Kanchan Quinlan is a Canadian-Indian visual artist and an architectural/urban designer. Born in Toronto and raised in India for the first seven years of her life, Kanchan was exposed to diverse cultures and places throughout her childhood. These experiences sparked Kanchan’s interest in the arts, leading her to pursue a degree in the humanities at the University of Toronto and a Master of Architecture degree at Carleton University.   Kanchan is the recipient of the Azrieli Scholarship for her thesis project entitled Ritual Architecture: 5 weeks. 7 states.11 cities.1 village.  Her diverse knowledge coupled with her travel adventures in over 15 countries brings a rich and unique approach to her painting style and design projects.    

 

Kanchan specializes in abstract painting to explore the relationship between natural elements and the built environment. Her paintings transform existing conditions into abstract fragmented elements by creating layers of geometric shapes, patterns, and forms with the use of contrasting colours, textures, and broad brush strokes.  Together these techniques create depth, flow, and movement in the paintings.   

Kanchan's passion for architecture and urban design is rooted in her connection to the built environment on a human scale.  Kanchan designs public and private spaces by gracefully connecting form and function into the site context to ultimately create a piece of art.

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Exhibition History

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March - April 2020

Collective Art Exhibition, Crosstown Health Center, Mount Dennis, ON

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March - May 2020

Solo Art Exhibition, Starving Artist Cafe, Toronto, ON

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January - March 2020

Black Cat Expresso Bar, Mount Dennis, ON

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January - February 2020

Supercoffee Cafe, Mount Dennis, ON

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January 2020

Invitation to Participate as Artist, DesignTO, Mount Dennis, ON

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December 2019 

Collective Art Exhibition: Get Cozy!, Hallway Galleries, Artscape Weston Common, Toronto, ON

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November 2019

Solo Art Exhibition, Hallway Galleries, Artscape Weston Common, Toronto, ON

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June 2014-2015

Painting Exhibition Vocation En Art, CJE Vaudreuil Soulanges + Pincourt Library, QC

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Built Public Art Projects 

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Intertwined (Design + Build)

Type: Public Art Installation

Completion: August 2017

Location: Main + Danforth Square, Toronto, Ontario

Winning Entry, Curated by Labspace Studio, Commissioned by EastEnd Arts MAINSquared Public Art Festival

 

My Canada Is (Design)

Type: Temporary Pavilion

Completion: June 2017

Location: Spectrum Way Plaza, Mississauga, Ontario Canada

150 Competition Winner Commissioned by 20 VIC, Spectrum Square Mississauga, ON

 

Mot à Mot/Word to Word: Micro-library (Design + Build)

Type: Public Art Installation

Completion: June 2015

Location: Trotter Park, Pincourt, Quebec

Featured in: Montreal Gazette, L’Etoile, Suburban, Kollectif, CBC Montreal Daybreak, CJAD, Carleton University Magazine, Girl Guides of Canada blog

 

Education

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Sept 2011-June 2013

Master of Architecture Fieldwork in India (Recipient of Azrieli Scholars Prize) Carleton University, Ottawa

 

Sept-Dec 2011 Directed Studies Abroad M.Arch Program Technical University, Berlin

 

Sept 2007-June 2010 Bachelor of Architectural Studies (with High Distinction) Carleton University, Ottawa

 

Feb 2009 Directed Studies Abroad Architecture Undergraduate Program, Paris

 

Sept 1999-June 2003 Honours Bachelor of Arts : History, Psychology and World Religions University of Toronto, Toronto

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