Teresa Ascencao

Teresa Ascencao is a multimedia artist and educator. Her artworks transgress notions of gender, seduction and class. As an advocate for social and environmental causes, she produces and facilitates interdisciplinary art residencies on the diversity of the human body and material and magical notions of water. She has spearheaded various citizen events towards sustainable and community-oriented goals, facilitated photo and media art workshops to economically and geographically disadvantaged youth, and led university student projects in accessibility and sustainability. Her commitment to disadvantaged peoples has included four separate annual Ontario Arts Council grants to teach at elementary schools, including Wasaho First Nations School in Fort Severn and Northern Lights Secondary School in Moosonee. Teresa was born in Brazil to Azorean parents. She graduated with an Honours B.A. with distinction from the University of Toronto and earned an M.F.A. specializing in media art from OCAD University. She is a member of the Ontario Art Education Association and A Space Gallery, where she previously served on the board. In 2021, Teresa is the recipient of the Faculty of Design Teaching Award at OCADU.