Nelson Henricks

Nelson Henricks is a Part-time Instructor in Intermedia (Video, Performance and Electronic Arts) at Concordia University, Montreal. A multidisciplinary artist, musician, writer, and curator, he is internationally recognized for video installations exhibited at institutions including the Museum of Modern Art (New York, 2000), with works held in MoMA, National Gallery of Canada, and Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal collections. His 2022-23 solo exhibition at MAC Montréal confirms ongoing professional activity.

Henricks earned his BFA from Concordia University (1994) and PhD from Université du Québec à Montréal (2018), establishing deep academic roots in Montreal's art ecosystem. He has previously taught at McGill University, UQAM, and Université de Montréal, demonstrating extensive pedagogical experience across Quebec's major institutions.

His research traverses video art, performance, audio installations, photography, painting, sculpture, and electronic media, with critical investigations into synaesthesia, historical narratives, and labor politics. This interdisciplinary practice consistently challenges perceptual boundaries while engaging with Canadian cultural identity and global media discourse through materially diverse approaches.

Analysis of his 1998-2010 publications reveals sustained scholarly engagement with Canadian video art history, perceptual theory (particularly light studies), and critical examinations of artistic peers. His writings form a cohesive body analyzing media art's evolution within North American contexts, emphasizing collaborative practices and institutional critique through essays on figures like Tom Sherman and Steve Reinke.

Henricks' contributions have been recognized with significant awards:

• Bell Canada Award in Video Art (2002)
• Board of Governors' Alumni Award of Excellence from Alberta College of Art and Design (2005)

While no formal advising roles or grant projects are documented, his curatorial work with Perte de Signal and extensive critical writing demonstrate knowledge mobilization through alternative academic channels. His 2010 mid-career retrospective at Leonard & Bina Ellen Gallery and ongoing exhibition history indicate sustained creative output beyond traditional academic metrics.

Henricks maintains active connections with Montreal's artist-run centers, particularly through his involvement with Perte de Signal collective, reflecting embeddedness in local creative communities that shape his practice-based research methodology.