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February 27, 2026
# OCAD U remembers artist and former faculty member Chinkok Tan
Chinkok Tan working en plein air
rgb(255,255,255)
The OCAD University community mourns the passing of Chinkok Tan on Dec. 23, 2025, at the age of 84. Tan was first a graduate, then later an instructor at the Ontario College of Art (now OCAD University) for over three decades.
Born in Kuantan, Malaysia, Tan immigrated to Canada in 1967. He pursued his lifelong passion for painting, studying at OCA. He nurtured his curiosity about his new home of Toronto, often drawing inspiration from the dynamic street scenes of the Kensington Market neighbourhood and translating them to the canvas. Tan’s numerous paintings are now held in collections across Canada and internationally.
He was particularly drawn to subjects that were aging, discarded or easily overlooked, including old buildings, household objects and weathered landscapes. Rather than seeing them as obsolete, he sought to preserve their essence through his art.
Artwork courtesy of Chinkok Tan's official website. After his graduation, Tan became a professor at OCA, developing a unique teaching and art style known as “seeing shape and light value.” Former students recall his patience in teaching painting fundamentals while simultaneously sharing his knowledge of the art world.
According to his [biography](https://chinkoktan.com/wp/toronto-by-chinkok-tan/), Tan published several books, including a notable account of his experiences as a new immigrant now held in the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Collection at the University of Toronto and Library and Archives Canada in Gatineau.
A [celebration of life](https://chinkoktan.com/wp/celebration-of-life/) took place on Sunday, Feb. 22, at the Todmorden Mills Papermill Gallery in Toronto.
A retrospective of Tan’s work, [*Toronto: A Retrospective of Chinkok Tan*](https://chinkoktan.com/wp/toronto-by-chinkok-tan/), is also on view at the Papermill Gallery until March 1. The exhibition brings together works from throughout the late artist’s career. Centring the exhibition is Tan’s book of the same name, an intimate portrayal of life in Toronto as seen through the eyes of a new immigrant. Tan hand-printed only 58 copies of the book and the exhibition represents the first time the work has been displayed publicly.
OCAD U extends its sincere condolences to Tan’s family, including his spouse Agnes, son Jason (Cynthia) and grandchild Jaya.
A video about Tan's work and life, produced by his son Jason, is available to stream [here](https://chinkoktan.com/wp/toronto-by-chinkok-tan/).
Artwork by Chinkok Tan from the *Toronto* series.
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[### 2026-27 Call for Funding Proposals for Student Groups that Support Creative Entrepreneurship on Campus
The RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) invites OCAD University student groups with a mandate to support entrepreneurship on campus to apply for funding for student-led initiatives that strengthen and expand the creative entrepreneurship ecosystem at OCAD U. This funding is intended to help student groups create opportunities for entrepreneurship skills development, community building, and revenue-generating activities for students and recent alumni, while reducing barriers to participation for equity-seeking individuals.
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OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) and Critical Distance Centre for Curators (CDCC) have partnered to co-create CDCC Projections Program Career Launcher. Four (4) to five (5) selected emerging artists will receive $690 to exhibit work in a single channel, projection-based screening program that will be displayed at the CDCC in March 2027.
October 30, 2026
](/news/2027-critical-distance-centre-curators-projections-program-call-artists)
[### Call for Vendors: BAM! Holiday Art Market 2026
OCAD University's RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) is excited to partner again with Wychwood Barns to offer a curated group of OCAD U students and recent alumni the opportunity to share a vendor table at the BAM! Holiday Art Market.
October 26, 2026
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