EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Fine Arts, NSCAD University, Halifax NS
1982 Graphic Design Diploma, George Brown College, Toronto ON
1977 Bachelor of Arts, York University, Toronto ON
1975 Premier Degré, Sorbonne, Paris France
SOLO EXHIBITIONS (selected)
2025 Lives Lost; Love Lasts: The Suicide Portraits, September 2025
2018 ArtLab, Parrsboro, NS
2014 Then and Now, Craig Gallery, Halifax NS
2013 New Abstracts and Drawings, Teichert Gallery,AGNS, Halifax NS
2010 Recent Encaustics, Mym Gallery, ARTsPLACE, Annapolis Royal NS
2009 Bowl works: Paintings and Drawings, Atlantic School of Theology Gallery
2009 Further, Hydrostone Gallery, Halifax NS
2009 Broken English and other Languages, Craig Gallery, Dartmouth NS
2007 New Paintings and Drawings, FRED., Halifax NS
2005 Bowl Cradle Arc Vessel, ARTsPLACE, Annapolis Royal NS
2004 Manners of Dying, Neptune Studio Theatre, Halifax NS
GROUP EXHIBITIONS (selected)
2022/2015 Jewish Artists in Atlantic Canada, NS Archives, Chase Gallery, Halifax NS 2013 40 Artists Draw from Life, NS Archives, Chase Gallery, Halifax NS
2011 New Work with stone carver Heather Lawson, 2053 Gallery, Halifax NS
2011 Take Heart l and II, Hydrostone Gallery, Halifax, NS
2006 Gray Matter (drawings), Studio 21, Halifax NS
GRANTS
NS Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture Professional Development Grant Canada Council Travel Grant
Canada Council Explorations Grant
INVITATIONAL RESIDENCIES
2010 Emma International Collaboration Conference, Big River, Saskatchewan
COLLECTIONS
Nova Scotia Art Bank; Private Collections in Canada, the United States, Great Britain, France, Australia, and Mexico
PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE
1984-1989 Graphic Designer
1981-1984 Story Editor CTV
1978-1984 Film and Video Production
1976-1980 Photographer for theatre and dance, Toronto ON
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & ASSOCIATIONS
2001-present CARFAC (Canadian Artists Representation)
2001-present (Canadian Artists Copyright Collective)
2007-present Craft NS juried member
2007-2014 member of Standards Committee for Craft NS
2002-2005 Visual Arts NS(VANS) Board Member representing Halifax and the South Shore
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Halifax Chronicle Herald, Friday July 17, 2015, Elissa Barnard, At the Galleries
Halifax Chronicle Herald, Saturday May 24, 2014 Elissa Barnard, At the Galleries Halifax Chronicle Herald, Thursday August 27, 2009 Elissa Barnard, At the Galleries Visual Arts News Summer 2009, Language Breakdown, p. 21, Katie Belcher
Halifax Chronicle Herald, Saturday December 24, 2006, Elissa Barnard, At the Galleries Visual Arts News, Spring 2002, p. 25, Jennifer Bourque
CBC Radio Interview for Holocaust and Memory 2002
The Sunday Herald, April 29, 2001 Elissa Barnard, At the Galleries
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2018, 19, 20 Encaustic workshop in Parrsboro for Art Lab; Encaustic workshops in my home studio (over 200 taught), at secondary schools throughout Halifax through Visual Arts Nova Scotia's (VANS) PAINTS program and at the NS Art Teachers' Conference October 2009, 2010, 11, 12, 13, 17; PAINTS (Visual Arts NS in the school art program): various projects throughout HRM in elementary, junior and high schools
OTHER
2025 Curator, Empty Bowls, Sacred Vessels Craig Gallery
2013 to present Chair of Atlantic Jewish Film Festival, Halifax NS
2022, 2015 Co-Curator of Jewish Artists in Atlantic Canada, Chase Gallery, Public Archives, Halifax
2010 Encaustic mural commissioned by Ministry of Justice with students from Herring Cove Junior High School, Halifax NS
2010 Jury member for NS Department of Tourism and Culture Grants to Individuals 2007 Shortlisted for residency, Memory Disability Clinic QEII (discontinued that year before program began) Halifax NS
2005/04 Chairperson and Creator: “Bloomin' Artists: A Walk through Artists' Gardens”, a fundraiser for Visual Arts Nova Scotia
2004 Jury member for Nova Scotia Art Bank