Biography

Gillian Farnsworth grew up in Vancouver, B.C., where she trained as a visual artist. She graduated with honours from the studio art program at Capilano College in 1989, and continued on to Emily Carr College of Art and Design with a major in painting in 1992.

Gillian moved to Toronto in 1994 to study special effects make-up for film and television, starting a career that included make-up and body painting, props building, set construction and directorial debuts. Around the same time, Gillian formed TEMPERMETTLE with fellow artist, Rowena O’Connor. This interactive, sculptural installation collective exhibited across Canada for over a decade challenging audience interaction and conventional notions of space.

Gillian returned her focus to painting in 2004. She continues to reside in Toronto and work out of her studio in the Queen West gallery district.