Announcing the Recipients of the 2024 Whippersnapper Gallery OCAD U Storefront Career Launcher!

OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers is excited to share that the following artists have been selected for the Whippersnapper OCAD U Storefront Career Launcher!

In mid-July to mid-August 2024, these artists will present a rotating storefront display of artworks and goods to sell their work to the public.

Group 1 (July 20, 21, 27, 28, 12-5 PM)

• Ella Verner, Hyunsun Park, Rylee Hollis

Group 2 ( August, 3, 4, 10, 11, 12-5 PM)

• Anoosh Mubashar, Geann Gamboa/Samantha Liu/Jewel Pavao, Ellie Hsu

Ella Verner
Ella is an emerging illustrator based in Peterborough Ontario, and a recent graduate of OCAD U. She spends much of her time in her home studio with her bulldog Auggie, creating multi-media pieces with a new found love for printmaking. Her latest project "pollinators collection," is a smal lclothing line inspired by the little creatures that keep our landscapes beautiful. Much of Ella's work reflects her conservation efforts, protecting and raising awareness for endangered pollinators and their habitats.

Hyunsun Park
Hyunsun Park is a Toronto-based illustrator specializing in gouache paint. Her art delves into themes of anti-capitalism, feminism, and the empowerment of marginalized communities, reflecting her identity as a BIPOC and queer artist. Hyunsun's work balances humour and serene aesthetics, creating inclusive visual narratives that foster empathy and spark meaningful discussions. A recent graduate of OCAD University, she continues to push artistic boundaries, blending traditional and contemporary techniques. Through her evocative storytelling, Hyunsun invites viewers to explore the complexities of life and reflect on shared human experiences.

Rylee Hollis
Rylee Hollis is an illustrator from Houston based in Toronto.They recently graduated from OCAD University with a Bachelor of Design in Illustration. Inspired by fringe culture, alternative fashion, and strange encounters, their work explores colorful milieus that house quirky, intimate interactions. Rylee also loves the color green and anthropomorphic cats.

Anoosh Mubashar 

Anoosh Mubashar is a Toronto-based artist who enjoys working in many mediums, especially paint and printmaking. She is inspired by the human mind, nature, and expresses art through familial stories of nostalgia and growing pains. She enjoys incorporating graphic street styles with dainty, rendered images to explore the contradictions found in everyday life.

Ellie Hsu

Ellie Hsu is a Taiwanese-Canadian artist and illustrator based in Toronto. Growing up as a walking contradiction, she is drawn to the mundane, bizarre aspects of life while questioning the nature of reality. With a touch of innocence and whimsy rooted in sentiment for the past, the subjects of her pieces bring to light the possibility that one's subconscious and memories could alter the truth they seek.

Gem (Geann Gamboa)

Geann, also known as Gem, is a Queer Filipino artist and designer based in Whitby, Canada, pursuing a degree in Illustration at OCAD University. They run Gemwrld, an online shop known for its cute, bright designs. Gem actively builds artistic communities, hosting events like cupsleeve gatherings and initiating the "Mako Art Market," a Toronto-based community for local artists. Their charming and relatable illustrations capture joy and simplicity, resonating with a diverse audience and bringing smiles to all.

Samantha Liu

Samantha Liu is a graphic designer and illustrator based in Toronto pursuing her studies at OCAD University. She hopes to foster a sense of community among her audience which is evident in her work and merchandise—such as matching keychains for friends, prints of beloved characters, or humorous stickers. Samantha aims to build a community where people can bond over mutual interests and subtle pop culture references. She often expresses a willingness to experiment with her art style which keeps her work fresh and provides new paths for artistic growth. 

Jewel Pavao

Jewel Pavao (she/her) is an Illustrator and Graphic Designer based in Toronto, ON merging the playful and cute with a bold, graphic touch. Her practice revolves around exploring contemporary social issues through the lens of her mixed-Filipino heritage and an intersectional feminist perspective. Using stylized imagery and bright colours, her aim is to create visually uplifting work that is also conceptually impactful. Jewel graduated with an Honours Bachelors of Design with a Minor in Illustration at OCAD University in 2023, and is currently continuing her studies as a second-year student in the Interdisciplinary Masters in Art, Media, and Design Program.

Whippersnapper Gallery and OCAD U’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers have collaborated to bring together a rotating storefront display of artworks and goods produced by OCAD U students and recent grads. Each group will be selling their work for two straight weekends at Whippersnapper Gallery’s storefront space.

Learn more about out Career Launchers at: https://careerlaunchers.format.com