2024 marks the 30th edition of Proof—Gallery 44's annual emerging artist exhibition, established in 1994—in celebration, Proof Yearbook shares the program's legacy and archive on view in the Vitrines and online. The exhibition began as Latent Images in 1987, pulling emerging artists' works from a general call for submissions. In 1993, Gallery 44 held its first call specifically soliciting submissions from emerging artists. Met with an overwhelming response, the gallery's Exhibition Selection Committee created a non-thematic, national forum to platform artists working in unconventional materials and photographic processes to reflect current concerns and practices of emerging Canadian photographers.
Thirty years later, Proof remains true to its roots.
The archival project includes exhibition catalogues and documentation from 1987-2024 and a preface interweaving an introductory text written in 1999 by Sara Angelucci, Gallery 44’s Executive Director at the time (and Proof 5 alumna) and response by current Executive Director Alana Traficante ruminating on the program’s lasting impact on emergent image-making practices.
Proof Yearbook was researched, digitized, and curated by Exhibitions and Publications Coordinator, Caeden Wigston.
Proof 30 is generously supported by the Fabio Mascarin Foundation, a partnership with a shared commitment to advance the careers of emerging artists.
Past Proof artists include:
Agnes Wong, Aidan Cowling, Aislinn Leggett, Alexandra Battencourt, Alexandre CV, Alvin Luong, Althea Thauerger, Alison Skyrme, Alynne Lavigne, Amber Williams-King, Ana Black, Andrew Wright, Angela Del Buono, Angela Snider, Anique J Jordan, Anyse Ducharme, Ash Moniz, Balint Zsako, Bart Gazzola, Beau Gomez, Bijan Ramezani, Bradley Olson, Brett Gundlock, Brittany Nickerson, Camille Zakharia, Cameron Lamothe, Cameron Young, Catherine Canac-Marquis, Celia Perrin Sidarous, Céline Messier, Chantal Gervais, Cheryl Pagurek, Christina Oyawale, Christine D'Onofrio, Christophe Jivraj, Claire Falkenberg, Claude Labrèche-Lemay, Clint Griffin, Colwyn Griffith, Corey J. Isenor, Crockett Keesic, Cyndy Warwick, Daniel Frawley, Darren Cerkownyk, Dave Donald, Dax Morrison, Derya Akay, Douglas Michael Love, Elise Victoria Louise Windsor, Emily Geen, Erik Osberg, Esmond Lee, Eugénie Shinkle, Fehn Foss, Franck Perry, Garett Walker, Garry Madlung, Germain Koh, Hannah Doucet, Isabelle Hayeur, Holly Chang, Ivan Binet, Jacinthe Lessard-L, Jackie Danylchuk, Jakub Dolejš, James Dawson, James Hayes, Janet Bellotto, Janieta Eyre, Jasmine Bakalarz, Jenna Edwards, Joel Herman, Jaret Belliveau, Jeneen Frei Njootli, Jim Verburg, Josie Chu, Julia Dault, Karen Bubas, Karen Zalamea, Karice Mitchell, Karishma Pranjivan, Katie Jung, Kelly Markovich, Kim Waldron, Katelyn Gallucci, Katherine Lannin, Kotama Bouabane, Lan "Florence" Yee, Larissa Fassler, Laurie Kang, Leila Syed-Fatemi, Les Newman, Lindsay Fisher, Lindsay Page, Lindsey Bond, Linh Gia Ly, L-M BucholtzRoss, Lodoe Laura, Luther Konadu, Maegan Broadhurst, Mariana Muñoz Gomez, Megan Morman, Mark André Pennock, Melanie Ibadlit, Meryl McMaster, Mia Weinberg, Michaela Devine, Michaëlle Sergile, Michel Hébert, Michelle O'Byrne, Mike Andrew McLean, Mikki Middlemiss, Morgan Sears-Williams, Myriam Yates, Neeko Paluzzi, Nicholas Pye, Noah Spivak, Osheen Harruthoonyan, Paul Cvetich, Pedro Mendes, Pascal Arpin, Petra Malla Miller, Rachel Granofsky, Randy Koroluk, Ritian Lee, Roger Proulx, Ryan Mathieson, Sabrina Russo, Sandra Haar, Sara Angelucci, Sarah Crawley, Sarah Febbraro, Sarah Sands Phillips, Scott Massey, Semira Selman, Shane Clintberg, Sharon Alexander, Shinobu Akimoto, Shirin Fathi, Shohreh Golazad, Sophie Sabet, Stacey Ho, Stacey Tyrell, Steven Beckly, Susan Blight Michele, Su-Ying Lee, Tad Hozumi, Tanya Busse, Teresa Ascencao, Terry Pidsadny, Turner Prize*, Xan Shian, Yi Xin Tong, Yuriko Kubota