Trina Ganson – Artist Biography

Trina Ganson is a Canadian experimental printmaker whose practice explores the intersection of memory, mark-making, and material. Drawing on recollections of place and experience, she creates abstract works using layered forms, textures, and colour to evoke personal and emotional landscapes. Rather than depicting nature literally, Ganson’s prints function as visual reflections of memory and time—fragmented, layered, and intimate.

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 at Malaspina, she immersed herself in the collaborative and technical aspects of printmaking, refining her skills while exploring experimental and mixed-media approaches.

In 2018, Ganson relocated to Ontario with her young family, where she continues to develop her artistic practice. Her current work combines traditional and experimental printmaking techniques, often layering monotype, collagraph, and drypoint with hand-drawn elements and painted embellishments. These hybrid processes reflect her ongoing interest in transformation, both materially and conceptually.

Ganson’s approach is intuitive and process-driven. She often begins on a large scale, allowing gestures, marks, and textures to develop organically. These larger compositions are then divided into smaller segments or panels, encouraging viewers to experience each piece individually while remaining aware of its connection to a larger whole. This fragmentation mirrors the way memories are recalled—not as complete narratives, but as vivid moments, sensations, and impressions.

Colour plays an important role in Ganson’s visual language. Beyond its aesthetic presence, colour serves as a vehicle for emotional resonance. Soft washes, bold contrasts, and translucent layers create atmospheric spaces that invite a sensory and contemplative response.

Alongside printmaking, Ganson is engaged in the craft of bookbinding. This tactile and meditative practice complements her visual work and deepens her interest in the handmade, the intimate, and the passage of time. Whether working on paper, panel, or bound pages, she maintains a sustained engagement with material, process, and memory.

Ganson’s artworks invite quiet contemplation. Through the interplay of texture, shape, colour, and layered marks, she creates visual spaces that resonate with the viewer’s own memories and experiences. Her work offers no fixed narrative, but rather an opening—a place for viewers to pause, reflect, and form their own connections through the emotional echoes of place.