Trina Ganson

Trina Ganson – Artist Biography

Trina Ganson is a Canadian experimental printmaker whose practice centers on the intersection of memory, mark making, and material exploration. Her work draws on recollections of place and experience, using abstract forms, textures, and colours to evoke personal and emotional landscapes. Rather than aiming to represent nature in a literal sense, Ganson’s prints function as visual reflections of time and memory—fragmented, layered, and often intimate in scale.

Originally from British Columbia, Ganson earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of British Columbia Okanagan in 2008. Following graduation, she became an active member of the Malaspina Printmakers Studio on Granville Island in Vancouver. During her years with Malaspina, she immersed herself in the collaborative and technical aspects of printmaking, refining her skills while also experimenting with mixed media approaches.

In 2018, Ganson relocated with her young family to Ontario, where she continues to expand her artistic practice. Her current work combines a variety of traditional and experimental printmaking techniques—often layering processes such as monotype, collagraph, and drypoint with hand-drawn elements or painted embellishments. These hybrid methods reflect her interest in process and transformation, both visually and conceptually.

A key characteristic of Ganson’s work is her intuitive, process-based approach. She often begins on a large scale, allowing gestures and textures to unfold organically. The resulting compositions are then broken down into smaller segments or panels, inviting viewers to engage with each piece individually. This approach emphasizes intimacy and fragmentation—mirroring the way memories are recalled not as complete narratives, but as vivid moments or impressions.

Colour plays a significant role in Ganson’s visual language. She uses it not only for its aesthetic impact but also as a tool for emotional resonance. Soft washes, bold contrasts, and layered transparencies all contribute to the sense of atmosphere within her work, offering a sensory entry point into her abstract storytelling.

In addition to printmaking, Ganson is also engaged in the craft of bookbinding. This tactile, meditative practice complements her visual work, reinforcing her interest in the handmade and the personal. Whether on paper, panel, or bound pages, her work consistently reflects a deep engagement with materiality, memory, and the passage of time.

Trina Ganson’s prints invite quiet contemplation. Through the interplay of texture, shape, and colour, she creates visual spaces that resonate with the viewer’s own sense of memory and experience. Her art offers not a fixed narrative, but a starting point—an open-ended story told through marks, layers, and the emotional echoes of place.