• Visit
  • What’s On
  • Learning & Research
  • About
  • SFU Art Collection

Closed

Wednesday–Sunday, 11AM–5PM

Always Free

Support the Gibson

8888 University Drive

Burnaby, British Columbia

Canada V5A 1S6

778-782-4266

Closed

Wednesday–Sunday, 11AM–5PM

Always Free

VisitGetting HereAccessibilityContactShop
Learning & ResearchUniversity Students & FacultyK–12 LearningKids & FamiliesTeen Art Lab
What's OnCurrentUpcomingArchive
AboutTeam & GovernanceSupportOpportunitiesFacility Rentals
SFU Art CollectionRecent AcquisitionsPublic Art

exhibition

on view
Jul 4, 2026–Sep 13, 2026

Working Proof

Leslie J. Fawkes, Susan Gransby, Libby Hague, Anna Wong

A monochromatic artwork depicting three silhouetted figures of women standing side by side, each holding a bag. The background features a faint outline of a window or a frame, with a solitary male figure visible in the distance. The overall composition emphasizes the contrast between the dark silhouettes and the lighter background. The piece is signed and numbered at the bottom.

Libby Hague, The Women Walking By, 1978. Stencil and pochoir, cutout on paper. SFU Art Collection. Gift of Harvey Taraday, 1999. Courtesy the artist. 

Rachel Topham Photography

Selected from the SFU Art Collection’s print holdings, Working Proof presents key works by four artists—Leslie J. Fawkes, Susan Gransby, Libby Hague, and Anna Wong—whose decades-long practices have consistently expanded the possibilities of printmaking.

The selections span an especially vibrant period of printmaking in Canada—between 1975 and 1990—when institutions such as the Malaspina Printmaking Society and the Print and Drawing Council of Canada, run by printmakers themselves, responded to growing public awareness of printmaking as an art form and furthered this interest through dedicated workshops and exhibitions.

Working Proof draws attention to the artists’ varied contributions to such institutions. Whether as educators, editors, or arts administrators, their individual printmaking practices went hand in hand with efforts to increase access to print education and to develop wider audiences for the medium.

Curated by Joshua Segun-Lean, with support from Kimberly Phillips and Julia Lamare

Generously supported by Arlene James, Vered Amit, Noel Dyck, and Friends of the Gibson

Support Material

Exhibition Guide - Working Proof

Glossary - Printmaking Terms

Related Programs

  • EventSummer Exhibition Opening Reception

Artists

  • Leslie J. Fawkes
  • Susan Gransby
  • Libby Hague
  • Anna Wong

Contributors

  • Joshua Segun-Lean

Event Partners

Arterra Wines Canada
Black logo for Parallel 49 Brewing Company, featuring bold text with "PARALLEL" at the top and "BREWING COMPANY" at the bottom, along with a graphic of a maple leaf and stylized arrows.

Community Partners

Fine Art Framing
SIAT (School of Interactive Arts & Technology)

Supporters

CCA logo
British Columbia Arts Council logo


Images (13)

A black and white linocut print depicting a reclining female figure. The figure has curly hair and is positioned on a patterned surface featuring flowers and geometric designs. Her hand rests gently on her body, creating a sense of intimacy. The background is textured, enhancing the overall composition.
An abstract artwork featuring a blend of earthy tones like browns, grays, and golds. The composition includes various shapes and textures, resembling figures, patterns, and lines. To the bottom right, there is a stylized depiction of a bird or animal with a recognizable beak. Text at the bottom reads "Venice Vapos" along with the artist's signature and date, suggesting a layered, textured print style.
A split image features a scenic view of the Great Wall of China with mountains in the background. The top half shows a winding path along the wall with figures in the distance, while the bottom half presents two smiling individuals in traditional attire standing on the wall, with a light blue sky and distant mountains behind them. The overall image has a graphic, artistic quality, enhanced by soft color contrasts.
An interior view of an art gallery featuring wooden ceilings and light wood flooring. On the left, there is a wall display with several framed artworks and an informational sign titled "Working Proof: Selections from the SFU Art Collection." In the center of the room, a long white table displays art pieces, and on the right, more framed artworks are mounted on the wall.
A spacious art gallery features light wooden flooring and a wooden ceiling with spotlight fixtures. On the left wall, several framed artworks are displayed, while the right wall has more framed pieces. In the center, there are two white rectangular tables positioned parallel to each other, creating an open area. Large windows in the background allow natural light to enter the space.
A spacious, well-lit gallery features a light wooden floor and wooden ceiling beams. On the left wall, there are several framed artworks displayed in a row. In the center, a white, minimalist table holds additional items for viewing. On the right wall, more framed pieces are mounted. A sign near the entrance provides information about the exhibition.
A modern art gallery interior with light wooden flooring and a high ceiling featuring wooden beams. In the foreground, two white tables display artworks and prints. The walls are adorned with five framed artworks ranging in style and color. A large window on the left allows natural light to enter the space, illuminating the artwork on display.
A modern art gallery featuring a white wall displaying framed artwork pieces. In the foreground, a white table holds several magazines. The gallery has light wooden floors and a simple, minimalist design.
Four framed artworks are displayed on a light-colored wall in an art gallery. The pieces vary in style and colour. The first artwork features abstract figures in muted tones, the second depicts a dark interior scene, the third showcases a mix of green and brown tones, and the last displays vibrant colors representing a landscape. The floor is light wood, and the overall setting is minimalist.
A minimalist gallery wall displaying a total of six framed artworks. On the left, two smaller portraits in thin black frames, featuring simple line drawings. To the right, there are four larger black and white prints showcasing abstract figures against textured backgrounds, each in a matching black frame. The wall is light-colored, and the floor features light wooden planks.
A minimalist art gallery interior featuring a pale wooden floor and a white wall. Five framed artworks are displayed in a horizontal arrangement. The pieces feature various colours and textures, including abstract designs and depictions of landscapes.
A spacious art gallery with light wooden flooring. In the foreground, a long white table displays several booklets. To the right, there are three framed artworks hanging on the wall. A vertical informational poster is mounted on the wall behind the table. The overall ambiance is bright and minimalist.
An exhibition space featuring two white tables displaying a collection of printed materials. The foreground table holds various magazine clippings, brochures, and photographs, some with the word "Chop" prominently featured. The background table has a few booklets laid out. The floor is light wood, and the walls are plain and white.

Leslie J. Fawkes, an artist hailing from North Vancouver, embarked on her artistic journey in the early 1980s at Emily Carr College of Art and Design on Granville Island. Fawkes' portfolio is distinguished by its bold and bright aesthetic, characterized by a striking use of screen printing, acrylic painting on paper, and oil stick drawings on paper. Her art prominently features nude singular figures, couples, and male/female forms, presented with a compelling combination of sensitivity and boldness. Previously, Fawkes' art has been exhibited and represented by galleries such as Crown Galleries and Onley Gallery in Vancouver, as well as Marianne Partlow Gallery in Washington state.

Susan Gransby is a Canadian printmaker based in Burnaby, British Columbia. She immigrated to Canada with her family as a child and later earned a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of British Columbia in 1969, followed by an Honours Diploma in Printmaking from the Vancouver School of Art in 1979. Before dedicating herself fully to her art practice, Gransby worked as a reporter, copy editor, and assistant art editor at the Vancouver Sun. In 1983 she began working at the Malaspina Printmakers Studio, where she has also served on the board, and she has been a trustee of the Burnaby Art Gallery. Gransby works primarily in etching, reduction linocut, monotype, and mixed media. Her practice centres on urban and industrial architecture, filtering observed structures through memory and imagination. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is held in numerous public and corporate collections, including the Vancouver Art Gallery, Canada Council Art Bank, Burnaby Art Gallery, and Simon Fraser University (Burnaby, BC).

Libby Hague is a Canadian visual artist based in Toronto, known for her innovative work in printmaking and immersive installations. She holds a BFA (Honours) from Sir George Williams University (now Concordia University) and is a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA). Hague is also affiliated with Open Studio, a Toronto-based printmaking cooperative. Hague has exhibited extensively across Canada and internationally. Notable exhibitions include The Past is Never Over, a retrospective at the Art Gallery of Mississauga; Every Heart Can Grow Bigger: Make Room at O.D.D. Gallery in Dawson City, Yukon; and On This Wondrous Sea at the Karachi Biennale in Pakistan. In addition to her artistic endeavors, Hague has contributed to the academic community as a printmaking instructor at Sheridan College from 1988 to 2002. Her work is represented in several public collections, including the Donovan Collection at the University of Toronto.

Anna Wong (1930-2013) was born and raised in Chinatown in Vancouver, BC. In her early twenties, Wong worked at her family’s business, Modernize Tailors. After studying Chinese brush painting in Hong Kong and graduating from the Vancouver School of Art with a degree in creative printmaking, she continued on to study and teach at the Pratt Graphics Center in New York City. In the 1960’s her original prints received several international prizes. She has represented Canada in a number of international print biennials, and was featured in a solo exhibition at the National Art Gallery of China in Beijing in 1979.

Joshua Segun-Lean is a writer, curator, and editor. His writing has appeared in the Brooklyn Rail, Frieze, C Magazine, and elsewhere. He is the author of Do Not Send Me Out Among Strangers. Segun-Lean holds a MA in Contemporary Arts from Simon Fraser University.