Unit 17 | Gallery Artist

Douglas Watt

Douglas Watt (b. 1990) is an artist living and working in Vancouver on the unceded and traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh people. He received a Bachelor of Arts (Art History) from Carleton University, Ottawa and studied Criticism & Curatorial Practice at OCAD University, Toronto. Previously, he has curated exhibitions by Prynce Nesbitt at Niagara Artists Centre, St. Catharines; Michael Snow [Timed Images] at Greenbelt Gallery, Toronto and KAMLINKS at Skylight Gallery, Vancouver. Watt recently presented a solo exhibition Deep End Epiphany at Downs & Ross, New York and participated in the group exhibition Spirit Off at Yaby, Madrid, Spain.

News

longlist, 2023 Sobey Art Award

Exhibitions

Apparitions (2018)

Residue (2019)

Stunning Evidence (2019)

Crocodile Tears (2020)

Sorry (2020)

Infinity Ball (2022)

Writing and Press

Artforum (2020)

Artforum: the Artists' Artists (2021)

Numbers, 2022, archival cardboard, archival glue, hot glue, sand paper, butcher paper, tooth picks, wire, bristol board, construction paper, metallic print lycra fabric, metallic paint, popsicle sticks, sequins, crystals, felt, terrycloth, laser print on paper, holographic paper, foam balls, wooden beads, glass beads, mirror, thread, embroidery floss, leather, elastic bands, paper clips, mat board, led lights, tissue paper, electric tape, gaffer tape, straws, aluminum tape, plexiglass, canvas, laser print on acetate, plastic letter stickers, metallic foil, metal stud, rhinestones, window mesh, silk organza, graph paper & business card, 54.6 x 40.6 x 12.7cm

Wand, 2022, wooden dowel, gesso & sign paint, 54.6 x 0.6 x 0.6cm

Planet Moon, 2022, string, chain, thread, elastic band, yarn, metallic thread, shoe lace, ribbon, twine, friendship bracelet, beads, eyelet screws, aluminum & beach sand, dimensions variable

Planet Moon, 2022 (detail)

Young Stars, 2022, 240 glow-in-the-dark plastic star beads & nails, dimensions variable

Infinity Ball, installation view Unit 17 2022

Spirit off, installation view Yaby 2021

Deep End Epiphany, installation view Downs & Ross 2021

Deep End Epiphany, installation view Downs & Ross 2021;

Sparger, 2021. Styrofoam, duct tape, popsicle sticks, LED lights, battery pack, sequins, silk organza, hot glue, inkjet printed confetti, archival adhesive, aluminum tape, gaffer tape, window mesh, grid paper, staples, plastic straws, rubber bike inner tubes, Plexiglas, aluminum tape, toilet roll, string, cinder blocks, Dimensions variable

Deep End Epiphany, installation view Downs & Ross 2021

Trampoline, 2021. Cotton terry cloth, metallic thread, foam, MDF, staples, string, embroidery floss, archival glue, screws, fir, acrylic paint, 52 × 35 × 1 1/2 inches / 132,1 × 88,9 × 3,8 cm

Trampoline, 2021 (detail)

Pools (Race), 2021. Cotton velvet, fir, archival inkjet print on card, acrylic paint, eyelet screws, springs, wire, glass beads, galvanized wire mesh, rubber bands, MDF, enamel paint, metallic thread, string, duct tape, paper clips, staples, canvas, newspaper, metal grommets, plasticized canvas, canvas, construction paper, sand paper, mirror tile, silk organza, sequins, tooth picks, electric tape, glass, muslin, 30 1/2 × 18 1/2 × 5 inches / 77,5 × 47 × 12,7 cm

Pools (Race), 2021 (detail)

Joint Pool, 2021. Cotton velvet, fir, archival inkjet print on card, acrylic paint, eyelet screws, wire, glass beads, galvanized wire mesh, springs, rubber bands, metallic thread, string, duct tape, MDF, paper clips, staples, canvas, corrugated cardboard, metallic paper, turkey bone, silk organza, coloured acetate, plastic beads, calendar, necklace chain, cotton terry cloth, sand paper, mat board, PVC tube, metal grommets, pipe cleaner, drywall tape, plastic spiral hair tie, metallic tarp, 39 × 21 × 7 inches / 99 × 53,3 × 17,8 cm

Joint Pool, 2021 (detail)

Porthole 1, 2021. Laser print on acetate, acrylic, nails, 6 3/8 × 5 1/4 inches / 16,2 × 13,3 cm

Porthole 2, 2021. Laser print on acetate, acrylic, nails 6 × 5 1/8 inches / 15,2 × 13 cm

Sparger, 2021 (detail)

Downstairs (Bridged), 2021. Corrugated cardboard, hot glue, archival glue, coloured acetate, grid sticker, construction paper, plastic straw, grid paper, string, sequins, glass beads, popsicle sticks, rhinestones, stones, window mesh, acrylic paint, bus transfer, inkjet print on paper, plastic straw, plastic bobby pin, tissue paper, sand paper, glitter, sand, Canadian quarters, leather, cork, metallic thread, thread, stir sticks, duo-tang cover, aluminum tape, faux fur, soap, bristol board, gimp, cardboard tube, magazine cutouts, sticky note, marker, brass stud, pipe cleaner, gaffer tape, glass mirror tiles, plasticized canvas, bread tab, wire, mat board, felt, muslin, PVC tube, push pins, 60 × 20 × 2 1/2 inches / 152,4 × 50,8 × 6,3 cm

Downstairs (Bridged), 2021 (detail)

Bead, 2021. Nail, plastic bead, 1 inch / 2,5 cm

Pools (Public), 2021. Cotton velvet, fir, archival inkjet print on card, acrylic paint, eyelet screws, wire, glass beads, springs, galvanized wire mesh, rubber bands, enamel paint, metallic thread, string, duct tape, paper clips, staples, canvas, plastic straws, garbage bag, tooth picks, drywall tape, grid sticker, bristol board, woodprinted shelf lining, metal grommets, MDF, screws, sequins, leather, hot glue, 30 1/2 × 18 1/2 × 5 inches / 77,5 × 47 × 12,7 cm

Pools (Public), 2021 (detail)

Pool (w), 2021. Cotton velvet, fir, archival inkjet print on card, archival glue, acrylic paint, eyelet screws, wire, crimp beads, glass beads, galvanized wire mesh, rubber bands, metallic thread, string, cotton velvet, cardboard tube, hole-punch reinforcements, colour laser print on acetate, duct tape, paper clips, staples, silk organza, iron-on felt letters, 10 × 18 × 7 inches / 25,4 × 45,7 × 17,8 cm

Pool (w), 2021 (detail)

Skylight Banner, 2021. Canvas, acrylic paint, fabric dye, clear vinyl, metallic thread, nickel plated brass studs, popsicle sticks, Swarovski crystals, wire, metal grommets, nails, staples, 35 × 52 × 1 1/2 inches / 88,9 × 132,1 × 3,8 cm

Pool (Osmosis), 2020, silk velvet, wood, graph paper, wire, glass beads, eyelet screws, staples, acrylic paint, galvanized wire mesh, gromets, string, mat board, sequins, hot glue, cardboard, silk organza, iron on letters, thread, coloured gel, latex tube, popsicle sticks, paper clips, 76.2 x 53.3 x 27.9cm

Pool (Osmosis), 2020

Bath/SRO Model, 2018, corrugated cardboard, butcher tape, scotch tape, hot glue, linen, cotton, polyester, leather, garbage bag, glitter paper, popsicle sticks, bristol board, plasticine, galvanized wire mesh, fiberglass mesh screen, LED lights, vinyl sticker, plastic straw, paper, cling wrap, postcard, vinyl tube, spring, linen tape, latex tube, metallic cardstock, rubber stopper, wire, aluminum tape, gold metal leaf, latex condom, foam core, adhesive vinyl bumper sheet,

inkjet print on paper, 83.8 x 71.1 x 15.2cm

Unit17-DouglasWatt-Apparitions-Installat

Apparitions, installation view Unit 17 2018

Bath/SRO Model, 2018

Bath/SRO Model, 2018 (detail)

Pool, 2018, pine, graph paper, white glue, velvet, galvanized wire mesh, wire, glass beads, springs, vinyl tubing, corrugated cardboard, bristol board, popsicle sticks, butcher tape, framers tape, hot glue, terry cloth towel, business cards, acetate, spray paint, foam board, corrugated plastic, cue card, aluminium tape, inkjet print on paper

40.6 x 68.5 x 20.3cm

Pool, 2018

Unit17-DouglasWatt-PopsicleSticksonPrimo

Popsicle Sticks on Primordial Soup, 2018, raw canvas, gesso, glass beads, sequins, leather, silk chiffon, polyester thread, popsicle sticks, cue card, wire, galvanized wire mesh, sponge, olive oil, oil paint, acetate, acrylic paint, wire, hot glue, latex tube, laserjet print on acetate, fibreglass mesh screen, paperclips, elastic bands, string, eye screws, bell, 114.3 x 63.5cm

Popsicle Sticks on Primordial Soup, 2018 (detail)

Stunning Evidence, installation view Unit 17 2019

Bench & Net, 2019, cedar, soap, rubber bands, paper clips, eyelet screws, dimensions variable

Stunning Evidence, installation view Unit 17 2019

Pumpjack, 2019, cardboard, gold leaf, glass, popsicle sticks, vinyl, velvet, card, plasticized wire, inkjet print, tin foil, beads, chiffon, gaffer tape, mirror, lycra micromesh, newspaper, construction paper, upholstery material, candle, matboard, leather, glitter, tissue paper, ball chain, fishing line, metallic paper, necklace chain, velvet, terry cloth, beads, sequins, ribbon, chalk, embroidery floss, hot glue, plastic gems, organza, dowel, window screen, 100 x 63 x 8cm

Pumpjack, 2019

Pumpjack, 2019 (detail)

Bath House, 2019, cardboard, metal tape, corrugated paper, wrapping paper, construction paper, organza, LEDs with battery pack, silk velvet, graph paper, lycra micromesh, tissue paper, vinyl fabric, popsicle sticks, gaffer tape, bubble wrap, galvanized wire mesh, wire, plastic straws, wool suiting, nut, 61 x 92 x 7cm

Bath House, 2019

Bath House, 2019 (detail)

Pool, 2019, wood, wool suiting, vinyl, graph paper, beads, wire, acrylic, terry cloth, matboard, popsickle sticks, stickers, metal tape, metallic paper, galvanized wire mesh, gel paper, mirror, plastic gems, inkjet prints, bubble wrap, organza, nylon, 67 x 56 x 19cm

Pool, 2019

Pool, 2019 (detail)

Le Village, 2019, canvas, popsicle sticks, black gesso, hot glue, string, egg, turkey wishbone, sand dollar, organza, eyelets, gel paper, beads, sequins, thread, inkjet print, galvanized wire mesh, laser print, human hair, mirror, wood shavings, toilet paper roll, velvet, rubber, paperclip, nail, plastic jem, Jean Genet’s ‘Thief’s Journal,’ rainbow maple leaf pin, leather, lycra micromesh, acrylic, charm, vinyl tubing, wire, labels, aluminum foil, band-aid, chiffon, glass jar, Swarovski crystal, plastic coil, garbage bag, window screen,

101 x 201 x 19cm

Le Village, 2019 (detail)

Pipe/Tube, 2019, cardboard sonotube, roof repair, glitter, confetti, necklace chain, lobster claws, sugar, coffee, hairspray, eyelet screws, nuts, fishline line, spray adhesive, dimensions variable

Stage, 2019 (detail) terry cloth, thread, MDF, organza, glue, eyelets, aluminum foil, dimensions variable

Stage, 2019 (detail)

Clinic, 2019, foamcore, textured spray paint, stir sticks, carpet, paper, cue cards, plasticine, coloured pencil, health & community information cards, metal mesh, leather, tule, inkjet prints, window screen, clothing tag, acrylic, beads, sequins, vinyl shelf lining, lycra micromesh, string, pencil, popsicle sticks, hot glue, vinyl tube, wire, 103 x 59 x 8cm