Misbah Ahmed is a multidisciplinary visual artist and designer based in Toronto.
Her practice is expressed through sentimental observations of life that are imbued with
symbols and references that move across personal and historical domains. Themes in
her work examine dualities, nature, shifting cultural landscapes and everyday human
experiences. She interrogates such themes by exploring and imagining narratives within
the Pakistan diaspora and other communities of colour existing in liminal spaces. Her
practice primarily involves oil paint and ceramic sculpture, where her creative process
and methodologies combine modern and traditional techniques. Her body of work has
sought to maintain and continue generational practices, while simultaneously using
these practices as a vehicle for reconnecting with ancestral landscapes.
In addition to her art practice, Misbah teaches within the Illustration program at OCADU. Old Growth Press, an independent Canadian publisher, represents her publication work.
In addition to her art practice, Misbah teaches within the Illustration program at OCADU. Old Growth Press, an independent Canadian publisher, represents her publication work.
contact: ateliermisbah@gmail.com
Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
2018 Bachelor of Design, Illustration - Ontario College of Art and Design University, Toronto, ON
AWARDS & GRANTS
2023 Creation Grant, Toronto Arts Council
2020 CUE Grant, Margin of Eras Gallery
2018 Illustration Medal Winner, OCAD University
2018 Project 31 Award, OCAD University
2018 Nora E. Vaughan Award, OCAD University
2018 401 Richmond Career Launcher Prize, OCAD University
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022 “Summer Night in Islamabad”, Trinity Square Video, Toronto
2021 “Belonging to Each Other”, presented as part of DesignTO, Xpace Gallery, Toronto
2019 “If Nothing Can Save Us From Death, May Love At Least Save Us From Life”, solo show, The Loon, Toronto
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022 Fall collection, Ninth Editions, Art Toronto, Toronto
2022 “Welcoming Spring”, 203 Wade Ave, Toronto
2021 “In-Residence”, Towards Gallery, Toronto
2021 November collection, Digital Exhibition, Ninth Editions, Toronto
2021 May Collection, Digital Exhibition, Ninth Editions, Toronto
2019 “New Strata”, Hearth Gallery, Toronto
2019 “One of These Things is Not Like the Other”, A Space Gallery, Toronto
2019 “Old Growth Press Showcase”, The Beguiling, Toronto
2018 “Milkcrate Vol. 2: Portraits of Your Friends”, OCADU, Toronto
2018 “Milkcrate Vol. 1”, OCADU, Toronto
2017 “Evocations and Becomings”, Chinatown Soup, New York
2017 “Homework”, Artscape Youngplace, Toronto
2017 “Im/mature”, Anniversary Gallery, Toronto
2017 “Anytime, Anywhere”, Afterschool, Toronto
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2020 - present Sessional Instructor in the Illustration program at OCAD University
2023 July - August Ceramic classes at private studio
ARTIST TALKS / WORKSHOPS
2023 “Hand-building Clay workshop”, Art Gallery of Burlington, Burlington ON
2023 “Clay workshop- Art and Everyday Life Program”, Riverdale Gallery, Toronto
2022 “Ceramic Surface Design Workshop”, Whippersnapper Gallery, Toronto
2021 “Networking and Community”, SAS workshop, Toronto
2020 “Comics Out Loud”, Canada Comics Open Library, Toronto
ILLUSTRATION AND DESIGN WORK
2020 “Venus Festival: The Future of Music”, lead designer, Toronto
2020 “Insomniac Film Festival”, poster, Toronto
2019 “Laundry”, short-film merch illustrations for Ox Head Studios, Toronto
2019 “Five Minutes in Karachi”, zine with Old Growth Press, Toronto
2018 “The Strand: Fall Magazine > Date the Strand”, portrait illustrations, Toronto
2018 “The Strand Newspaper: The Queer Issue”, front cover, Toronto
2018 “Looseleaf Magazine Vol. 5", Project 40 Collective, Toronto
2017 “DUTY FREE”, Independent south asian cultural archive, Toronto
ART AND PUBLICATION EVENTS
2019 “We Are Each Other’s Muses”, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto
2019 “Zine Dream 12”, represented by Old Growth Press, MOCA, Toronto
2019 “OCADU Zine Fair”, represented by Old Growth Press, OCADU, Toronto
2019 “Edition Art Book Fair”, represented by Old Growth Press, Metro Toronto Convention Centre,TO.
2018 “FOCAL POINT/SAF Art Book Fair”, Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah
2018 “Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibit”, Nathan Philip Square, Toronto
2017 “Asian Zine Fair “, WAYF Collective, Tranzac Club, Toronto
2017 “Zine Dream 10”, The Great Hall, Toronto
2017 “TCAF”, Toronto Reference Library
2016 "Canzine 2016", Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto
2016 "Zine Dream 9", The Great Hall, Toronto
PRESS
2020 “Creating Third Spaces Podcast”, episodes 1 & 3, Toronto
2019 “Roseate Magazine”, Editorial feature, Toronto
2018 “Calander Girls, Virgo” Calendar Girls Film Collective, Melbourne
2018 Uncommon Sense v. 1, Tiger Dingsun, New York
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2022 Jury member for OCADU Career Launcher Grant
2020 Jury member for the JUNO’s, Toronto
EDUCATION
2018 Bachelor of Design, Illustration - Ontario College of Art and Design University, Toronto, ON
AWARDS & GRANTS
2023 Creation Grant, Toronto Arts Council
2020 CUE Grant, Margin of Eras Gallery
2018 Illustration Medal Winner, OCAD University
2018 Project 31 Award, OCAD University
2018 Nora E. Vaughan Award, OCAD University
2018 401 Richmond Career Launcher Prize, OCAD University
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022 “Summer Night in Islamabad”, Trinity Square Video, Toronto
2021 “Belonging to Each Other”, presented as part of DesignTO, Xpace Gallery, Toronto
2019 “If Nothing Can Save Us From Death, May Love At Least Save Us From Life”, solo show, The Loon, Toronto
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022 Fall collection, Ninth Editions, Art Toronto, Toronto
2022 “Welcoming Spring”, 203 Wade Ave, Toronto
2021 “In-Residence”, Towards Gallery, Toronto
2021 November collection, Digital Exhibition, Ninth Editions, Toronto
2021 May Collection, Digital Exhibition, Ninth Editions, Toronto
2019 “New Strata”, Hearth Gallery, Toronto
2019 “One of These Things is Not Like the Other”, A Space Gallery, Toronto
2019 “Old Growth Press Showcase”, The Beguiling, Toronto
2018 “Milkcrate Vol. 2: Portraits of Your Friends”, OCADU, Toronto
2018 “Milkcrate Vol. 1”, OCADU, Toronto
2017 “Evocations and Becomings”, Chinatown Soup, New York
2017 “Homework”, Artscape Youngplace, Toronto
2017 “Im/mature”, Anniversary Gallery, Toronto
2017 “Anytime, Anywhere”, Afterschool, Toronto
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2020 - present Sessional Instructor in the Illustration program at OCAD University
2023 July - August Ceramic classes at private studio
ARTIST TALKS / WORKSHOPS
2023 “Hand-building Clay workshop”, Art Gallery of Burlington, Burlington ON
2023 “Clay workshop- Art and Everyday Life Program”, Riverdale Gallery, Toronto
2022 “Ceramic Surface Design Workshop”, Whippersnapper Gallery, Toronto
2021 “Networking and Community”, SAS workshop, Toronto
2020 “Comics Out Loud”, Canada Comics Open Library, Toronto
ILLUSTRATION AND DESIGN WORK
2020 “Venus Festival: The Future of Music”, lead designer, Toronto
2020 “Insomniac Film Festival”, poster, Toronto
2019 “Laundry”, short-film merch illustrations for Ox Head Studios, Toronto
2019 “Five Minutes in Karachi”, zine with Old Growth Press, Toronto
2018 “The Strand: Fall Magazine > Date the Strand”, portrait illustrations, Toronto
2018 “The Strand Newspaper: The Queer Issue”, front cover, Toronto
2018 “Looseleaf Magazine Vol. 5", Project 40 Collective, Toronto
2017 “DUTY FREE”, Independent south asian cultural archive, Toronto
ART AND PUBLICATION EVENTS
2019 “We Are Each Other’s Muses”, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto
2019 “Zine Dream 12”, represented by Old Growth Press, MOCA, Toronto
2019 “OCADU Zine Fair”, represented by Old Growth Press, OCADU, Toronto
2019 “Edition Art Book Fair”, represented by Old Growth Press, Metro Toronto Convention Centre,TO.
2018 “FOCAL POINT/SAF Art Book Fair”, Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah
2018 “Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibit”, Nathan Philip Square, Toronto
2017 “Asian Zine Fair “, WAYF Collective, Tranzac Club, Toronto
2017 “Zine Dream 10”, The Great Hall, Toronto
2017 “TCAF”, Toronto Reference Library
2016 "Canzine 2016", Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto
2016 "Zine Dream 9", The Great Hall, Toronto
PRESS
2020 “Creating Third Spaces Podcast”, episodes 1 & 3, Toronto
2019 “Roseate Magazine”, Editorial feature, Toronto
2018 “Calander Girls, Virgo” Calendar Girls Film Collective, Melbourne
2018 Uncommon Sense v. 1, Tiger Dingsun, New York
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2022 Jury member for OCADU Career Launcher Grant
2020 Jury member for the JUNO’s, Toronto