OCAD-U Highlights 'Ones to Watch' On Eve of Massive, Free Art Event

5 Emerging Artists Already Standing Out at This Year's GradEx

TORONTO, April 29, 2019 /CNW/ - As 800+ OCAD University Graduate students scramble to perfect their final projects showing their best work to an expected audience of 45,000 Canadians, some are already capturing attention as the 'ones to watch.' GradEx 104 (Starting this Wednesday, May 1^st and running until May 5^th) is a massive, free annual open art show.

For collectors and art enthusiasts, GradEx is a major opportunity to see exciting new art, meet artists and even purchase works from up-and-coming artists at a fraction of what their future works could sell for.

5 Emerging Artists to Watch at GradEx 104:

1) Malik McKoy @iridesc.ent

What does it mean to be Black? Drawing and Painting student @iridesc.ent explores his relationship with blackness, and the differences between his interests and lifestyle from what was considered to be "typical" or "acceptable" for Black youth growing up in Black spaces. Malik has done more research into various contemporary black perspectives and is painting that confusion, identify conflict, as well as intersectionality with queerness.

2) Angela Kumar @bruceprintsteen

Angela's screen print series are screenshots from a Bollywood movie scene where the main character realizes her love for a man is unrequited. Angela's work is inspired by her cultural identity as an Indian Canadian woman, torn between two cultures. She looks at Bollywood, which is important to the Indian diaspora, as a way to explore her own life.

3) Valerie Shvetz @allthewrongkinds

Becoming a mother is an enormous change, reconciling her own identity with this change was a process beyond expectation for Valerie. In order to manifest and deal with her feelings around this transition she started a multi-painting series dedicated to channeling and processing personal trauma. These paintings have to do with birth, motherhood and the complex nature of feminine identity. To face and filter anxiety associated with becoming a mother in a society which demands so much of women. 

4) Justin Yoon – Instagram: @justinjehongyoon (https://justinyoon.design/)

Getting kids to eat healthier through storybooks is Graphic Design student @justinjehongyoon's mission. Justin wrote, designed and illustrated a series of interactive books intended for parents to read to their kids while eating.

5) Corynn Kokolakis @studiocorynn ( http://corynn.com/)

You never know where a painting party might lead. Corynn Kokolakis (@studiocorynn) originally came to #OCADU in 1998. She completed two years of study then switched gears to focus on her family. Parenthood became her full-time commitment with three children keeping her busy. After the spark of a paint night with friends, Corynn decided to come back to #OCADU to complete her degree. Her work is inspired by parenting and the labour that goes with caregiving. Her paintings focus on the intimacy of the caregiver/child relationship. The full-size pieces are stunning in person and vibrant with color.

GradEx 104 is Toronto's largest free art and design exhibition. It takes place in four buildings across campus: the landmark Sharp Centre for Design at 100 McCaul St., as well as the campus buildings at 113, 115 McCaul St. from May 1-5.

Exhibits span a wide range of art, design and digital media from 23 programs. Works include robotics, video games, jewelry, sculpture, paintings, illustration, advertising, furniture, building design and more.

About OCAD University (OCAD U)
OCAD University (www.ocadu.ca) is Canada's university of the imagination. Founded in 1876, the university is dedicated to art, design and digital media education, practice and research, and to knowledge and invention across a wide range of disciplines.

SOURCE OCAD University

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