Shannon Oksanen is originally from Vancouver, where she continues to reside; she acquired a B.A from the University of British Columbia in 1993. Since the mid-nineties she has participated in exhibitions across Canada as well as internationally, including solo shows at VTO Gallery, London, England; Or Gallery, Vancouver; and Tracey Lawrence Gallery, Vancouver. Oksanen participated in Baja to Vancouver a touring exhibition of West Coast artists, coordinated by the Seattle Art Museum, San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art, Vancouver Art Gallery, and the Wattis Art Institute (2003). She has participated in group exhibitions at Gordon Smith Museum, West Vancouver (2017); Kamloops Art Gallery, (2011); Passogen Gallery, Linköping, Sweden (2004); Gallery 303, New York (2005); and the Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver (2007).