Bio
Originally from Nanjing, China, Wang Zi 王紫 is an artist-educator currently lives and works in Toronto, Canada. Zi has attained her bachelor's degree in design from OCAD University. As a Guggenheim Bilbao scholarship recipient, she completed her Master's degree at SDA Bocconi in Milan Italy. Her artworks have been seen at venues including Legislative Assembly of Ontario(CA), Métis Space (HK) , Serpa Gallery (CA), Richmond Hill Public Library(CA). She has been teaching and facilitating arts and cultural programs in various institutions including Royal Ontario Museum, CAMH (Center for Mental Health and Addiction), City of Ottawa, City of Richmond Hill, Red Cross Canada, etc.
When she's not making art and doing all the above activities, she loves teaching kids, going to weddings, and sharing her terrible jokes with interesting souls.
Artist Statement
My practice consists of printed objects, performance, painting, and installation based on personal history and historical research. Through reconstructing scenes and artifacts, I use literal and connotative forms to examine the state of people in foreign settings: compromises that are overlooked, perplexities that remain unresolved, and emotions that are self-censored. I believe that shared humanity is what connects us.
Education
SDA Bocconi, Master in Arts Management & Administration
OCAD University, BDes in Advertising
Soochow University, Summer Research Fellow
Selected Exhibitions
2024 Project Cocoon x TPL, Toronto PublicLibrary, Toronto (upcoming)
2024 Future Proof, Open Studio, Toronto(upcoming)
2024 Artà la Carte, Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Toronto (upcoming)
2024 Winter Juried Show, Arts and Letters Club,Toronto
2024 Blublu Night-Original Sound from Toronto, CaféBlublu, Toronto
2023 Homecoming –Project Cocoon x Chinatown, Scadding Court Community Centre, Toronto
2023 The Next Wave, Gales Gallery, Toronto
2023 Awagami International Mini-print Exhibition, Yoshinogawa City, Japan
2023 #ArtBank50Purchase, Art Bank, Doors Open Ottawa, Ottawa
2023 Paraline, Midnight Arcade, Toronto, Canada
2022 Homecoming-Project Cocoon x Toronto Chinatown, Scadding Court Community Centre, Toronto, Canada
2022 Alone, Together, Ignite Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2022 Homecoming-Project Cocoon, Duo Solo Show, Richmond Hill Public Library , Richmond Hill, Canada
2022 Poetry Hologram Installation - Zuzu, Toronto International Festival of Authors, Toronto, Canada
2022 Art à la Carte, LegislativeAssembly of Ontario, Toronto, Canada
2022 Blue Print for a Collective Home, Great Hall Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2019 The Mindful Project: Roots|Routes, Serpa Gallery, Aurora, Canada
2019 Untapped Competition Finalist, Artist Project , Toronto, Canada
2017 Transl (oc)ating the MTR: A Polyphonic Exhibition, Metis Space, Hong Kong
Acquisition & Collection
Canada Council for the Arts
Private collections(Aunt Julia and Veronica)
Grants & Scholarships
2024 Canadian Graduate Scholarship, Canada Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
2024 Award Winner, Future Proof 2024,Open Studio, Toronto (TBA)
2024 Artists in the Library, Toronto Arts Council
2023 Fellowship, York University GraduateScholarship
2019 Entrance Scholarship, GuggenheimBilbao Scholarship, SDA Bocconi
2019 Untapped Competition National Finalist, Artist Project,Toronto
2016 Ontario-Jiangsu Research & Design Exchange Program
Media
2023 Canada Council for the Arts, Media Release Jan 8th, 2023
2022 MUSING, University of Toronto Museum Management,Dec 13th, 2022
2022 Experience York Region, Nov. 8th, 2022
2022 Feiyue Talk Show, Oct 15th, FM 1540, A1 Radio
2019 Toronto Art Newspaper, Issue No.2, April 2019
2019 Creative of Toronto, March 8th, 2019