My practice considers the impact of technology on the process of painting. In my ongoing Soft Body Dynamics series, twisting, tubular forms are systematically created using generative 3D modelling software. In a sort of automated line drawing technique, the software randomly generates a set number of splines per day, from which I select to create final compositions which are painted by hand using oil on canvas. By embracing new digital means of reading space and content, the works draw attention to the ever-changing relationship between the human body and digital technology.
The Soft Body Dynamics series is equally a formal investigation into abstraction. Computer assisted abstraction prompts inquiries surrounding the fundamental nature of the line, the stroke, the gesture, and the artist’s hand. Hinting at networked reality, abstraction reveals many underlying truths about life, about the logic and order of things. Similar to Mondrian’s conviction that the fundamental hidden rhythm of reality could be reduced to horizontal and vertical lines, my work insists that indeed, there is a rhythm, but it is utterly wiggly.
Since 2022 I have also been working on a series called the Gaze Paintings. In contrast to my regular working process, these paintings instead use data from eye-tracking software to directly visually map bezier curves. Eye tracking records subjective vision. In this case, my vision as I look upon canonical works by painters like Titian, Velázquez, Cabanel, and others. Throughout history, painterly tropes such as the reclining nude have been intensely tied to the male gaze. These works aim to subvert such traditions by mapping my own gaze and translating it into an abstract representation of viewership. By deepening visual pathways and penetrating beyond the flat surface of the picture plane, this process reveals some hidden internal logic unique to each work I gaze upon.
Born in Toronto ON, 1992
Lives and works in Montreal, QC
Education
BA (Honours Studio Specialization), University of Waterloo, 2015
Solo Exhibitions
2023
Museo Belvedere di San Leucio, Italy (forthcoming)
2022
Software, The Hole, NYC
NADA Miami (solo booth) with The Hole
2021
FLOW_STATE, Galleria Nicola Pedana, Italy
2020
Parallel Wilderness, Galerie AVE, Montreal, QC
Two-Person Exhibitions
2023
Vickie Vainionpää & Anselm Reyle, Future Gallery, Berlin (forthcoming)
2021
Digital Spirit, GR Gallery, NYC
Group Exhibitions (selected)
2023
Abstraction, Taymour Grahne Projects, London (forthcoming)
Cacotopia, Annka Kultys Gallery, London
2022
Selected Works from the Collection of Elizabeth Margulies, The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse, Miami, FL
Imagining Reality, Future Gallery, Berlin
Her, Fir Gallery, Beijing, China
Transobjectional, Patrick Mikhail Gallery, Montreal, QC
2021
Salto in Altro, Palazzo Monti, Brescia, Italy
Bio Tech, The Hole, NYC
Phase II, The Hole, East Hampton, NY
A Posteriori, Art Mur, Montreal, QC
New Visions, Vantage Art Projects
Fondation du MAC benefit auction, Musée d’Art Contemporain, Montreal, QC
2020
Turn on the bright lights, Galleria Nicola Pedana, Italy
Matériaux, WIP Gallery, Montreal, QC
Loading the virtual machine… Distance Gallery
Endless Summer, Galerie Sabine Bayasli, Paris, France
2019
Color & Form, Rauschenberg / Captiva Foundation, Florida
While supplies Last, Bellevue Arts Museum, Seattle, WA
(im)permanent collection, A+D Museum, Los Angeles, CA
Abstractions, Archive Contemporary, Montreal, QC
Selected Awards and Residencies
2023
The Fores Project, London (forthcoming)
2021
Palazzo Monti, Brescia, Italy
Canada Council for the Arts, Explore and Create Grant
Conseil des Arts et Lettres du Quebec, Explore and Create Grant
2019
Vermont Studio Center, VT
2017
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, AB, Louis Muhlstock Endowment
Permanent Collections
Collection of Elizabeth Margulies at The Warehouse, Miami
Palazzo Monti, Italy
Collection of Ernesto Esposito, Italy
X Museum, Beijing
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Articles and Reviews
2022
Bogojev, Saša. “How 6 Artists Are Intrerpreting the Digital Art Landscape” L’Officiel Magazine, November 30, 2022.
Hencz, Adam. “Between Human & Machine Interview with Vickie Vainionpää” Artland Magazine, November 20, 2022.
Hencz, Adam. “What is Generative Art? From seminal experiences to New Frontiers” Artland Magazine, September, 2022.
Feim, Alex. “Algorithmic painting in physical space: Vickie Vainionpää: Software & Siebren Versteeg: Up the Ghost” Battery Journal, June 20, 2022.
Ghassemitari, Shawn. “Vickie Vainionpää Uses Generative Code to Create Her Alluring Paintings" Hypebeast, May 13, 2022.
2021
Grayson, Emma. “BIO TECH: A Group Exhibition at The Hole in NYC’s Bowery” The Artist Workspace, December, 2021.
Bongiani, Sandro. “Vickie Vainionpää, FLOW_STATE at Nicola Pedana Gallery” Exibart, November 17, 2021.
Jeff. “Booooooom Featured Artist” Boooooooom.com, November 16, 2021.
Krysa, Danielle. “Featured Artist: Vickie Vainionpää’” TheJealousCurator.com, November 4, 2021.
Bogojev, Saša. “Digital Spirit: Bijijoo and Vickie Vainionpää @ GR Gallery” Juxtapoz.com, June 14, 2021.
Mothes, Kate. “Vickie Vainionpää: Soft Body Dynamics 40" SuperRare.com, March 30, 2021.
2020
Olson, Grady. “Artist Feature: Blending the natural and digital world with Vickie Vainionpää” GrossMag.com, September 28, 2020.
Bongiani, Sandro. “Exibart : Turn on the bright lights at Galleria Nicola Pedana” Exibart, December 15, 2020.
Farinotti, Rossella and Biancuzzi, Gianmaria. "The Colouring Book", MilanoArtGuide.com, August, 2020.