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.

Using Format