANADIAN EMBASSY TOKYO, JAPAN
2000 HUMAN|NATURE, Tatar|Alexander Gallery, Toronto, Canada
1998 TORONTO & JERUSALEM series, Luminous Gallery, New York, USA
1997 TORONTO & JERUSALEM series, Tatar|Alexander Gallery, Toronto, Canada
1995 Survivors in Search of a Voice, Woodlawn Foundation, Royal Ontario Museum and other venues
1994 THE IRIS PRINTS, Mira Godard Gallery, Toronto, Canada
1993 CIBACHROME/POLAROID TRANSFER SERIES, Jane Corkin Gallery, Toronto, Canada
1991 NEW COLOUR WORKS, Jane Corkin Gallery, Toronto, Canada
1989 DISTORTIONS, Jane Corkin Gallery, Toronto, Canada
1985 Hand Colored Works, Jane Corkin Gallery, Toronto, Canada
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2026 The Association of International Photography Art Dealers, AIPAD, New York
2026 SLUMBER PARTY, SPAO Photographic arts centre, Ottawa, Canada
2024/2025 ART MIAMI, Gallerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal, Canada
2023 WORKING WITH THE FIGURE, Bau-Xi Gallery, Canada
2022 ART MIAMI, Holden Luntz Gallery, Florida, USA
2022 THE EXTENDED RUNWAY, Holden Luntz Gallery, Florida, USA
2022 IMMERSED, Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, Canada
2022 Summer Preview, The White Room Gallery, The Hamptons, USA
2022 PHOTO LONDON, Holden Luntz Gallery Booth, London, England
2020ART MIAMI, Galerie de Bellefeuille, Florida, USA
2019 HER, Bau-Xi Vancouver, Canada
2019 ART HAMPTONS, Art Angels, LA USA
2018 NOX Contemporary Artspace, Tel Aviv, Israel
2018 ART TORONTO, Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2018 CURATORS SELECTION: Method, Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2018 PHOTO LONDON, London, England
2017 CONTEXT, Art Miami, Bau-Xi Gallery, Miami, USA
2016 CONTEXT, Art Miami, Bau-Xi Gallery, Miami, USA
2018 WATER WORKS, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton, Canada
2017 EXPOLAROID, Montelimar, France
2016 ART TORONTO, Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2015 GALLERY ARTISTS, Creutzberg|Van Dun, Netherlands
2014 SCOPE, Galerie LeRoyer, Miami Florida
2012 CONTEXT, Art Miami, Galerie LeRoyer, Miami, Florida
2011 WHEN NIGHT FALLS, Bau-Xi Gallery, Vancouver, Canada
2011 THIS IS PARADISE, Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, Toronto, Canada
2011 ART WYNWOOD, Galerie LeRoyer, Florida, USA
2010 7ème FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL de la PHOTOGRAPHIE de MODE, Cannes, France
2009 SHE WORKS HARD…., Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, Canada
2008 6ème FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL de la PHOTOGRAPHIE de MODE, Cannes, France
2008 TRAVERSE, Marcia Rafelman Fine Arts, Toronto, Canada
2007 5ème FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL de la PHOTOGRAPHIE de MODE, Cannes, France
2005 CHAIR AND SERIES, Meter Gallery, New York, USA
1997 2 X 30, Tatar|Alexander Gallery, Toronto, Canada
1992 LEGAL PERSPECTIVE: Selected Works from the Corporate Collection of Osler, Hoskin &Harcourt, the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Kleinberg, Ontario, Canada
1990-92 CHILDREN IN PHOTOGRAPHY: 150 Years, National Traveling Exhibition Canada
1990 THE PRESENCE OF PORTRAITS, Jane Corkin Gallery, Toronto, Canada
1990 CLOCHARD, Jane Corkin Gallery, Toronto, Canada
1990 L’AMOUR: A Celebration of Love, Portfolio Gallery, London, England
1990 CHICAGO ART Fair, BASEL ART FAIR, ART COLOGNE, Jane Corkin Gallery
1988 LOVERS, Jane Corkin Gallery, Toronto, Canada
1987 Contemporary Canadian Photography, Grimsby Art Gallery, Grimsby, Canada
1987 MULTIPLES, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Canada
1986 IMITATION OF LIFE, Gallery Quan, Toronto, Canada
1986 MASTERPIECES FROM THE GALLERY COLLECTION, Jane Corkin Gallery, Toronto, Canada
1986 TWELVE CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHERS, Watson Gallery, Houston, Texas, USA
DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE ARTIST
2011 “Barbara Cole.” Bob Barrett. Snapshot: The Art of Photography, II. Art TV, TVO and the Knowledge Network.
PUBLICATIONS
2023 — Between Worlds, teNeues Publishing House, Kempen, Germany
2018 — Barbara Cole: Underwater, Galerie LeRoyer, Montreal, QC, Canada
2013 — Barbara Cole: Underwater, Bau-Xi Gallery, Toronto, ON, Canada
RECENT AWARDS AND PUBLIC INSTALLATIONS
2023 Canada Arts Council, Research and Creation Grant
2023 Ontario Arts Council, Established Visual Artist Creation Projects
2022 Ontario Arts Council, Established Visual Artist Creation Projects
2022 Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance Grant
2019 Commitment to Service Award,(Mental Health Advocacy) Give an Hour, USA
2019 SWIM DRINK FISH AMBASSADOR, supporting clean water initiatives, Toronto Canada
2016 Prix de la Photographie Paris (PX3), People's Choice.
2013 London International Creative Competition, Short List, Duplicity
2010 Ontario Arts Council, Mid-Career Visual Arts Grant
2008 Grand Prize, le 6ème Festival International de la Photographie de Mode, Cannes, France
2008 Artwork Commission, Trump Hollywood, Florida, USA
2007 Artwork Commission, M. Lau Breast Cancer Centre, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Canada
1997 Artwork Commission, Manulife Insurance, Toronto, Canada
COMMISSIONS & PUBLIC INSTALLATIONS (Selected)
2009 — Toronto International Airport, Toronto, ON, Canada
2004 — Canadian Embassy, Washington, DC, USA
2003 — Canadian Embassy, Tokyo, Japan
2000 — Princess Margaret Hospital Breast Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa, ON, Canada
The Image Centre at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)
The Polaroid Corporation Canada and USA
The Winnipeg Art Gallery, Canada
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, USA
