Bill Burns (artist)


Bill Burns is a Canadian artist.

Life and work

Burns is known for his artists' books, sculpture, drawing and multiples. He completed his post-graduate work in London at Goldsmiths College under Gerard Hemsworth and John Latham. His most recognized work is Safety Gear for Small Animals which was first shown at 303 Gallery, New York and later at the Museum of Modern Art, New York in 2005/2006 and at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London in 2008. His 2002 project "Everything I Could Buy on eBay About Malaria" which was shown at the Wellcome Trust in London, England is considered a seminal work in the area of electronic collecting. Other major solo projects include his Bird Radio work at the KW in Berlin, Love and Affection at Mendes Wood Gallery in Sao Paulo, and The Great Chorus at the Royal Ontario Museum.
Burns has published numerous books including When Pain Strikes, a critical anthology about pain and pain relief, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. Other book titles include Analgesia Montreal: Rochefort ; Urban Fauna Information Station. Toronto: Mercer Union ; Safety Gear for Small Animals Toronto: MOCCA, Toronto ; Bird Radio Berlin: KW and Cologne: Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther Koenig ; .; and Dogs and Boats and Airplanes Told in the Form of Ivan the Terrible . Copenhagen: Space Poetry. Burns has published dozens of guides, posters, and editions that are included in major museum collections throughout the world.
Burns' most notable biennial and museum exhibitions include the ICA in London, the KW in Berlin, the MoMA in New York City as well as Forum Arte y Vida at the Havana Biennial in Havana, Cuba, 2003, the Bienal del Fin del Mundo in Ushuaia, Argentina, 2007 and the Quebec City Biennial - Manif d'art 5, 2010, Biennial of the Moving Image, Buenos Aires, 2013, Bienale de Asuncion, Paraguay 2015 and Bienale de Curitiba, Brazil 2017.

Gallery representation

Burns is represented by MKG127 in Toronto.