About

Valerie Durant (BFA MA) is a Canadian interdisciplinary visual artist based in Vancouver, B.C., was born, lives and works on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

Valerie Durant’s interdisciplinary art practise engages with found objects and melds photography, sculpture and spatialized sound, centred upon a contemplative, daily ritual of deep connection with nature. Within her practice she explores the seemingly invisible inter-connectivity and reciprocity between humans and the natural world, working broadly on topics of social and climate equity and sustainability, exploring concepts of regeneration and continuum. Her practise involves the observation of life cycles in nature, using ice, natural materials and recycled paper which have minimal impact on the ecosystem.

Linking the past and future with the present, exploring the concepts of regeneration and continuum, while conveying impermanence and ephemerality is integrated in her practice.

Her work has been exhibited in galleries and art institutions and held in public and private collections locally and internationally.

She received her BFA (2002) from Emily Carr University and attended Cooper Union in NYC. She received an award of distinction for her MA in Planning (2012) from the School of Engineering & Built Environment at University of Pretoria, South Africa, completing her thesis on the topic, Sustainable Urban Agriculture and Forestation: The Edible Connected City, while developing policy to reduce GhG emissions for the UK Government. She attended Langara College and holds a Diploma in Design Formation.

In 2020, she received a Canada Council (CC) Digital Originals award for Silence of the Sea https://vimeo.com/463659233/5c95fb1d0e

Solo exhibitions include Points & Perforations, for which she received a Canada Council (CC) New Media Award, resulting that explored the social and economic dynamism of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside through sound, architecture and photography. In 2021 she received a CC Research and Create Grant completing Invisible Rivers, initially exhibited at the GPAG. Group exhibitions include Looped, at Artemisia, Chicago and The Well, at the Surrey Art Gallery. The Well is held in the SAGAL permanent collection. Durant conceptualized and co-curated Out of the Rain: A Project for Homelessness a collaborative initiative, engaging with community and arts organizations,, creating awareness about homelessness in Vancouver. She has exhibited, led workshops and events during the Capture Photo Festival from 2016 to 2025. In 2024, she received a CC Award and she is currently researching, the mycelium network in a project she has titled, Understory: The Hidden Connection.

CONTACT|vdurant@gmail.com

Studio 10 1265 Howe Street

INSTAGRAM|Valeriedurant.art

BLUESKY|

@valeriedurant-art.bsky.social

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