Kara Hamilton (b. 1967, Toronto, Ontario, Canada) explores the agency of material using mostly found or discarded matter. She works in a variety of mediums: sculpture, drawing in two and three dimensions, and jewelry. With a background in visual art, design, and architecture, Hamilton’s works live at the intersection of these disciplines, decontextualizing materials and forms in order to create new spatial narratives. She often begins her making process by thinking about design parameters, such as space and utility, and applies these concepts to unexpected materials. As a result, what Hamilton calls “critical decoration” questions what we consider to be intrinsic material value.
Hamilton received her BFA from Concordia University in 1989, her Bachelor of Architecture from the University of British Columbia in 1993, and her MFA from Yale University in 1999. She has exhibited nationally and internationally at spaces such as MKG127, Toronto (2019); Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art, Winnipeg (2017); EFA Project Space, New York (2016); Tate Liverpool, Liverpool (2015); Kunstverein Amsterdam, Amsterdam (2014); Front Gallery, Houston (2013); Taut and Tame, Berlin (2013); Salon 94, New York (2012); and the Art Gallery of Mississauga, Mississauga (2012). In 2018, she had a solo exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ontario entitled Water in Two Colours. Hamilton is also the co-director of Kunstverein Toronto. She lives and works in Toronto.
CV
Born in 1967, Toronto, Canada
Lives and works in Toronto, Canada
Education
1999
M.F.A in Sculpture, Yale University School of Art, New Haven, USA
1993
Bachelor of Architecture, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
1989
B.F.A, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
Solo Exhibitions
2019
Nothing is Wild, Cooper Cole, Toronto, Canada
2018
Water in Two Colors, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Canada
2017
Character Witness, Queen Specific, Toronto, Canada
2016
SAFE, Cooper Cole, Toronto, Canada
Wane Awareless and Lifted, G Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2012
Gift. Provenance: unknown, Salon 94, New York, USA
2003
Prototypes for New Landscapes, General United, Brooklyn, USA
2002
Lost Reception, Art Lot, New York, USA
“What More Do You Know Joe”, Siegel House, Marfa, USA
2001
6’ Under, White Box, New York, USA
2000
Waiting for Celebrity (public video installation), Ally, London, England
1999
Ant, Onward, Paris, France
Select Group Exhibitions
2019
Somebody, MKG127, Toronto, Canada
Vanishing Act, Halsey McKay Gallery, East Hampton, NY
2017
Sandra Meigs in Context, AGO, Toronto, Canada
STAGES: Drawing the Curtain, Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art, Winnipeg, Canada
Homestead, Carl Louie, London, Canada
Nasty, Daniel Faria Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2016
Art Toronto, Cooper Cole, Toronto, Canada
Accompaniment, EFA Project Space, New York, USA
2015
River Crossings, Thomas Cole House, Catskill, USA
Off the Shelf, Tate Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
2014
Where Were We, Kunstverein, Amsterdam, Holland
2013
Trim, Front Gallery, Houston, USA
Can Cats Talk to Dogs in their Own Way, Taut and Tame, Berlin, Germany
2012
Genius Loci, Mississauga Art Gallery, Toronto, Canada
The Haberdashery, Eric Firestone Gallery, East Hampton, USA
Material, By Duro Olowu, Salon 94, New York, USA
2011
Waiting Ground, Kate Werble Gallery, New York, USA
2009
We’re all gonna die, Sue Scott Gallery, New York, USA
We’re all gonna die, Number 35 Gallery, New York, USA
2008
Design and Art Armory Show, New York, USA
2007
Crown Jewels, Salon 94 Freeman, New York, USA
Holiday Reading, Number 35, New York, USA
2006
Could Have Been the Weather, Tatar Gallery, Toronto, Canada
WallpaperLab, Lennon Weinberg Gallery, New York, USA
2004
Nothing Compared to This: ambient, incidental and new minimal tendencies in current art, Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, USA
Working Editions: An Exploration of Art and Function, “Wallpaper”, Fine Art in Space, New York, USA
Forest, by Paula Hayes with outdoor “Wallpaper” by Kara Hamilton, Salon 94, New York, USA
2003
Morning Call, by Katy Grannan with “Wallpaper” by Kara Hamilton, Salon 94, New York, USA
2002
Loving El Paso, Terlingua House Projects, Alpine, USA
2001
Untilted, Haggerty Gallery, Dallas, USA
2000
Non Stop Beautiful Ladies, curated by Steffen Boddeker, Marfa, USA
1999
Dog Show, curated by Steffen Boddeker, Marfa ,USA
1998
Big Deal, curated by Steffen Boddeker, Marfa, USA
Publications
2019
Art Forum, Critics’ Picks, “Water in Two Colours”
2017
Border Crossings, issue 144, “STAGES: Drawing the Cutain”
Momus, Online
Hyperallergic, Online
Canadian Art, Studio Visit Online Video
2016
esse “Wane Awareless and Lifted” by Alex Bowron
BOMB “Accompaniment” by Charity Coleman
TK-21 “Accompanying Our Own Past” by Jae Wook Lee
2015
New York Times “River Crossings” by Daniel Van Benthuysen
Old Gold (catalogue)
2014
Art Forum “Kara Hamilton, Christine Roland with Angie Keefer. Shoes by Steffie Christiaens” by Robert Jan Muller
2012
Metalsmith vol.32 “Kara Hamilton- Gift: Provenance Unknown” by Rosanne Raab
Wall St. Journal profile
2009
The Compendium Finale of Contemporary Jewellery Makers
Cologne: Darling Publications
New York Times Magazine
2007
New York Times
2004
Art Forum “Nothing Compared to This”
2003
Vogue Magazine
2001
Lundy issue 2
Art Nexus no.39
2000
Lundy issue 1
Awards
1999
Barry Cohen Prize
Public Collections
Metropolitan Museum of Art, Library Collection, New York, USA
AGO, Toronto, Canada