MARILYN S. MYLREA - BIOGRAPHY

Marilyn S. Mylrea was born in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. She lived in small mining towns in Ontario until moving to Vancouver, British Columbia at age 7. Her father was a geological engineer and the family sometimes travelled due to his work. Her mother was a nurse and homemaker. She has two sisters and one brother. She was educated and grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Ms. Mylrea is a Professional Artist with over 35 years of painting experience. She initially studied art at Langara, Vancouver Community College where she received a Fine Arts Diploma. She has three Art related degrees: a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a Major degree in Studio Art - Painting from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University, a Minor degree in Art History from N.S.C.A.D. and a Bachelor of Education degree in Art Education from the University of British Columbia. She is a Professional Art Teacher and has a Professional Teaching Certificate with the B.C. Teacher Regulation Branch as well as IB Teaching Certificates in Visual Arts. She worked at the Vancouver Art Gallery as a Tour Coordinator. She has travelled extensively around the world. This has greatly enhanced her knowledge of art and her understanding of diversified cultures.

Ms. Mylrea is a dedicated advocate of Arts Education. She taught Art History for two years at the Emily Carr University of Art and Design. Twice her students have won the Royal Canadian Legion’s Remembrance Day National Poster Contest when she taught at West Point Grey Academy school, and was colleagues with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

She was the Director/Owner of her own Art Gallery in Vancouver, B.C. for many years and represented well established and emerging contemporary Canadian artists. Her art is in Art Auctions in China.

Ms. Mylrea’s art has been shown in numerous exhibitions including the first “Artropolis” exhibition in l987 and the international show “Fear of Others, Art Against Racism” in 1989 which had art from 28 countries. Her work has been included in many reviews including the Globe and Mail, the Vanguard Magazine and the Canadian Art Magazine. Her painting “September 11th, The Day the Angels Cried – Hope” was chosen for the Cover of the American Spirit Seeker Magazine, September 2011 issue commemorating this tragedy. The French Newspaper La Source covered the exhibition “Harmony of Hues” in March 2011. Her art was included in the curated 2010 “Momentum” exhibition as well as in the Public Art Collection of the University of Victoria with the Coast Art Trust Society. Her solo exhibition “Tibetan Tribute” was shown on the French CBC TV News in 2004. This was an exhibition honoring the Dalai Lama’s visit.

Ms. Mylrea’s art was featured in the May, 2012 Canadian House and Home Magazine and in the Summer 2012 West Coast Home & Design Magazine as well as been shown twice in the Chinese Taste of Life Magazine in 2012. Ms. Mylrea had a solo exhibition in June, 2005 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre’s Art Gallery in Vancouver. The Westender Newspaper featured the Opening Reception of a group show entitled “Still Reflections”in an article by Celebrity Reporter Catherine Barr on February 22, 2007 which was attended by the Vancouver Canuck’s owner Francesco Aquilini and the philanthropist Frank Giustra. The Vancouver Lifestyles magazine featured her gallery in their November, 2005 issue in “The Scene” section for the Opening Reception of the group exhibition “Mellow Reflections”.

Ms. Mylrea’s work was represented internationally at the Evocative Arts Gallery in Palm Springs, California, U.S.A. and she was the only Canadian represented. Her art was included in the curated exhibition “Selections from the Coast Art Trust” at the North Vancouver Museum, Presentation House in January, 2007 and at the Evergreen Cultural Centre in 2009. Her painting on Vancouver Canuck’s goalie “Roberto Luongo – Number 1” was in a commentary of the Vancouver Sun Newspaper Sports section on September 15, 2007. Her art was featured on the French CBC TV show Zig Zag in
December 2007 for the show “Brilliant Days”. The Province Newspaper did a commentary for the show “Luminous Beauty” in Hans Ongsansoy’s “Great Things to Do” section on March 24, 2008. Her art was also included and sold in the Vancouver Art Gallery’s Art Rental and Sales Program. Ms. Mylrea donated a painting to the Vancouver General Hospital and U.B.C. Hospital Foundation and to the Canadian Cancer Society’s Daffodil Ball in April, 2012 as well as to many other admirable charity organizations.

Ms. Mylrea was especially honored to complete a commissioned painting for the famous First Nation’s master carver, Chief Beau Dick of his wonderful daughter entitled “Geraldine Dick”. Ms. Mylrea has been an invited guest at two potlatches in Alert Bay. Beau represented Canada in the Documenta 14 exhibition. She also did a special painting entitled “Jessica’s Heaven” which was in memory of 11 year old Jessica States, who was sexually assaulted and murdered in Port Alberni in l996. This painting was given as a gift to Jessica’s parents.

Her art richly represents spirituality and sensuality with its vibrant colours, expressive brushstrokes and dramatic imagery. She works diligently on her artistic visions striving to consistently explore and develop new depths of creativity. She is also a poet. Ms. Mylrea wrote a book entitled The Power of Divinity. She currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia. Ms. Mylrea has been deeply influenced by the beauty of this region with its wonderful sky, water and mountainous lush landscape, as well as the magnificent art of the northwest First Nations people.

EDUCATION:
2018 IB Diploma Programme Teaching Certificate -
Visual Arts
2018 IB Middle Years Programme Teaching Certificate -
Visual Arts

Bachelor of Education
1993-1994 First Class, University of British Columbia,
Vancouver, B.C.
1993 Professional Teaching Certificate with the British
Columbia Teacher Regulation Branch.

Bachelor of Fine Arts
1985-1986 Major - Studio Art and Minor in Art History,
N.S.C.A.D. University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1976-1978 Fine Arts Diploma, Langara - Vancouver
Community College, Vancouver, B.C.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:
2012 “Sweet Celebrations” with Robert Jess Marshall
(January – Feb. 2012) Marilyn S. Mylrea Art Gallery.
2010 “Visions of Unity”, Special Series for Olympics,
Feb. 12 - March 31, 2010, Marilyn S. Mylrea
Gallery.
“Momentum”, Coast Art Trust Society, Leighdon
Gallery, (February 2 - 27, 2010).
“Inspiration’s Illumination” with Robert Jess
Marshall, Jane Bronsch and Jonathan Lorne,
(November, 2009 to January, 2010) Marilyn S.
Mylrea Art Gallery.
2009 “Coast Art Trust Society – New and Recent
Works”, (April) Group Show, Evergreen Cultural
Centre.
2008 “Sweet Spring” with Robert Jess Marshall, Kurt
Stachow, Lawrence McCarthy, Zou Chaoyang, and
Dale Keys (April 25 to June 22, 2008) Marilyn S.
Mylrea Art Gallery.
2007 “Roberto Luongo - Number 1” painting (Sept./
Oct., 2007), Marilyn S. Mylrea Art Gallery.
“Still Reflections” with Tini Meyer, Robert Jess
Marshall, Librado Lee Anonuevo, Royden
Josephson, Susan Falk, Kurt Stachow and
Corlyn Cierman (Feb/Mar.) MSM Gallery.
“Selections from the Coast Art Trust”, (December
12, 2006 - January 28, 2007),
North Vancouver Museum, Presentation House.
2006 “Golden Radiance” with Robert Jess Marshall,
Librado Lee Anonuevo, Susan Falk, Tini Meyer,
Corlyn Cierman, Kurt Stachow, Rhonda Thurn, and
Janice Shingwaak. (September/October) Marilyn
S. Mylrea Art Gallery.
2005 Evocative Arts Gallery with Alfredo Arreguin, Paul
Bond Pesqueira, and Rose Rosendo, Grand
Opening December 2, 2005, Palm Springs,
California. U.S.A.
“Queen Elizabeth Theatre Art Gallery” Solo
Exhibition (June), Vancouver, B.C.
2004 “The Spirit Of Masks” with Beau Dick, Martin
Guderna, Gregg Simpson, Miriam Aroeste, Sherri
Booth, Rogue Murphy, Kal Opre, and Andrew
Tong (October/November) Marilyn S. Mylrea Art
Gallery.
2003 “Angelic Moments” (Dec.-Jan./04), Marilyn S.
Mylrea Art Gallery, Vancouver, B.C.
“Spiritual and Sensual Art” (Nov.) Inaugural
Opening, Marilyn S. Mylrea Art Gallery.
2001 Self Portrait Exhibition, “Artropolis”, Vancouver,
B.C.
1998 Howe Street Gallery, (Soul of Africa), Vancouver,
B.C.
1991 “Fantastic Visions”, Gallery Alpha, West Vancouver,
B.C.
1989 “Fear of Others”, Art Against Racism, An
International Exhibition, (September/October),
Vancouver, B.C. (Curated).
“In Celebration of International Women’s Day”,
Y.W.C.A. (March), Van. (Juried).
1987 “Artropolis”, Curator Marian Barling – Self-Image:
By The Artist, As The Artist, Vancouver, B.C.
(Curated).
“Homage to Marcel Duchamp”, Forest City Gallery,
London, Ontario.
1982 Robson Square Media Centre, (August and
January), Vancouver, B.C.
1981 Helen Pitt Gallery, Vancouver, B.C.

ART REVIEWS: Canadian Art Magazine
The Globe and Mail
Vanguard
North Shore News
The Vancouver Courier
The Vancouver Sun
The Province

MEDIA: Canadian House & Home, May 2012 and
Westcoast Home & Design, Summer 2012.
Chinese Magazine Taste of Life, 2012
Cover of American Spirit Seeker Magazine, 2011.
La Source – French Newspaper, Review of
“Harmony of Hues” by Tim Reinert, Mar. 8, 2011.
The Province, “Luminous Beauty” Mar.24, 2008,
Zig Zag, French CBC TV Dec.2007.
Westender Newspaper by Catherine Barr,
Celebrity Events Reporter, Feb. 22, 2007.
Shaw TV, January 11, 2007
Vancouver Sun, “Roberto Luongo - No. 1”, Sept.
15, 2007.
Vancouver Lifestyles, “The Scene”, Opening
“Mellow Reflections”, November, 2005.
“The Secret Garden”, French CBC TV News, July
23, 2004.
“Tibetan Tribute”, French CBC TV News, April,
2004.

EXHIBITION CATALOGUES AND BOOKS:
2021 The Power of Divinity by Marilyn S. Mylrea – Book.
2012 Art by Marilyn Susan Mylrea - Book.
2010 “Momentum”: 25 B.C. Artists /From Past to Present -
Exhibition Catalogue.
1989 “Fear of Others”, Art against Racism - Exhibition Catalogue.
1987 “Artropolis”- Self Image: By The Artist, As The Artist -
Exhibition Catalogue.
1987 “Homage to Marcel Duchamp”- Exhibition Catalogue.

COLLECTIONS: Private Collections locally, nationally and internationally as well as in the University of Victoria’s Public Art Collection in British Columbia and in Art Auctions in China.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

MARILYN S. MYLREA

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

My art is primarily about spirituality and sensuality. It also encompasses humanness, passion, justice, dignity, nature, peace and most importantly love. The spiritual represents the soul and the sensual represents physicality. I believe that these two realms must interconnect and unite positively together in order for the whole world to evolve. Art is a way for bringing these two forces together and demonstrating their mystical power. Therefore, I believe in the ultimate divinity of my art and the purpose that it serves which is to enlighten, to empower and to embrace the world at our highest level. I have been for many years exploring faces and figures. I am particularly intrigued by faces because they represent humanity. I am interested in the whole world of faces from all cultures and races because of their tremendous beauty and grace. I have also been fascinated by masks and the concept of illusion. The powerful mystery of the mask to hide and to enchant is richly enigmatic. I have been fortunate to have travelled extensively around the world and have therefore had the opportunity to visit many people and a vast range of cultures. Due to my own personal beliefs and respect for the divine, I have also developed angelic imagery and pursued mysticism. I want my art to be powerful, passionate and provocative so I like to use rich colours, expressive brushstrokes and dramatic imagery. I have also explored flowers, sky and water imagery as I am amazed by the beauty and sacred tranquility of these themes. Nature’s tenderness, expansiveness and powerful universality enriches and calms the soul. I have been greatly fascinated in developing my abstract landscape paintings and expanding various techniques with this subject matter. I like to layer and lift the oil paint onto the canvas while maintaining the beauty and purity of various colors, values and tones. I also completed a painting of the Vancouver Canucks’goalie entitled “Roberto Luongo - Number 1” because I was inspired by his dedication, calmness and inner strength. As well, I completed a painting on the Canucks’ forward entitled “Alexandre Burrows - Number 14” because I appreciate his determination and intense perseverance towards winning. I see myself as a painter, yet I enjoy all mediums of visual expression including mixed media. I am also a poet and love the expressions of this genre. I am very spiritual and wrote a book entitled The Power of Divinity. My life and art are a continual journey of exploring spirituality, sensuality, the raw powerful beauty of the bitter and the delicate fragility of the sweet, yet most importantly love and kindness. I believe that it is very important to always strive to see the beauty in the ugly, for everything is a gift from the Divine Universe and part of one’s spiritual growth. I will leave you with one of my poems:

The Artist’s Vision

Art fills my soul
from the waves of a sacred sea
dripping in sweetness and agony
shark’s blood falls, cutting my knees
the pain of another also wounds me
yet through the broken cracks
and twinkling breeze
a rosy sunset swims
colours dance, songs swirl, prayers breathe
reflecting death’s luminosity
for the tired soul, the blinded fool
the ancient mask
who crawl into soft, safe caves
while life’s waves flow on
kissing with wet passionate lips
licking the burning sand
flames rise in inspiration’s hands
an artist touches all
as lovers watch
the moon gently rocks
weep no more
the children of the divine are shining
angel’s wings flicker into the night
as a vision appears.