Vanessa McKernan | Dusk and Boyd Waites | New Works Feature

Wall Space Gallery is proud to present Vanessa McKernan’s solo exhibition Dusk. An oil painter who recently relocated from Toronto to the Ottawa Valley, McKernan creates dreamlike, emotionally resonant works that blur the lines between intentional thought and the subconscious. Her practice draws deeply from the garden as a recurring symbol, exploring themes of impermanence, intimacy, mothering, and the cycles of death and rebirth. Infused with personal experience, historical references, and intuitive imagery, her paintings offer a poetic meditation on the complexities of the feminine psyche.

McKernan holds a BFA from Concordia University, is a two-time recipient of the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Award, and is supported by the Ontario Arts Council.

Wall Space Gallery is proud to present Boyd Waites’ latest feature of new works. With imagery that is partially obscured and grounded in landscape, these paintings encourage a personal and emotional response. Waites invites viewers to interpret each piece through their own sensory experience. The use of soft blending, thin layers, and subtle transitions creates a quiet, atmospheric quality. This approach may evoke a sense of calm, contemplation, or memory. The works suggest a reflective mood and a quiet strength, offering space for thought and interpretation rather than directing it. This collection continues Waites’ exploration of tone, space, and feeling.