Previously considered antiquated, in recent years figuration has positioned itself at the forefront of contemporary art. Artists interested in feminism, queer theory, and issues surrounding race and disability have challenged historical notions of representation of the human body, returning a lens of criticality to the subject rarely seen before. From sculpture to painting to photography, figuration has the potential to communicate the complexities of gender, sexuality, class, and identity, as well as humans' relationship to the natural environment and society at large.

Led by Zachari Logan, a renowned Canadian artist working across several mediums exploring issues of embodiment, selfhood, and queer representations of the body, with support of Banff Centre Visual Arts staff, Visual Arts Thematic Residency - Rewilding the Body Eclectic welcomes visual artists working in all mediums to embark on a journey of discovery and imagination over five weeks at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Through self-directed creative practice, research, and discussion, artists in this residency will explore representations of the body and the possibilities that lie within for interpreting and understanding ourselves, each other, and the world.

Photos by Rita Taylor, Banff Centre 2023