Louise Jonasson

Louise Jonasson was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Of Icelandic and Ukrainian descent, she pursued her formal artistic education at the University of Manitoba, where she became a prominent figure within the provincial arts community. Her professional career has been defined by a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing her work as a painter, a lecturer, and the art editor for the literary periodical Prairie Fire since 1986.

Jonasson’s artistic practice often examines themes of heritage, geography, and memory. Her work frequently utilizes heavy textures and topographical perspectives, with some compositions resembling satellite imagery or microscopic samples. In 2001, her connection to her Icelandic roots was highlighted when the Government of Manitoba presented 20 of her oil paintings to the people of Iceland as a state gift. This collection, titled Island Souvenir, was exhibited at the Kjarvalsstaðir (Reykjavík Art Museum) and explored the concept of "island culture" through a series of modular, multi-paneled paintings.

Throughout her career, Jonasson has been a consistent contributor to the Manitoba art scene and has participated in numerous institutional exhibitions. Her work was featured in the "Herstory" exhibition at the University of Winnipeg, which documented significant female artists who have contributed to the province's cultural history. She has also been involved in curatorial and editorial projects that reflect the ethnic diversity of Western Canada, including co-editing special volumes of Prairie Fire focused on Ukrainian-Canadian themes.

The work of Louise Jonasson is represented in several major public and university collections. Her paintings are held in the permanent collection of the University of Winnipeg and the Province of Manitoba Art Collection. Additionally, her biographical records and career documentation are maintained in the Clara Lander Library at the Winnipeg Art Gallery and the Edward P. Taylor Research Library at the Art Gallery of Ontario. She continues to reside and practice in Winnipeg.