Sonja Ahlers is a visual artist and writer from the unceded territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) speaking peoples, now known as the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations (Victoria, BC, Canada). Her books are challenging to classify and can be found in several different sections of the library. 1994’s A Wandering Eye was the first of many self-published books that circulated mainly through the underground “penpal” network of DIY punk rock and Riot Grrrl zines. Ahlers attracted national attention with Temper, Temper, published by Insomniac Press in 1998, followed by Fatal Distraction in 2004. In 2010, Drawn & Quarterly published The Selves, and in 2021, Conundrum Press published Swan Song. Ahlers’ art has been exhibited across Canada, as well as in the United States, Japan, and Australia. She helped create the visual identity of Rookie Mag and from 2011 to 2015 and was a frequent contributor to the influential online publication, as well as lead artist/designer of its four print anthologies.

CV

BOOKS

2023 Classification Crisis, exhibition catalogue, Richmond Art Gallery, Conundrum Press

2021 Swan Song, visual poetry book, Conundrum Press, Wolfville, NS

2010 The Selves, graphic poetry/feminist scrapbook, 96 pages, Drawn and Quarterly, Montreal, QC

2004 Fatal Distraction, graphic novel, self-edited, 272 pages, Insomniac Press, Toronto, ON

1998 Temper, Temper, graphic novel, 144 pages, edited by Lynn Crosbie, Insomniac Press, Toronto, ON

SELECT EXHIBITION HISTORY

2023 Classification Crisis – Retrospective exhibition/publication/archive project with Godfre Leung (curator), Richmond Art Gallery, Richmond, BC

2022 The Albatross Can Sleep While Flying, solo show, curated by Metchosin ArtLAB at the Metchosin Arts and Cultural Centre, Metchosin, BC

2015 War in Peace, solo show curated by Mary Bradshaw, Yukon Arts Centre, Whitehorse, YT

2014 We Won’t Compete, group show curated by Allyson Mitchell and Deirdre Logue w/ Abstract Random, Eleanor Bond, Allyson Clay, Erika DeFreitas, Servulo Esmeraldo, Andrew Harwood, Jesi The Elder, Hannah Jickling, Margaret Lawrence, Rita Letendre, Johnson Ngo, Bodo Pfeifer, Adee Roberson, Arthur Secunda, Fiona Smyth, Art Gallery of Windsor, Windsor, ON

2013 Larger Than Life, group show curated by Ola Wlusek, w/ Rosemary Scanlon, Joseph Tisiga, Veronica Verkley, Ottawa Art Gallery, Ottawa, ON

Period Piece: The Gynolandscape, guest artist/curator/mentor, collaborative installation with Petra Collins w/ works by Shary Boyle and Allyson Mitchell, Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto, ON

2012 Sleep of Reason, group show curated by Jennifer Cane w/ Shuvinai Ashoona, Jim Holyoak, David Horvitz, Jeff Ladouceur, Nadia Moss, Rosemary Scanlon, Joseph Tisiga, Jen Weih, Yukon Arts Centre, Whitehorse, YT

2011 Force Majeure, solo installation, Community Gallery, Yukon Arts Centre, Whitehorse, YT

2010 No Soul for Sale – Western Front: London Bureau, group show curated by Caitlin Jones, Tate Modern, London, UK

2009 Landslide, solo installation, Magic Pony, Toronto, ON

World Telekinesis Competition, with Shary Boyle and Lisa Smolkin, Ministry of Casual Living, Victoria, BC

Eyelevel Re-Shelving Initiative: 03, group show curated by Eryn Foster, Eyelevel Gallery, Halifax, NS

2007 Arts Illustrated, curated by Carrie E. A. Scott, Hedreen Gallery, Lee Center for the Arts, Seattle University, Seattle, WA

Drawing Never Died: New Works on Paper curated by Sarah Edmonds w/ Haydex Li, Laura Piasta, Maxwell Simmer, Corin Sworn, Ryan Taber, Sydney Vermont, Atelier Gallery, Vancouver, BC

2006 I Love Heart, Birdo Space, solo show, curated by Aya Takada, Shiogama, Japan

We’re Only Here Because I Dreamt Us Up: w/ Genevieve Castree and Beci Orpin, Someday Gallery, Melbourne, Australia

Zine Library, Nieves and No. 12 Gallery, group zine show, Tokyo, Japan

A.I.R. group show, curated by Ryan + Nicole, Drake Hotel, Toronto, ON

The Packet Agency, group show curated by Jesse Birch, TCB Gallery, Melbourne, AU

2005 Book of Small, w/ Sarah Cain, Ginger Brooks Takahashi, Open Space, Victoria, BC

My Moleskine Exhibition, group art book show, Tokyo, Japan

2004 Fatal Distraction, solo show, book launch/installation, Antisocial, Vancouver, BC

2003 We Didn’t Start the Fire, w/ Samuel Roy-Bois, curated by Sydney Hermant, Or Gallery, Vancouver, BC

Page Me: The Art of Zines, Comix and Other Artist-made Books, SPACES, Cleveland, OH

2002 Passing Fancies, with Instant Coffee, Helen Pitt Gallery, Vancouver, BC

2001 Eye Candy – Victoria Open 2001, curated by Jan Allen, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria, BC

2000 Vita Activa: Jo Cook, Jeff Ladouceur, Keith Jones, Open Space, Victoria, BC

Everything I Own Is in This Room, solo show, Rogue Art, Victoria, BC

1997 Browser, Roundhouse Community Centre, Vancouver, BC

COLLABORATIONS/ARTISTIC CONTRIBUTIONS

2014/15 Rookie Yearbook Four, lead artist/designer, Penguin Random House, New York, NY

2012/13 Rookie Yearbook Two, lead artist, Drawn and Quarterly, Montreal, QC

2008 The Night Is a Mouth by Lisa Foad, Cover Art/Book Design, Exile Editions, Toronto, ON

2003 Dancing in the Dark 7, cover and sleeve art, Monoculture Records, Portland, OR

2000 Compact, compilation, Jealous Butcher Records, Portland, OR

SELECT PUBLICATION HISTORY

2022 The Way of All Flesh, broadsheet visual essay, Taddle Creek, Toronto, ON

2021 The Archive Is Evidence I Exist: a conversation with Godfre Leung and Alexandra Alisauskas, Re-Issue Publication

2018 Folio, Panhandler Magazine, A Journal of Art and Literature published by the University of West Florida, curated by Valerie George and Jonathan Fink

2015 The Craft Companion, edited by Ramona Barry and Rebecca Jobson, Thames and Hudson, Australia

2012 The Last VISPO: Visual Poetry Anthology 1998-2008, edited by Crag Hill and Nico Vassilakis, Fantagraphics Books, Seattle, WA

2007 I Love Heart, catalogue, Birdo Space with Aya Takada, essays by Sydney Hermant and Lisa Prentice, Shiogama, Japan

2005 Book of Small, catalogue, edited by Carey Ann Schaefer, Open Space, Victoria, BC

2004 Girls Who Bite Back - Witches, Mutants, Slayers and Freaks, edited by Emily Pohl Weary, Sumach Press, Toronto, ON

2003 Pretty Persuasion, visual essay, Front Magazine, Vol. XIV, No. Four, Vancouver, BC

2000 “Erase the Human Race (And Start All Over Again)”, Carnal Nation, Arsenal Pulp Press, Vancouver, BC

1997 Click: Becoming Feminists, anthology edited by Lynn Crosbie, MacFarlane, Walter and Ross, Toronto, ON

PRESENTATIONS

2022 Experiments in Storytelling, talk with Rumi Hara, Toronto Comics and Arts Festival

2021 Swan Song discussion with Safy-Hallan Farah, Shelf Life Books, Calgary, AB Swan Song booklaunch/livestreamed interview with the Nighttime podcast

2015 Rookie Yearbook Three, panel discussion/book launch, Toronto, ON

2013 Panel discussion and workshop, Larger Than Life, Northern Scene with Joseph Tisiga, Rosemary Scanlon and Veronica Verkeley, curated by Ola Wlusek, Ottawa Art Gallery, Ottawa, ON

2011 Guest speaker for Canadian Public Arts Funders (CPAF), Whitehorse, YT

2010 The Selves presentations: Drawn and Quarterly, Montreal, Quimby’s Books, Chicago, Cinders Gallery, NY, Desert Island, NY, Western Front, Vancouver

Toronto Comics Arts Festival - Tracers, Photoshoppers, Cut & Pasters: Cheaters or Revolutionaries?

2009 Lifedrawing, zine workshop, Narwhal Art Projects, Toronto, ON

2008 Scream Literary Festival: speaker, “Copyright, Collaboration and Appropriation”, multimedia presentation on copyright use

Guest instructor for Charles Stankievech, Klondike Institute of Arts and Culture – School of Visual Arts, Dawson City, YT

2007 Between What’s Said and Unsaid, Powell Street Festival Society and Helen Pitt Gallery, moderator with Madoka Hara and Jillian Tamaki

Artist Talk/I Love Heart catalogue slideshow/launch, Blim, Vancouver, BC

2006 Artist talk, Fine Arts Department, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia Artist-run centre panel discussion with the governors of the Liberal Democratic Party Arts and Culture Development Union, Miyagi Prefectural Government, Organizer: Mr. Abe Takashi, Panelists: Sonja Ahlers, Junichi Sugaware, Aya Takada, Sendai, Japan

2005 This Is Not A Reading Series, slideshow presentation/talk, Toronto Comics Arts Festival Canzine, slideshow/reading, Fatal Distraction, Toronto, ON

Girls Who Bite Back, Perpetual Motion Roadshow, West Coast tour with Emily Pohl Weary and Tamara Faith-Berger

2003 Projet Mobilivre/Bookmobile West Coast tour (artist talks: Evergreen College, University of Eugene, University of Washington, The Art Institute of Portland, University of California: Santa Barbara, California College of the Arts)

AWARDS

2023 BC Arts Council Project Assistance for Visual Arts

2021 BC Arts Council Project Assistance for Visual Arts

2020 Canada Council for the Arts – Concept to Realization

2019 Canada Council for the Arts – Research and Creation

2012 Advanced Artist Award, Arts and Culture, Yukon Government

2011 Sobey Art Award – Long List

2008 Canada Council for the Arts – Travel Grant for Visual Arts

2007 BC Arts Council Project Grant for Visual Arts

2006 Canada Council for the Arts – Travel Grant for Visual Arts

2005 BC Arts Council Visual Arts grant, Level 1

2000 BC Arts Council Visual Arts grant, Level 1