JE (Liz) Solo (she/they) is a multi-disciplinary performance and media artist, writer, and musician best known as a trailblazer in machinima, hybrid-reality, and live and networked performance art; and for their work in Canadian music. They create performance artworks and installations that merge traditional practices (theatre, writing) with technology, (virtual worlds/game environments).
A powerful performer, Solo creates work that bridges the physical stage and digital realms. Their performances often span multiple venues and online platforms. Solo’s work is focused on themes of identity, and on examining humanity’s relationship to nature and to technology.
Currently situated in Toronto, JE has spent a large part of their 40+ year career in Newfoundland and Labrador. JE was deeply influenced by NL collective theatre practices–where cross-pollination between disciplines was the norm–and shaped by the independent punk/rock music scene. The ethics of these movements remain guiding factors in how she works. Solo refers to their training in the NL scene as extraordinary and unique.
Beyond her artistic endeavours, Solo is fiercely dedicated to supporting other artists. As the founder of the Women From the Future, she highlights women using technology in the arts; as the curator and manager of the Odyssey Simulators, she oversees the projects and presentations of the BBMC and an array of International artists. As an independent producer, Solo has created and produced countless workshops, festivals, stages, online networked events, and special projects, providing opportunities & accessible platforms to hundreds of artists.
JE Solo is also the author of the novel, Phreak, (House of Zolo, 2020), shortlisted for the Writers Alliance of NL’s Fresh Fish Award, and winner of the Write Project’s 2020 Book of the Year. JE’s collection of fourteen short stories, Nature, Human, (House of Zolo, 2023) is about to be released as a second edition, and selected stories are currently being produced as an audio book, short performances, and video pieces.
JE Solo is co-founder and member of the Black Bag Media Collective, the current curator/manager of the Odyssey Contemporary Art and Performance Simulators, and a musician and composer. Ensemble acts include Tallulah & The Man (with Mike Kean) (2023- present); The Sauce (2013 – present), TrixXxie (2013 – 2017), Lizband (1993 – 2013 ), The Black Bags (2002 – 2013), and Live Girls (2,000 – 2002). JE is co-founder and current Artistic Director of the media and performance company, Roles 4 Womxn.
JE is the recipient of the Media Arts Prize and the Dramatic Script Prize from the NL Arts and Letters Awards; the Linda Joy Award from the Atlantic Film Festival for their screenplay, the machine; a Lifetime Membership Award from MusicNL; and the East Coast Music Association’s Stompin’ Tom Connors Award for their accomplishments in music. Dozens of JE’s stage plays, videos and performance art works have been presented across Canada and around the world including at ISEA, File Electronic Language International Festival, The IOTA Institute, Women From the Future, Courts Critiques, Festival of New Dance, Resource Centre for the Arts, The Big Screen Project, Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art, and the 7a*11d International Festival of Performance Art.
Solo continues to explore new frontiers in performance art & technology.
