News

Filipino artist Jel Suarez has been selected as OCAD University’s 2026 Ateneo Art Award Resident, part of OCAD U’s partnership with the Ateneo Art Gallery at Ateneo de Manila University. The residency supports emerging artists whose practices reflect creativity, critical engagement and innovation. Building on the 2024 residency of Doktor Karayom, who presented No One’s At Home (Walang Tao Sa Bahay) in Toronto, proceeds from a limited-edition shirt designed by Karayom will help support Suarez’s upcoming residency and strengthen cultural exchange between OCAD University and the Ateneo Art Gallery.

Professor Ashwani Kumar visited OCADU and gave a guest lecture to students of the Advertising Program!

Jordan Baptiste was in town from Saskatoon. He is a Partner & President of Creative Fire, a 100% Indigenous owned and purpose driven agency. 

OCAD U alum Liam Mooney and partner Emma Cochrane are recipients of the award, presented by the Ottawa Business Journal and the Ottawa Board of Trade. The duo gained national attention with an apparel brand created to support Canada’s sovereignty. It began with baseball caps and toques emblazoned with the phrases, which included “Canada is not for sale." 

OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers is excited to announce Catherine Blackburn as the recipient of the 2025 Trinity Square Video Vitrine Career Launchers!

OCAD U researchers received funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund.

OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers is excited to announce Yana Rzayeva as the recipient of the 2026 DesignTO Exhibition Stantec Window Gallery Career Launchers! 

From humble beginnings in Hamilton, Ontario, to making waves in television and advertising worldwide, Brian Hawkins’ career has been nothing short of groundbreaking.

The large-scale projection mapping, “Dissolving Boundaries,” debuted during an artist opening at Nuit Blanche on Oct. 4.

The University is undertaking work as part of its multi-year decarbonization initiative. As a result, the fifth and sixth floors at 100 McCaul St. are closed Oct. 11. Butterfield Park is closed from Oct. 11 to 15, and 100 McCaul St. is closing at 4 p.m. on Oct. 15.

OCAD University students, alumni and faculty will present In Common Ink at FUZE Caribbean Art Fair 2025, held October 22–26 at Baha Mar in Nassau, The Bahamas. The project features collaborative risograph prints exploring shared histories and identity, created with visiting Bahamian artist John Cox. Limited-edition prints will be for sale.

From Oct. 15 to 18, OCAD U is co-presenting the International Relating Systems Thinking and Design Symposium.

OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers is excited to announce Laiken Breau, Jordyn Hendricks, Kenzie Littlelight, Kay Nadjiwon, Emilia Nahdee, Errol Ricard, Liv Sydney as the recipients of the 2025 TO Live Call for Indigenous Artists Career Launchers! Their works will be on dispaly at Meridian Arts Centre, Lower Gallery throughout the month of December 2025.

The inaugural Fall Design Festival showcases the creativity and innovation of the Faculty of Design through exhibitions, screenings, panels and collaborative projects.

OCAD U first-year student Juliana Saavedra Patino wins international art prize for powerful self-portrait

Five artists tested our relationships to nature at the inaugural Creative Climate Residency, hosted by OCAD U’s Global Centre for Climate Action.

OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) is thrilled to launch “Money Models for Emerging Artists & Designers”, a resource created by financial literacy educator and professional artist Maggie Flynn, QAFP® to help emerging creatives think through strategies and options that can help shape their financial lives.

Peter Fraser worked for the University for 40 years and was the longest-serving member of the University’s management team.

Three OCAD U community members present experimental visions to international audiences at one of the world’s leading animation events.

Javits Center, New York.

The Armory Show opens New York’s fall art season by bringing the world’s leading international contemporary and modern art galleries to the Javits Center each year. Peter exhibited his painting among other artists represented by Tang Contemporary Art.

OCAD U Professor Emerit Dr. Doreen Balabanoff is leading global research on how design can reshape birth environments and contribute to better health and well-being for women, babies and families. 

The First Self-Portrait DRPT Student Group Exhibition showcases the impressive variety, talent, and insight of OCAD U's first-year Drawing and Painting students.

Faculty of Design Illustration Professor Suharu Ogawa and Instructor Rosena Fung are both nominated for CCBC (Canadian Children's Book Centre) Book Awards 2025. 

On Oct. 4, OCAD U and the European Union light up Nuit Blanche with a vast cinematic projection at Toronto’s waterfront.

As founder of the social innovation lab, DESIGNwith, Associate Professor Ranee Lee is advancing research on sustainability, community impact and biomaterials – bridging academia, industry and public engagement.

OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers is excited to announce Jasmine Liaw as the recipient of the Critical Distance Centre for Curators 2026 Projections Program Call for Curators Career Launchers!

OCAD University welcomed over 100 guests to Butterfield Park on September 10 to celebrate the revitalized space and recognize the donors who made the transformation possible.

OCAD University is recognizing long-time supporter and former Board of Governors Vice-Chair David Binet, whose philanthropy to the University has now surpassed $1 million, with a recent $700,000 gift to establish the David Binet Design Leadership Fund.

Transforming Birthspace: A Global Colloquium, from Oct. 24 to 27, features global experts who will share research, case studies and strategies for designing respectful and supportive spaces for childbirth.

As a disability artist, researcher and creator, Assistant Professor Dr. Pam Patterson explores issues around boundaries, borders, edges and how she might perceive these and transform/transpose them using photography, video and performance.

The University celebrated the recipients of the 2024-25 Teaching Awards on Aug. 26. 

Annual selection of recipients applauds dedicated practitioners of craft and design. 

On Sept. 6, OCAD U is hosting a masterclass for film industry professionals with directors Momoko Seto and Min Sook Lee.

One of our graphic design students, Samantha Lee, received an Applied Arts Student Award (Editorial Design—Entire Book/Magazine—Single) for one a project completed in Professor Craig Rodmore's Type 3 class this past Winter term. 

Check out the photos and write-up online:

https://www.appliedartsmag.com/winners/student/there-is-a-strong-chance-it-will-happen-once-more-w340/?year=2025

Congratulations Samantha!

Can't wait to see what you'll do in the future! 

Ana Serrano joins the 2025-26 cohort along with three faculty members who have been appointed Visiting Scholars at Massey College.

More information about student submissions.