Diana Thorneycroft
Diana Thorneycroft (born 1956 in Claresholm, Alberta) is a Canadian artist based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, whose work has exhibited nationally and internationally. Thorneycroft works primarily in photography, drawing, and sculpture/installation. Her work blurs the lines between gendered bodies by employing phalluses. Education. Diana Thorneycroft graduated with an MFA from the University of Wisconsin in 1980 and with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) from the University of Manitoba in 1979. Selected Artworks. Section::::"Canadians and Americans (best friends forever … it's complicated)". A series of digital photographs, "Canadians and Americans (best friends forever … it's complicated)" looks at  iconic moments and figures in American and Canadian history to explore the unbalanced relationship and power dynamic between the two neighbouring countries. The collection was exhibited at the Michael Gibson Gallery in London, Ontario in October of 2013. Section::::"A People's History". Looking at the horrific history of crimes and atrocities perpetrated against vulnerable people in Canada, "A People's History" is a series of photographs based on dioramas created by the artist. Section::::"Group of Seven Awkward Moments". "Group of Seven Awkward Moments" is a photographic series created between 2007 and 2010 which employs black humour to look at the  effect of the mythology of the Canadian landscape on the construct of Canadian identity. The series features dioramas of histories that are part of iconic Canadian symbolism paired with backgrounds of reproductions of paintings by The Group of Seven. Section::::"There Must Be 50 Ways to Kill Your Lover". This series of drawings explores violence in the media through the behaviour of popular cartoon characters. Section::::"The Canadiana Martyrdom Series". The photographs is this series uses paraphernalia depicting Canadian tourism, identity, and culture to discuss spectacles of martyrdom and apathy to human suffering. Awards. In 2012, Thorneycroft was awarded a Manitoba Arts  Council Major Arts Grant and an Individual Artist Grant from the Winnipeg Arts Council. In 2016, Thorneycroft was the recipient of the Manitoba Arts Award of Distinction by the Manitoba Arts Council. As a recipient, Thorneycroft received $30,000 and the council’s highest distinction for outstanding Manitoba artists with “long-term achievements.”