PERSONAL  BACKGROUND

Marilyn S.  Mylrea was born in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. She lived in small mining towns in Ontario until moving to Vancouver, British Columbia in 1962. Her father was a geological engineer, and the family sometimes travelled due to his work.  Her mother was a nurse and homemaker.  She has two sisters and one brother. She was educated and grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Ms. Mylrea is a professional artist with over 25 years of painting experience. She initially studied art at Langara, Vancouver Community College where she received a Fine Arts Diploma.  She has three art related degrees: a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a Major degree in Studio Art - Painting from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, a Minor degree in Art History from N.S.C.A.D., and a Bachelor of Education degree in Art Education from the University of British Columbia.   She worked for five years at the Vancouver Art Gallery as a Tour Coordinator.  She has travelled extensively around the world including to Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Western Samoa, Fiji, France, England, Italy, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Cuba, Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, the Caribbean, Los Angeles and New York. This has greatly enhanced her knowledge of art and her understanding of diversified cultures.

She has also been a professional teacher and taught art for over eleven years to kindergarten children, elementary and high school students, university students and senior citizens.  Ms. Mylrea is a dedicated advocate of art education. She taught Art History for two years at the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design to university students.  She is the Director/Owner of her own Art Gallery in Vancouver, B.C. and represents many well established and emerging contemporary artists. 

Ms. Mylrea’s art has been shown in numerous exhibitions including the first “Artropolis” exhibition in l987 and the international show “Fear of Others, Art Against Racism” in 1989.  She also worked on the “Artropolis” 2001 Exhibition and Programming Committee.  Her work has been included in many reviews including the Globe and Mail, the Vanguard Magazine, and the Canadian Art Magazine.  Her solo exhibition “Tibetan Tribute” was shown on the French CBC TV News in 2004.  This was a series of paintings done in celebration of the Dali Lama’s visit to Vancouver.  Ms. Mylrea had a solo exhibition in June, 2005 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre’s Art Gallery in Vancouver.  The Westender Newspaper featured the Opening Reception of a group show entitled “Still Reflections”in an article by Celebrity Reporter Catherine Barr on February 22, 2007. The Vancouver Lifestyles magazine featured the Gallery in their November, 2005 issue in “The Scene” section for the Opening Reception of the group exhibition “Mellow Reflections”.  Ms. Mylrea’s work is also represented internationally at the Evocative Arts Gallery in Palm Springs, California, U.S.A.  Her work was included in the curated exhibition “Selections from the Coast Art Trust” at the North Vancouver Museum, Presentation House in January, 2007. Ms. Mylrea has donated a painting to the Vancouver General Hospital and U.B.C. Hospital Foundation as well as to many other admirable charity organizations.

Her art richly represents spirituality and sensuality with its vibrant colours, expressive brushstrokes and dramatic imagery.  She works diligently on her artistic visions striving to consistently explore and develop new depths of creativity. She is also a poet and belongs to a writing club. She currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia.  Ms. Mylrea has been deeply influenced by the beauty of this region with its wonderful sky, water and mountainous lush landscape, as well as the magnificent art of the northwest First Nations people.
 

EDUCATION