Leisure is a collaborative art practice founded in 2004 between Montreal-based artists Meredith Carruthers (1975) and Susannah Wesley (1976). Their research-based practice explores subjects such as feminist cultural history, working in friendship, and children’s right to creativity—particularly as an antidote to climate anxiety.
Solo exhibitions include Having Ideas by Handling Materials (Oakville Galleries, 2023), The Ceremony (Foreman Art Gallery of Bishop’s University, 2021), What is the Will of Love (Diagonale, 2020), How one becomes what one is (Musée d’art de Joliette, 2018), Conversations with Magic Forms (VU Photo, Québec, 2017), and Dualité/Dualité(Artexte, 2015).
Leisure has produced exhibitions and special projects in collaboration with various creative venues in Canada and abroad, including residencies in St. John’s (The Rooms, Terre-Neuve-Labrador, 2016); Dawson City (KIAC, Yukon, 2010); Vienne (Kunstverein das weisse haus, Austria, 2008) and Banff (Banff Centre for the Arts, Alberta, 2007). Group exhibitions include: The Secrets of the Leaning Building (Tartu Kunstimuuseum, Tartu, EE, 2024); Contemporary Kids (The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa, ON, 2024); The Wildflower (Hafnarfjörður Centre of Culture and Fine Art, Reykjavik, Iceland, 2020); The Artist’s Studio is Her Bedroom (Contemporary Art Gallery Vancouver, BC, 2020); todo dia. Everyday (XXI International Architecture Biennale 2019 São Paulo, Brazil, 2019); In Search of Expo 67 (Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, QC, 2017); Write Gestures (Panorama de la Friche la Belle de Mai, Marseille, FR, 2016); and The Let Down Reflex (The Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts, New York, USA, 2016). Leisure’s artwork can be found in the collections of Galerie Leonard & Bina Ellen, Montreal, The Rooms, St. John’s, NFLD, Musée d’art de Joliette, QC, and Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal. Wesley and Carruthers are currently pursuing a collaborative PhD in the INDI program at Concordia University.