Area(s) of Expertise
media installation, Graphic Design, Photography and VideographyOverview
Teresa Ascencao is a multimedia artist and educator. Her artworks transgress notions of gender, seduction and class. As an advocate for social and environmental causes, she produces and facilitates interdisciplinary art residencies on the diversity of the human body and material and magical notions of water. She has spearheaded various citizen events towards sustainable and community-oriented goals, facilitated photo and media art workshops to economically and geographically disadvantaged youth, and led university student projects in accessibility and sustainability. Her commitment to disadvantaged peoples has included four separate annual Ontario Arts Council grants to teach at elementary schools, including Wasaho First Nations School in Fort Severn and Northern Lights Secondary School in Moosonee. Teresa was born in Brazil to Azorean parents. She graduated with an Honours B.A. with distinction from the University of Toronto and earned an M.F.A. specializing in media art from OCAD University. She is a member of the Ontario Art Education Association and A Space Gallery, where she previously served on the board.
Education
Advertising and Graphic Design Diploma, Humber College of Applied Arts and Technology
Honours BFA with distinction, University of Toronto
MFA, OCAD University
Selected Exhibitions
20 From the Depths of Her Abyss, Quest Art Gallery, Toronto, CA
19 The Laundry Series, A Space Gallery, Toronto, CA
18 Daily Bread, Workers Arts and Heritage Centre, Hamilton, CA
18 The Laundry Series, Arnica Artist-Run Centre, Kamloops, CA
18 Helping: The Clothing Workshop, Thomspon Rivers University, Kamloops, CA
17 Wearing Black, International Azores Fringe Festival, Pico, Azores, PT
16 Helping: The Clothing Workshop, Luminous Bodies art residency, Artscape Gibraltar Point, Toronto, CA
16 Water Portals (a collaboration with Alan Majer and Brandy Leary), Contemporary Art Works on Queen Street West, Toronto, CA
15 Laced Cobblestone, International Azores Fringe Festival, Pico, Azores, PT
11 Her Pleasure, Her Desire; Remix, Fleishman Gallery, Toronto, CA
11 Her Pleasure, Her Desire; Remix, ISTA Sexuality & Consciousness Conference, Toronto, CA
10 Consuming Her, Gender Bodies and Technology Conference, Roanoke, Virginia, US
09 Consuming Her, International Pure Data Convention, SESC Paulista, Sao Paulo, BR
09 Consuming Her, WARC, Toronto, CA
08 Show and Tell your Gender (street intervention), Toronto, CA
07 Kodak Catholicism (virtual blog-gallery), Toronto, CA
07 Adoration, Trinity Square Video, Toronto, CA
06 Alternator, Kelowna, CA
04 Maria & the Bullfighter, Galerie Sans Nom, Moncton, CA
04 Glowing Madonna, Vidéographe, Montreal, CA
04 Maria & Portrait of a Young Bullfighter, Articule, Montreal, CA
04 Maria, Galerie SAW Gallery, Ottawa, CA
Awards \ Grants
09, 18 Canada Council for the Arts, Travel Grant
04 to 17 Ontario Arts Council, Exhibition Assistance Grant
00, 03, 16 Ontario Arts Council, Visual Artists Project Grant
08, 13 Ontario Arts Council, Media Arts Project Grant
03 to 06 Ontario Arts Council, Artists in Education Project Grant
02, 04, 06 Toronto Arts Council, Visual Arts Grant
05 Canada Council for the Arts, Visual Arts Project Grant
Selected Publications
18 VINCENT, João (full page feature) “Once Upon Water, Sol Português, October 12 2019, Toronto, CA
18 OGDEN, Cristina (feature) “Exhibit: Teresa Ascencao features the Portuguese-Canadian experience,” Portuguese American Journal, Aug 12 2018, Cambridge, US
18 LEAL, Joana (interview) CamõesTV, OMNItv, July 15 2018, Toronto, CA
18 MOURATO, Sergio (feature) “Daily Bread by Teresa Ascencao", OMNI, Focus Portuguese, May 10 2018, Toronto, CA
18 D’AMICO, Elizabeth (review) "Representing Feminisms at Lamont Gallery," Women’s Caucus for Art, Feb 2018, pg. 45-53, New Hampshire, US
17 COSTA, Terry (interview), “A Conversation with Teresa Ascencao by Our Local Author”, Gerador Magazine, May 26 2017, PT
16 FERNANDES, Gilberto (interview), RTPi (Radio and Television of Portugal International), Hora dos Portugueses/Hour of the Portuguese (Díario/Dialy), Apr 7 2016 ( and various international broadcasts), Lisbon, PT
15 WOOLEY, Dawn (feature) Self as Subject issue, Multiple eXposure Project Zine, Apr 2015, pg. 45-53, Brighton, GB
15 VICENTE, João (feature) “Luminous Bodies”, OMNI, Point of Encounter, Jul 8 2015, Toronto, CA
14 LOREN, Arielle (feature) Vulvas and Vaginas issue, Corset Magazine, Fall 2014, New York, US
13 LaRIVIERE, Serafin (review), “Graphic Sex; Annual Sex Exhibition Explores the Most Basic of Human Compulsions”, Xtra, Feb 01 2013, Toronto, CA
10 SILVA, Patricia, (feature) “Euphoric Femme, Teresa Ascencao”, Velvet Park, June 2010, New York, CA
10 PRESSICK, John (interview) “Euphoric Femme”, CIUT Radio, Sex City, Apr 17 2010, Toronto, CA
08 ARANDA-ALVARADO, Rocío, (feature) “Quiet Moments/Dramatic Skies: The Work of Teresa Ascencao”,e-misférica, Performance and Politics in the Americas, April 2008, New York, US
08 ALARCÓN, Adriana (interview) “The Artist/Art Educator: Challenges and Rewards”, Dispatch, Special Edition, CARFAC, February 2008, Toronto, CA
07 ALLEN, Tori (feature) “Adoration”, CBC Radio, Big City Small World, Jan 27 2007, Toronto, CA
07 FUNG, Amy (feature) Art and Sexuality issue, Locus Suspectus, Winter 2007, Edmonton, CA
05 ROBERTS, Lorne (review) “Image Everything for Video Artists”, Winnipeg Free Press, Sep 15 2005, D5, Winnipeg, CA
04 MAVRIKAKIS, Nicolas (review) “Mystère de la Foi”, Voir, Nov 4 2004, pg. 56, Montreal, CA
04 DESJARDINS, Eloi (interview) “Top 5! [de la semaine]”, CHOQ FM, Oct 30 2004, Montreal, CA
03 WALKER, Susan (review) “Dollar-store Doll Lampoons Religion”, Toronto Star, May 24 2003, H8, Toronto, CA