Biography

Yvette Cenerini is a franco-manitobain visual artist who lives and works in Winnipeg Canada. Before obtaining her BFA at the University of Manitoba, she studied psychology, zoology and education, which gave her a detailed understanding of both animal and human behaviour. The complexities and intimacies of interspecies relationships has been a recurring theme in all of her work, and provided the conceptual foundation for Émouvoir, her first solo exhibition. Émouvoir was composed of a series of digital collages that challenged the viewer to question the nature of emotions, the role our species plays in the animal hierarchy and to recognize the urgent need to be mindful of each other and the creatures with which we coexist.  Her most recent work expands this consideration of empathy to include issues relating to animal extinction and the theory of evolution.  Cenerini’s work has been included in several group shows across Manitoba.  She has received grants from the Manitoba Arts Council and the Winnipeg Arts Council.

Artist Statement

Fascinated by the beauty and mystery of animals, intrigued by the theory of evolution and consumed by the regretful nature of extinction, I often question the role our species plays in the animal hierarchy.  The animal nature of humans and the humanity we connect to in animals are recurring themes in my work.  Humans seek to differentiate themselves from other animals, not willing to fully admit that they themselves are animals.  However, Science has been finding it increasingly difficult to ascertain tangible differences between animals and humans. We can no longer ascribe the use of tools, nor language, nor culture, nor self-awareness as being the elements that differentiate “us” from “them”.  A relatively recent interest in the emotional capabilities of a number of species has also come into play.

SOLO EXHIBITION

  • 2014 ÉMOUVOIR. La Maison des artites visuels francophones, Saint-Boniface, Manitoba

UPCOMING GROUP EXHIBITION

  • 2015  Survivance II. La Galerie, Centre culturel franco-manitobain, Winnipeg, Manitoba

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

  • 2014  Behind the Scenes: Mothering Children of Performance.  MAWA artist Mothers Group Show, Piano Noble Gallery, Centennial Concert Hall, Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • 2014  MAWA Member’s Showcase: The Power of 30.  Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
  • 2014 Survivability II. Portage & District Arts Centre, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
  • 2014  Mothering on the Fringe: MARCC Pop-up exhibition. The Winnipeg Fringe Theater Festival, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
  • 2014 Winter Mothering. MAWA Artist Mothers Group Show, Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art, Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • 2013 YOUtopia: The Best Place to Live Ever! Art Slam 2013 slide exhibition. De Young Museum – Koret Auditorium, San Francisco, California
  • 2013 Art + Body: See Me Hear. Saint-Boniface Library, St.-Boniface, Manitoba; Winnipeg Art Gallery – Eckhardt Hall, Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • 2013 Ceci n’est pas une photo. PLATFORM Member’s Exhibition, PLATFORM Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • 2013 the stuff of mothering. MAWA Artist Mothers Group Show, Arts Junktion, Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • 2013 Daily-ness. MAWA Artist Mothers Group Show, Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art, Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • 2012 Survivability. MAWA Foundation Mentorship Program Showcase, Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art, Winnipeg, Manitoba; Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba – Community Gallery, Brandon, Manitoba
  • 2012-13 Art + Body: The Possible, Improbable and Everything Inbetween. Arts and Disability Network Manitoba, Winnipeg Art Gallery – Eckhardt Hall, Winnipeg, Manitoba; Piano Nobile Gallery, Centennial Concert Hall, Winnipeg, Manitoba

GRANTS

  • 2013 Manitoba Arts Council, Aboriginal Arts Creative Development
  • 2013 Winnipeg Arts Council, Individual Artists Grant “B”

PEER ASSESSMENT PANELS

  • 2014 Manitoba Arts Council, Aboriginal Arts Creative Development
  • 2014 La Maison des artistes visuels, 2015-16 Programming Selection Committee

PUBLIC TALKS AND PROJECTS

  • 2014 L’expression des passions, Nuit Blanche, La Maison des artistes visuels francophones, St-Boniface, Manitoba, September
  • 2014 Artist Talk, ÉMOUVOIR, La Maison des artistes, Saint-Boniface, MB, October 11
  • 2014 Artist Talk, The Soapbox Series – A Series of Events Focused on Accessibility and the Arts in Manitoba, Arts and Disability Network Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, October 8
  • 2013 Artist Talk, See Me Hear, Arts and Disability Network Manitoba, St. Boniface Library, St. Boniface, MB, September 22

EDUCATION

  • 2010 University of Manitoba – Bachelor of Fine Arts
  • 2001 Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface – Bachelor of Education
  • 1999 University of Manitoba – Bachelor of Arts

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  • Foundation Mentorship Program with mentor Diana Thorneycroft – Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art, 2011-12
  • Advanced Digital Darkroom with Lisa Stinner – Martha Street Studio, fall 2012
  • Digital Darkroom with Larry Glawson – Martha Street Studio, winter 2012
  • The Art of Managing Your Career with Heather Bishop – Arts and Cultural Industries Association of Manitoba, Manitoba, 2011

RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE

  • Vice-President, La Maison des artistes visuels francophones  Since November 2014
  • Awards Committee Chair, Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art  Since January 2015
  • Board Member, Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art  Since July 2013
  • Teacher, Private Painting Lessons Winnipeg, MB  Winter 2009
  • Facilitator, Learning Through the Arts Winnipeg, MB  Spring session 2007
  • Visual Arts Specialist, École Précieux-Sang, Winnipeg, MB  2001-2006

PUBLICATIONS AND INTERVIEWS