Dana Holst (b.1972, Canada) is an Edmonton, Alberta based artist who received her B. A. in Fine Arts from the University of Waterloo in 1995. Working primarily in figurative painting and drawing, her work is an ongoing investigation into the human experience, focusing on the feminine self and it’s nebulous place within society. Holst creates theatrical and speculative narratives around the emotional lives of young women, who are depicted in the process of building their identities, discovering their sexuality and learning about the world. Using portraiture as a catalyst, Holst’s girls are caught in situations of import and fate, where dark social secrets are explored with ambiguous outcomes offering further opportunity to navigate from a place of innocence to deeper understanding.Noteworthy public exhibits include the solo show She’s All That (2015) at the Art Gallery of Alberta, which was curated by Kristy Trinier and accompanied by a catalogue; Betwixt and Between (2014) a two person show with mixed media artist Jude Griebel at The Reach Museum in Abbotsford BC; and Artefact Artefiction (2013) a group exhibition curated by Dawn Owen at The Macdonald Stewart Art Gallery (now The Art Gallery of Guelph) in Guelph Ontario. In 2011 Holst was honored to be selected by Wajdi Mouawad, the director of the Théâtre Français of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, to be Associate Visual Artist for the 2011-2012 season titled Nous Ne Sommes Pas Dangereux. Her work is included in numerous public and private collections including the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, The Agnes Etherington Art Centre of Queen’s University, the Art Bank Collection, the Colart Collection and the Glenbow Museum.