Prominent artists examine meaning of power in their practice

Photo, top L to R: President Ana Serrano, Lisa Deanne Smith and Fiona Smyth. Bottom L to R: Rocky Dobey, Khadijah Morley and Ekow Nimako.

When it comes to evolving narratives in art and design, OCAD University leads the way. 

The University’s ongoing participation in the DemocracyXChange Summit – alongside co-presenters The Dais at Toronto Metropolitan University and the Open Democracy Project – is one example of how Canada’s oldest and largest art and design university is driving positive impact and creating engaging discussions on current societal issues. 

OCAD U has released the first video in the President’s Speaker Series, which aims to showcase compelling, engaging and unique voices on issues that are shaping the present and future of Canadian society, drawn from the dynamic program of the 2024 DemocracyXChange Summit. The series is a continuation of the summit’s important conversations on the role of art and design in protecting democracy.  

The Art Power Panel features a discussion between renowned artists about how their practices reposition the meaning of power, moderated by OCAD U President Ana Serrano.

The participating artists Rocky Dobey, Khadijah Morley, Ekow Nimako and Fiona Smyth drew upon their work as part of the exhibit, power, on display at OCAD U’s flagship gallery Onsite Gallery in early 2024, and curated by the gallery’s senior curator, Lisa Deanne Smith.

power offered artworks that challenged dominant colonial, capitalist and state capitalist worldviews. The above artists used their eloquent sculpture, drawing, painting, installation, video and curatorial practices to inspire and reflect on ways of being that reposition the meaning of power to be grounded in respect, cooperation and emotional intelligence.

Dobey’s decades-long career focuses on street art and political causes while Morley’s autobiographical work is informed by her lived experience as a Black woman in Canada born of Jamaican immigrants. Nimako crafts whimsical sculptures using LEGO® and explores Afrofuturism, Africanfuturism and Black narratives while Smyth is a feminist painter, illustrator, cartoonist and comics educator. 

Stay tuned for two more videos in the series – with the next one coming in October 2024.

The DemocracyXChange Summit 2025 takes place from April 3 to 5, 2025 in Toronto.