Olivia Aguiar (b. 1999, Tkaronto, ON) is a visual artist based in Tkaronto, ON. Olivia's practice is interdisciplinary, including archivist work, new media investigations and collage, though she primarily forwards oil painting. Incorporating intertwined figures, archives, and pop-culture references, Olivia's work employs the relics of digital imagery to explore identity, embodiment, and abject femininity.
Olivia recently graduated from OCAD University with an honours BFA in Drawing and Painting and a minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies (2023). Olivia's most recent show is the group exhibition Ghost Bodies at The Plumb and she is the recent recipient of the Research and Creation grant from the Toronto Arts Council.
oli.aguiar@outlook.com
@oli.egg
https://oliviaaguiar.partial.gallery/
https://peggy.com/@olivia_aguiar
CV
B. Tkaronto, ON, 1999. Lives and works in Tkaronto, ON.
EDUCATION
Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts with Distinction (Hons. BFA) 2023, Ontario College of Art and Design
Major: Drawing and Painting
Minor: Gender and Sexuality
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2024 Ghost Bodies,The Plumb, Tkaronto, ON.
2024 Proof, Youthful Vengeance, Tkaronto, ON.
2024 Where Do I Pour?, Bidston Observatory Artistic Research Centre, Wilding Way, UK.
2024 To Search for the Source of One’s River, She Said Gallery, Tkaronto, ON.
2024 In the Church of my Heart, The Choir’s in Flames, Remote Gallery, Tkaronto, ON.
2024 Spacemaker II Booth, Artist Project, Tkaronto, ON.
2024 27 Under 27, Peggy/Soho House, Tkaronto, ON.
2024 Perpetually Emerging, Propeller Gallery, Tkaronto, ON.
2024 Chat GBT, Ignite Gallery, Tkaronto, ON.
2023 Lithify, Redhead Gallery, Tkaronto, ON.
2023 Emerging Now, Bau-Xi Gallery, Tkaronto, ON.
2023 Your Body Is Your Body and it’s the Least InterestingThing About You, Dylan Archambault/Partial Gallery, Tkaronto, ON.
2023 Grad-Ex 108, OCADU, Tkaronto, ON.
2023 DRPT Annual Art Auction Fundraiser, OCADU Great Hall, Tkaronto, ON.
2023 Show Your Resistance Poster Installation, Alpha Museum, Tkaronto, ON.
2022 The Archive of Merit: OSA to OCAD, Ada Slaight Gallery, Tkaronto, ON.
2022 Now Streaming, VAM Gallery, Mississauga, ON.
AWARDS AND RESIDENCIES
2025 Visual Arts: Research and Creation Grant, Toronto Arts Council, Tkaronto, ON.
2024 Bidston Observatory Artistic Research Centre Artist (BOARC) Residency, BOARC, Wilding Way, UK.
2023 Format Website Prize for Graduating Students, Format/OCADU CEAD.
2023 Emerging Artist Sponsored Membership, Propeller Gallery, Tkaronto, ON.
2023 TDSB Community Activation Residency, Brock Public School/Ignite Gallery, Tkaronto, ON.
2022 NEO Artist Commissioning Program, NEO Exchange, Remote/Online.
2022 First Place Award, Now Streaming, VAM Gallery, Mississauga, ON.
2022 Archives of Ontario Artist Collaboration, Ontario Society of Artists, Remote/Online.
2022 Partial Gallery Career Launcher, Partial Gallery.
2021 What Moves You? Residency, UAL/OCADU, Remote/Online.
2021 Takao Tanabe Scholarship, OCADU.
2020 IODE Ontario Women’s Scholarship, OCADU.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2024 Curatorial Assistant, Oakville Galleries, Nanzuhzaugewazog, Oakville, ON.
2024 Arts Instructor, Clark Centre for the Arts, Tkaronto, ON.
2024 Special Events Assistance, AGO, Tkaronto, ON.
2023 Project Coordinator, DRPT Annual Silent Auction, OCADU, Tkaronto, ON.
2023 Alumni Speaker, OCADU 2023 Thesis Class, Tkaronto, ON.
2023 Gallery Attendant, Ignite Gallery, Tkaronto, ON.
2023 Painting Studio Monitor, OCADU, Tkaronto, ON.
2023 Content Creator, “Gallery Hoppers”, OCADU Live, Remote/Online.
2023 Event Assistance, One of a Kind Show, Tkaronto, ON.
2022 Fine Arts Cataloguer, Osler Hoskin & Harcourt, Tkaronto, ON.
2022 Peer Note Taker, OCADU, Tkaronto, ON.
2022 Speaker, Outside in Conference, UAL/OCADU, Remote/Online.
2022 Workshop Facilitator, OCADU CEAD, Remote/Online.
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
2024 Visitor Experience & Exhibition Assistance, Propeller Gallery, Tkaronto ON.
2022 Visitor Experience, Toronto Biennial of Art, Tkaronto, ON.
PUBLICATIONS & PRESS
2024 Seven Magazine Issue 02 Digital Artist Feature, Seven Magazine.
2023 Collaborating with Industry Leaders to Support Emerging Artists and Designers, OCADU.
2023 Celebrate Pride Month with Dylan Archambault's Curated Collection, Partial Gallery.
2023 Winners announced, Best Fine Art Portfolio: Olivia Aguiar, Format.
2022 Connecting the Past to the Future Through Art, OCADU.
2021 Writing Upside Down Worlds, OCADU Arts & Science Review.
COLLECTIONS
2024 Bidston Observatory Artistic Research Centre, Wilding Way, UK.
2024 Guardian Capital Group, Tkaronto, ON.
2023 Iber-American Lithium, Tkaronto, ON.
2022 Vanguard Investments Canada, Tkaronto, ON.