Alum Spotlight: Avalon Mott – Inaugural Recipient of The Delaney Family Emerging Curator’s Prize

Avalon Mott, Master of Fine Arts – Criticism & Curational Practice, Class of 2023

Avalon Mott (she/her) is a curator, photographer and arts administrator from Vancouver now proudly calling Toronto home. After obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Emily Carr University of Art + Design in 2013, Avalon continued her academic journey at OCAD University, earning a Master of Fine Arts degree in the Criticism & Curatorial Practice program in 2023. Today, Avalon works as the Director of Xpace Cultural Centre and is a contributing member of the plumb artist collective.

Avalon recalls being curious about cameras and art from a young age largely due to her father’s interest and practice in photography. Naturally, she developed a connection to photography as a way of image-making and looking at the world around her.

As her artistic practice evolved, so did her passion for curatorial work. Avalon’s dedication to supporting underrepresented artists and practices led her to intentionally create spaces inviting viewers to approach her exhibitions with curiosity. Her goal is to foster engagement with art and provide meaningful spaces within her exhibitions for deep observation and reflection.

Avalon received numerous accolades throughout her studies including OCAD U’s Presidential Scholarship and the Ontario Graduate Scholarship. Most recently, OCAD U’s flagship professional art gallery, Onsite Gallery, announced Avalon as the inaugural recipient of the Delaney Family Emerging Curator's Prize.

Made possible as part of a transformational gift from business leader and philanthropist Kiki Delaney and The Delaney Family, the prize will provide Avalon with financial support as she presents her curatorial project, Presence in a Past or an Undetermined Future., an immersive two-person exhibition featuring Nabil Azab and Shannon Garden-Smith at Onsite Gallery. Avalon will work directly with and receive professional mentorship from Onsite Gallery’s curatorial staff leading to the upcoming January 2025 exhibition.

Congratulations, Avalon

In conversation with Avalon Mott:

1. What inspired you to pursue a career in curatorial practice, and how did your graduate studies at OCAD U shape your work here in Toronto? 

My interest in curation began when I was pursuing my undergraduate degree while studying at Emily Carr University of Art + Design. I was pursuing my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography with a minor in Social Practice and Community Engagement (SPACE). Photography has always been part of my life – it’s the way in which I see my surroundings through a lens and evaluate space. However, throughout my undergrad, I realized that curation is an extension of that in terms of being able to provide a lens or to be able to provide context with artists and practices. I was really drawn to that.

I think coming from Vancouver, OCAD U’s Criticism & Curatorial Practice graduate program was really helpful in terms of being able to situate myself in Toronto in a meaningful way and be at the centre of a lot of things that were happening in the arts community. It also provided me with the dedicated space to be able to refine and research my existing curatorial practice alongside my peers and faculty.

2. Winning the Delaney Family Emerging Curator’s Prize is a significant achievement. How do you feel this prize will impact your career and what does it mean to you personally and professionally?

It's an incredible opportunity to be able to engage in institutional curation. Being able to work alongside the team at Onsite Gallery is very enlightening for me as it expands my curatorial scope further alongside the work that I'm doing at Xpace and the plumb – it's adding another layer to my understanding of my curatorial practice within different spaces.

3. Looking ahead at your upcoming exhibition at Onsite Gallery, could you give us a sneak peek into what themes and artists you’ll be showcasing and what visitors can expect from the exhibition? 

Absolutely.

I'm thrilled to be working with artists Nabil Azab and Shannon Garden-Smith on this exhibition. It will be a two-person exhibition titled Presence in a past or an undetermined future. Both of these artists’ immersive works tease affect as a motivator to be able to hold the viewer in the gallery space. Azab will be showcasing large-scale abstract lens-based works alongside hanging sculptural work from Garden-Smith. The ambition of this show is to create a space where viewers are able to consider past and future - to be able to grasp the present moment. I'm really excited to be working with them both on this exhibition.

4. What advice would you give to recent OCAD U graduates and emerging curators who are looking to make their mark in the art world?

First and foremost, start showing up and make it fun. What I mean by that is start going to openings, going to talks and chatting with folks at the spaces you're visiting. It means subscribing to Instant Coffee and receiving that digest and understanding what's going on in the city. I think Toronto is so incredibly rich with opportunity. Things are happening all the time throughout the city that, at times, can feel extremely overwhelming. However, I think it’s really important to start identifying what spaces are really speaking to you, which artists you're really excited by and finding your place and then expanding out from that. And that all starts by showing up.

5. Last but not least, what is your fondest memory while studying at OCAD U?

Half of my time pursuing my graduate degree was during COVID-19, which was definitely difficult. However, when we were able to come back to campus and start being in classrooms with one another again, it was such a beautiful shift in energy. As a curatorial student, spending time in the IAMD studio and fostering relationships was important to me. I still work quite closely with many of the artists and faculty I met while studying at OCAD U between my position as the Director at Xpace Cultural Centre and a member of the plumb collective.

Avalon Mott’s work can be viewed at her website: www.avalonmott.com.

About the Exhibition: Presence in a past or an undetermined future. (January 22 – May 17, 2025)

Guest Curator: Avalon Mott

Artwork By: Nabil Azab and Shannon Garden-Smith

Opening Reception at Onsite Gallery: Wednesday, January 22, 2025, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Presence in a past or an undetermined future. is a two-person exhibition featuring Nabil Azab and Shannon Garden-Smith that endeavors to hold a moment of presence by calling on what came before it and giving space to think of what will come after it. Through the immersive work of these artists, viewers are moved towards a space of affect which allows for a prolonged holding in the exhibition space. It is in this coalescing of history and future, the present emerges.

About Onsite Gallery:

Onsite Gallery, located at 199 Richmond St. W., is the flagship professional gallery of OCAD University and an experimental curatorial platform for art, design and new media.