Fleeting: Glen Wallis Exhibition

Inspired by the traditional process of quilt-making, Glen Wallis creates grid-like paintings using encaustic as a collage medium, embedding found objects from the environment into his work.

A multidisciplinary artist, Wallis has always enjoyed sewing and has his maternal grandmother’s Bernina sewing machine — a cherished heirloom that symbolizes his deep-rooted affection for this craft. The idea for his “Quilt” series was born from this love of textiles and handcraft, translating the comforting structure of quilts into a visual, painterly language.

Glen first experimented with encaustic painting more than 20 years ago during a week-long class at the Haliburton School of the Arts. During a break from the class, he went out for a walk and stumbled upon a dead butterfly. Struck by its delicate beauty, he incorporated it into his first quilt painting. The wax medium acted as a natural preservative, encasing and protecting the fragile specimen — a moment that deeply influenced his artistic direction.

His first solo show at Melt Studio Gallery, titled Fleeting, reflects these themes of impermanence, memory, and preservation — capturing moments that might otherwise be lost to time. On exhibition May 16th-June 1st, 2025.

The Gallery has planned an exciting array of solo and group exhibitions for the upcoming season. Please visit meltstudiogallery.com to view the full 2025 exhibition schedule and to learn about upcoming open calls.

Please join us for this exhibition’s opening reception, which will take place on May 17 from 1–4 pm at the gallery.

Located at Base31, Barrack 3, (Dieppe Road), 343 County Rd 22, Picton.