Surrounded by art and artists and as a student of art history and studio arts, Gordy taught black and white photography and commercial art/design for 10 years. Previously, she worked alongside artists as they engaged with school aged children in the inner city and as a program coordinator for a not for profit arts organization. In recent years, Gordy Ess worked in a gallery and was exposed to such an array of talent. Continuing to take classes in a variety of mediums and learning from a diverse group of artists, she is able to dedicate her time solely on her own artwork. Since 2017, her works of art were seen at exhibitions held in Cambridge, Burlington, Paris, Grimsby, and Toronto.
Her education began by completing her Bachelor of Arts in Art History and English Literature at the University of Toronto followed by receiving her Diploma in Studio Arts and Arts Education from Sheridan College. Gordy Ess also obtained her Bachelor of Education in Artist in the Community Program at Queen’s University. She studied under local artists for 4 years.