The International Programs & Collaborations Office (IPCO) at OCAD University is excited to announce the launch of Land, Sea & Sky, an international student-led virtual exhibition. Curated by Shoes Off Collective student group members Ellie Corfield, a third-year Criticism & Curatorial Practice student, and Nancy Correia, a fifth-year Illustration student, this exhibition brings together talented artists from OCAD U and its global partner institutions. Supported by the Global Skills Opportunity Innovation Fund from Universities Canada, this initiative fosters meaningful connections between students across different countries, cultures, and disciplines.
Land, Sea & Sky delves into the idea of belonging to the land rather than possessing it, emphasizing the profound connection between people and their natural surroundings—whether that be the land, sea, or sky. Through this exhibition, participating artists explore how their identities are shaped by their environments or ancestral ties to specific landscapes. The exhibition celebrates the diversity of cultural relationships with nature and highlights the responsibility to preserve these symbiotic connections for future generations.
Featuring artists from Brazil, Japan, the Philippines, England, and Canada, the exhibition offers a range of perspectives on how humanity interacts with the environment, showcasing works that span mediums such as photography, painting, ceramics, textiles, and mixed media.
Curators:
Ellie Corfield - OCAD University - Toronto, Canada
Ellie is a third-year Criticism and Curatorial Practice student at OCAD University, co-curating her third exhibition. A mixed media artist, she explores themes of water connectivity, nostalgia, hybridity from her mixed identity, and mental health through photography, painting, and sculpture. Ellie aspires to work full-time in a gallery but values the learning experiences gained from curating side exhibitions and collaborating with diverse groups
Nancy Correia - OCAD University - Toronto, Canada
Nancy is a Toronto-based illustrator who primarily works with gouache and ink. Her art explores identity within the Indian diaspora and the intersection of human experience, spirituality, and nature. In addition to her practice, Nancy is passionate about advocating for marginalized communities and engaging with groups focused on the BIPOC experience and DEI frameworks, while navigating her own identity as a person of colour in western spaces.
Participating Artists:
Yasmin Siegl - Centro Universitário Belas Artes de São Paulo - São Paulo, Brazil
Yasmin presents interdisciplinary works that explore the relationship between nature and humanity through photography, video, painting, and ceramics.
Camila Herrera - Centro Universitário Belas Artes de São Paulo - São Paulo, Brazil
Camila delves into humanity's spiritual connection with nature through mixed-media art inspired by her early experiences on her grandparents' rural farm.
Zelin Zheng - University of Southampton-Winchester School of Art - Winchester, England
Zelin explores the meditative process of weaving and knitting, infusing her textiles with eco-friendly materials and sustainability principles.
Chou Enei - Joshibi University of Art and Design - Sagamihara, Japan
Chou uses photography to capture subtle emotions and everyday urban landscapes, transforming them into moments of introspection.
Camile B. delos Santos - Far Eastern University - Manila, Philippines
Camile draws on her Ivatan indigenous heritage, using paint and clay to reflect on her experiences navigating urban life while staying connected to her homeland.
Trobby John Reyes - Far Eastern University - Manila, Philippines
Trobby creates original characters and narratives inspired by mythology and popular culture through sculpture and photography, pushing creative boundaries.
Nadia Da Silva - OCAD University - Toronto, Canada
Nadia is a non-binary artist whose work reflects themes of longing and otherness. Their art explores the complexities of displacement, both in terms of identity and the concept of home, drawing from their experiences growing up in a Catholic immigrant household.
Maria Fernanda Suárez Cadena - OCAD University - Toronto, Canada
Maria's work explores the intersection of tangible and intangible heritage, drawing on symbolism, texture, and color to express human emotions and healing. Her Mexican heritage and experience of studying in Canada deeply inspire and enrich her artistic practice.
Ines Tang - OCAD University - Toronto, Canada
Growing up in an international environment, Ines developed a strong interest in visceral storytelling. As a queer person of color, she explores themes of identity, mental health, and empathetic representation in her work.
Isabella Nicastro - OCAD University - Toronto, Canada
Working primarily in painting, photography, and text, Isabella's practice often features depictions of traditional landscapes, still-life, and portraiture through a contemporary lens.
Land, Sea & Sky showcases the powerful and complex connections between humans and nature while offering a platform for emerging international artists to share their stories. It’s a celebration of creativity and collaboration, inviting viewers to reflect on the importance of preserving the cultural and environmental ties that define us.
The exhibition is now LIVE, and the OCAD U community is invited to experience this inspiring international collaboration online. View the virtual exhibition HERE
Poster image taken by Chou Enei