Barrie Jones RCA is a Vancouver-based photo artist.

His practice focuses on the human figure as a site of complex personal and collective identities, and on the urban environment and its many intersecting layers of social, economic and personal histories. His “negotiated documentaries” oscillate between social documentary and directed fiction. Jones draws no clear distinction between the “naturally occurring” and the “arranged”, often engaging people to “play themselves” in his works. The works resulting from this approach display a compressed sense of narrative and a sense of the familiar. Engaged with what Jones calls social studies, his pictures expose multiple economic, political, and social arrangements, often using the figure as a display for ensuing vulnerabilities.

Jones has long been associated with Vancouver and the University of British Columbia, where he received his BFA, before spending several years in Ontario, where he received his MFA at York. He taught at York University before returning to British Columbia in the mid 90's where he was an instructor in photography at the University of British Columbia until 2021. In 2017, he was inducted into the Royal Canadian Academy of Art.

 

 

Selected CV

 
  • 2022

    Kelowna Art Gallery, look don’t look, Kelowna, BC

    2021

    AHVA Gallery, Vancouver Work, Audain Centre for the Arts, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

    2019

    Lights Out Space, Berlin Project II 1945-2019, Vancouver, BC. Selected Exhibition, Capture Festival

    2018

    Lights Out Space, PORTRAITS Y/Z, Vancouver, BC. Selected Exhibition, Capture Festival

    2015

    Crating Party, Popup exhibition to preview works being shipped to the National Gallery of Canada, Vancouver, BC

    Organhaus, Traces of Histories, with Phillip McCrum, Chongqing, China

    2013

    TopDown BottomUp Gallery, Studio Furnishings, Vancouver BC

    2010

    Becker Galleries, BARRIE JONES, Vancouver BC

    2008

    Soho Grand Gallery, Slip/Friction, with Manuel Pina in conjunction with CONTACT 08 Photography Festival, Toronto ON

    2006

    Paved Art, Service, Saskatoon SK

    2005

    Helen Pitt Gallery, New Work, (with All the Arms Around You: Adrienne Lai), Vancouver BC

    2004

    Artcite, Uniformed Workers, Windsor ON

    2002

    Richmond Art Gallery, Uniformed: Heroes to McJobs, Richmond BC

    1996

    Chatham Cultural Centre, Chatham ON

    1992

    Mercer Union, Toronto ON

    1991

    Art Gallery of Windsor, Young Women and Young Men of Canada, Windsor ON

    1990

    Artcite, Looking for Paradise, Windsor ON

    1989

    Forest City Gallery, Personal Rituals and Young Women of Canada, London ON

    Forma Gallery, TransCanada Bicyclists, Novi Sad, Yugoslavia

    Foto Galerija Branko Bajic, Young Women of Canada, Novi Sad, Yugoslavia

    1983

    Founders College Gallery, Beyond Sensation, York University, Toronto ON

    I.D.A. Gallery, Stories of My Work, (Photography and Sculpture), York University, Toronto ON

    1982

    Eye Revue Gallery, Toronto ON

    1981

    Optica Gallery, True North, Montreal QC

    1980

    Vancouver Art Gallery, The Canadiens, Vancouver BC

    1978

    Nova Gallery, Hockey Shots, Vancouver BC

  • 2019

    Art Gallery of Windsor, Power Play: Hockey in Canadian Contemporary Art, Windsor, ON

    2018

    Art Gallery of Windsor, Look Again! The AGW Collection at 75 Years, Windsor, ON

    2017

    Vancouver Art Gallery, Pictures from Here, Vancouver BC

    2016

    Vancouver Art Gallery, Stare, Vancouver BC

    2015

    AHVA Gallery, Slippery Terms, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC

    Gallery 295, Residual Noise, Vancouver BC

    2014

    AHVA Gallery, Outcomes, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC

    2013

    AHVA Gallery, The Photo Show: 1969/2013: Exploring the Photo Conceptual Archive, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC

    Art Gallery of Windsor, Other Electricities: Works from the AGW Collection, with Gu Xiong and Phil McCrum, Windsor ON

    Artcite Gallery, 30 X 30 Part 1, ARTCITE 30th Anniversary Exhibition, Windsor ON

    2012

    Composites, Gallery 295, Vancouver BC

    AHVA Gallery, It’s Fine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC

    2011

    NOMASS Gallery, If You Make Art in a Forest, Vancouver BC

    AHVA Gallery, Only when the Shades of Night Begin to Gather, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC

    2010

    AHVA Gallery, The T ing is, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC

    Organhaus Gallery, Three Voices, with Gu Xiong and Phil McCrum, Chongqing, China

    2009

    Koerner Library Gallery, Whatmatter, Faculty Exhibition, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC

    2006

    Alternator Gallery, Beauty and the Beast, Kelowna BC

    2005

    Vancouver Art Gallery, Real Pictures, Vancouver BC

    2001

    Artropolis 2001, juried exhibition, Vancouver BC

    OPEN SPACE, Mapping the Body Part 2, Victoria BC

    2000

    Charles H. Scott Gallery, Image and Light, History and Influence: Film and Photographic Works, Vancouver, Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, Vancouver BC

    1997

    Artcite, Oh Canada, Windsor ON

    1995

    Galerie B-312, Exchange Exhibition, Montreal QC

    Art Gallery of Windsor, Southwest Biennial 1995, Windsor ON

    1993

    Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography, Site Survey, Ottawa ON

    Art Gallery of Windsor, Southwest Biennial 1993, Windsor ON

    1992

    Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography, Beau, Ottawa ON

    Art Gallery of Windsor, Windsor Postcard Project, Windsor ON

    1991

    Art Gallery of Windsor, Southwest Biennial 1991, Windsor ON

    1990

    Gallery 101, Pictures of People, Ottawa ON

    1989

    Samuel Sarrick Exhibition, York University, Toronto ON

    Art Gallery of Windsor, Southwest Biennial 1989, Windsor ON

    Art Exchange, University of Windsor Faculty at West Virginia University, Morgantown WV, USA

    1988

    Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences, Great White North, Staten Island NY, USA

    LeBel Gallery, Great White North, University of Windsor, Windsor ON

    Michigan Gallery, South of the Border / North of Here, Detroit MI, USA

    1986

    Detroit Focus Gallery, Photography, Detroit MI, USA

    Art Gallery of Windsor, Southwest '46, Windsor ON

    Mercer Union Gallery, Projections/Dimensions, Queen Street, Satellite Program, Toronto ON

    1985

    ARC, Interior Rites: Domestic Scenes and Rituals, Toronto ON

    Detroit Focus Gallery, Photography, Detroit MI, USA

    Gallery 101, Small Works/Big Myths, Ottawa ON

    ARC, Photography, Toronto ON

    Hamilton Artists Inc., ReUnion, Hamilton ON

    1984

    Charles H. Scott Gallery, Faculty Show, Emily Carr Institute of Art, Vancouver BC

    Kamloops Art Gallery, A Fish Story, Kamloops BC

    Faculty Exhibition, University of Windsor, Windsor ON

    1983

    Contemporary Art Gallery, October Show, 1078 Hamilton Street, Vancouver BC

    Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver: Art and Artists, 19311983, Vancouver BC

    1982

    Robson Square, British Columbia Government Collection, Vancouver BC

    Shell Resources Gallery, People and Places: A Survey of Photos From 1840 to the Present, Calgary AB

    Canadian Centre of Photography, York Photography Exhibition, Toronto ON

    1980

    National Film Board Gallery, Works in Cibachrome, Ottawa ON

    London Regional Art Gallery, Young Contemporaries '80, London ON

    1979

    Kamloops Art Gallery, Vancouver Fresh, Kamloops BC

    Western Front, Pin-Up Portraits, Vancouver BC

    Pumps Gallery, Colour Xerox Show, Vancouver BC

    National Film Board Gallery, 13 Cameras/Vancouver, Ottawa ON

    Surrey Art Gallery, Worlds in Clay, Surrey BC

    Focus Gallery, 3 Canadian Photographers, San Francisco CA, USA

    1978

    Vancouver Art Gallery, 13 Cameras, Vancouver BC

    Norman Mackenzie Art Gallery, 13 Cameras, Regina SK

    London Regional Art Gallery, Young Contemporaries '78, National Touring Exhibition, London ON

    Klee Wyck Art Centre, Under 30 Show ,West Vancouver BC

    1977

    Presentation House, Under 30 Art Exhibition, North Vancouver BC

    Fine Arts Gallery, For the Birds, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC

    Burnaby Art Gallery, True Confections, Burnaby BC

    Fine Arts Gallery, Faculty Exhibition, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC

    Fine Arts Gallery, Bated Breath, Erotic Art, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC

    1975

    Fine Arts Gallery, Five Years of BFA Students, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC

    Contemporary Arts Gallery, First New York City Postcard Show, New York University, New York NY, USA

    1974

    Vancouver Art Gallery, Towards Costume, Vancouver BC

    Fine Arts Gallery, Emerging, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC

    Vancouver Art Gallery, Scan 74, Vancouver BC

  • October show: October 15-29, 1983; 1078 Hamilton Street, Vancouver. Vancouver, BC.: Contemporary Art Gallery of Vancouver, 1983. p. 69.

    Barrie Jones, exhibition catalogue for Vancouver Work, Vancouver, BC: AHVA Gallery, University of British Columbia, 2021.

    Bogusky, Alf and Vito Signorile. Borderlands: Art from the Edge. Windsor, Ont.: Artcite,1987. p. 90.

    Farrell-Ward, Lorna et al. Vancouver: Art and Artists 1931-1983. Vancouver, BC: Vancouver Art Gallery, 1983. pp. 214, 276, 412.

    Genereux, Linda and Robert Sherrin. Barrie Jones: Young Women and Young Men of Canada. Windsor, Ont.: Art Gallery of Windsor, 1992.

    Lacayo, Jessie. Mapping the Body, Part One and Part Two. Victoria, BC: Open Space, 2001.

    Langford, Martha. Beau: a reflection on the nature of beauty in photography. Ottawa, Ont.: Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography, 1992.

    O'Brien, Paddy. Young Contemporaries '80. London, Ont.: London Regional Art Gallery, 1980.

    Starling, Dan. "Disclosing Methods of Production: The Work of Adrienne Lai and Barrie Jones." New Work by Barrie Jones & All the Arms Around You: Adrienne Lai. Vancouver, BC: Helen Pitt Gallery, 2005.

    Todd, Jeremy. Uniformed: Urban Heroes to McJobs. Richmond, BC: Richmond Art Gallery, 2004.

  • "Portfolio: About Place". Windsor Review, vol.29, no.1. Spring 1996: pp 58, 59

    "Thirteen Cameras". Popular Photography, vol. 84, no.2. Feb 1979: pp 148, 158

    "Thirteen Cameras". Vancouver Free Press, July 13-19, 1979. PP 19-22

    Burf, K. "13 Cameras at the NFB." Ottawa Revue, no.144. May 10-16, 1979: p 15

    Fischer, Hall. "Images from Canada." Artweek, no. 11. Sept. 22, 1979: pp 11-12

    Gore, Tom. "Thirteen Ways to Wrap a Board". Photo Communique, vol. 1, no.4. Mar-Apr 1979: p 19

    Jones, Owen. "Youth transcends time in art." The Windsor Star, April 4, 1991: D10

    Keziere, Russell. "A Collected Vision." Vanguard, vol. 7, no. 8. Nov 1978: p 67

    Laliberte, Mark. The Windsor Salt. Juried compilation of inter-disciplinary work. Windsor, Ont.: Common Ground Editions. 1998. pp 112, 113

    Langford, Martha. "More on Thirteen Cameras." Photo Communique, vol. 1, no. 4. Sept-Oct 1979: pp 14-16

    Langford, Martha (introduction). Contemporary Canadian Photography from the Collection of the National Film Board. National Film Board of Canada Still Photography Division. Edmonton: Hurtig Publishers, 1984.

    Lawrence, Robin. "Photos turn dinner into a conceptual feast" Georgia Straight, May 2, 2005.

    Malone, Judy. "Photo Essay spoiled by medium, not message." Vancouver Sun, Oct. 20, 1979. P 56

    McRae, Rossalie Smith. "NFB exhibits world of Cibachrome Colour." Ottawa Journal. Feb. 23, 1980: p 40

    Perry, Art. "Jones Bodychecks Cultural Conscience." Vancouver Province, March 17, 1978. P 44

    Scott, Andrew. "Exhibition Needs Reason to Exist." Georgia Straight, Nov. 17-24, 1978. P 23

    Sharp, Danie. "Photography in an Art Discourse." VIEWS: A Quarterly Journal of Contemporary Canadian Photographic Art, vol. 7, no.3. September 1990:10-11 and cover.

    Townsend, Brian. "Vancouver Works In Kamloops: Art That's Coastal Fresh."

    Wollheim, Peter. "13 Cameras at V.A.G." YVR, no.5. Dec 78-Jan 79: pp 15-17

  • 13 Cameras/Vancouver. Vancouver: Collaborative Artists Photography Book. Print: National Film Board:, 1979. Unpaginated

    Jones, Barrie. Cover Photograph. "Muse." Canadian Museums Association, Vol. XVII No. 1. 1999.

    Jones, Barrie. "Hearts and Darts." Capilano Review, no.11. 1977: pp 26-31

    Jones, Barrie. "Pacific Salmon Series". Capilano Review, no.29. 1983: pp 38-42, cover

    Jones, Barrie. "The Nakeds" Capilano Review, Series 2, No. 16 (Summer 1995):61-101, cover photo. 1995.

    Jones, Barrie. "Hockey Cards." Vancouver Magazine, vol. 10, no.11. Nov.1977: pp 54-55

    Jones, Barrie. "Wish and Wear." Vancouver Magazine, vol. 17, no.1. Jan 1984: pp 30-31

    Jones, Barrie. "Gels Angels." Vancouver Magazine, vol. 17, no.11. Nov. 1984

    Jones, Barrie. "Double Looking, Double Happy, Double Lonely." The Wind, catalogue for solo exhibition by Xiangmei Su. China: Changshu Art Museum, 2012.

    Jones, Barrie. Original work included in interdisciplinary publication Wayzgoose. Windsor, Ont.: University of Windsor (edition of 200). 1990.

    Jones, Barrie. "Barrie Jones." Windsor Review: B&W Issue, vol. 46 no. 2. Fall 2013: pp 120-125.

  • Art Gallery of Windsor

    British Columbia Government Collection

    Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography

    National Gallery of Canada

    OMERS (The Ontario Municipal Employee's Retirement System)

    St Paul's Hospital, Vancouver

    The Canada Council Art Bank

    University of Windsor, Faculty of Law

    Vancouver Art Gallery

    York University

  • 1998 - 2021

    Photography Instructor. Dept of Art History, Visual Art and Theory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC

    1985 - 1998

    Photography Instructor. University of Windsor, Windsor ON

  • MFA - York University, Toronto ON

    BFA - University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC