Sara Heinonen is a Canadian writer and photo-based visual artist. Originally from Toronto, Sara now lives in Hamilton, Ontario.
Her photography has been selected for juried and invited fine art exhibitions in Toronto and Southern Ontario. Stelco Tower: A Love Story is her self-published photography book, an ode to a 50-year-old modern office building at the centre of Hamilton that serves as a muse, lighthouse, and pal. My Year with a GIANT TIGER, her self-published photography book, describes the experience of recording an inner city discount store during a year that overlapped the start of the pandemic.
Her story collection Dear Leaves, I Miss You All was published by Mansfield Press in 2013. Sara’s fiction has appeared in numerous Canadian literary magazines, including Grain, Event, The Fiddlehead, Taddle Creek, The New Quarterly, and The Dalhousie Review. Her writing has been supported by grants from the Canada Council, Ontario Arts Council, and Toronto Arts Council.
curriculum vitae
photography exhibitions + gallery projects
2023
“50 Views of Stelco Tower,” solo photography exhibit at Annex Gallery, Hamilton Public Library Central Branch, July - August.
“Welcome to the Ambitious City,” Limited Edition print, Winter Edition of the Smokestack Quarterly 2023 at Smokestack Studios. More information here.
2021
Various images of Hamilton street scenes, Art Gallery of Hamilton 2021 Art Sale
2020
Giant Tiger, 33 Cannon Street East, Hamilton, July 28, 2020 and Summer Light and Air —RMG Focused juried silent auction, The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa.
Giant Tiger, 33 Cannon Street East, Hamilton, March 13, 2020, Hamilton —No Name Biennale, Hundred Dollar Gallery at Paul Elia Gallery, Hamilton —Grand Jury Prize winner.
Spring Evening on Cannon Street East and Borrowed View, SNAP 2020 silent auction (juried), Toronto
Hamilton Vision Centre, VAM 42nd Annual Juried Show of Fine Arts, Art Gallery of Mississauga.
2019
Lower Don, Carmichael Landscape Exhibition — Tradition Transformed, Orillia Museum of Art & History.
2015
Love It Here, RMG Exposed juried silent auction, The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa.
publications
2023
Stelco Tower: A Love Story
Self-published photography book, Limited Edition of 50, hardcover 80 pages,
Hamilton50 Years of Stelco Tower: What You’ve Always Wanted to Know (But Didn’t Think to Ask)
Self-published zine, Edition of 500, stapled booklet, 36 pages, Hamilton
2020
My Year with a GIANT TIGER
Self-published photography book, softcover 34 pages,
Hamilton
2008 to 2016
Short fiction — Eleven published stories in various Canadian literary journals
2013
Dear Leaves, I Miss You All
short story collection, Mansfield Press, Toronto
2005
“This House Will Floor You”
The Globe & Mail, Saturday, January 29, 2005
presentations
2021
My Street Photography Practice and Giant Tiger Project (virtual talk)
Burlington Public Library in association with the Art Gallery of Burlington
awards
2024
The Art of Heritage Recognition Award, Hamilton Municipal Heritage Committee
grants
2022
Ontario Arts Council Grant, Writers’ Reserve program
2012
Ontario Arts Council Grant, Writers’ Reserve program
2012
Canada Council Grant for Professional Writers, Creative Writing
2009
Toronto Arts Council Grant, Individual Writer
