Piera Pugliese

Artist Bio

Piera Pugliese is a Toronto-based landscape painter whose work explores the emotional and environmental resonance of the Canadian wilderness. Her practice, rooted in en plein air observation and studio refinement, is marked by a fearless use of colour and a deep pursuit of wonder. The result is a body of work that is both compelling and tranquil, inviting viewers into a space of reflection, presence, and connection. Pugliese has exhibited in numerous group shows across public and private galleries and has presented solo exhibitions in alternative art venues. In 2024, she was awarded the Kleinburg Village Prize for En Plein Air painting, adjudicated by Sarah Milroy, Chief Curator of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. She also received third place in the McMichael En Plein Air competition in 2023. Earlier in her career, she was honoured with a purchase award from the Archives of Ontario (2003), as well as the Paper-making and Realist Painting awards from the Ontario College of Art and Design, where she graduated in 1992. Her love of the landscape genre began during a formative OCAD painting course in the Algoma highlands. Beyond her painting practice, Pugliese is an active member of the arts community. She founded the Junction Arts Festival and co-founded the Junction Forum for Arts and Culture. In 2017, she participated in the Alchemy Artist Residency. Since the pandemic lockdown, she has embraced digital tools, building her own website, pursuing marketing training, and joining a range of artist networks. She is a member of the Women’s Art Association of Canada, Colour and Form Society, HelloArt, and Headwaters Arts.