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Bio

Stephen Severn is an artist, educator, and set designer whose work examines human-material encounters at the intersection of Queer theory and phenomenology. Through practice-based exploration, they collaborate with objects, materials, and spaces to investigate shared participation in world-building. Their research aims to position Queer methodological approaches in visual art practice as emergent sites of Queer futurity. Stephen’s creative work frequently employs photography, video, sculpture, and installation, informed by their commercial experience as an art director and a set/prop/display designer for the photography, video, and retail industries.

Stephen has designed and fabricated props, displays, and large-scale installations for Harrods, Selfridges, Anthropologie, and Holt Renfrew, while their styling and set designs have appeared in The Globe and Mail, Fashion Magazine, and Vogue UK. Stephen received their MFA in Interdisciplinary Art, Media, and Design at OCAD University, together with the prestigious Joseph-Armand Bombardier SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada) Graduate Scholarship. Their work has been exhibited in solo shows in Toronto at Remote Gallery, The Window Gallery, and OCAD University, and in group shows at Ignite Gallery, Propeller Gallery, the University of Toronto, and the University of the Arts London. 

Currently, Stephen is a PhD student in Media and Design Innovation at Toronto Metropolitan University, where they lecture in the School of Interior Design. 

For Commercial Portfolio, please follow this link: Commercial Portfolio

C.V.

 

Exhibitions - Solo

2023   Forticulture, Nuit Blanche, Toronto, On.

2022   Fluid Things, OCAD University Experimental Media Space, Toronto, On. 

2022   Arranging Things, Remote Gallery, Toronto, On.

2022   Solid Things, The Window, Toronto, On.

Exhibitions - Group

2024   Rummage, SPAO Photowalk, Ottawa, On.

2023   Past-Forward, Ignite Gallery, Toronto, On.

2023   —ome: Object, Material, Experience, ECC, Etobicoke, On.

2023   YOUphoria, Propeller Art Gallery, Toronto, On.

2023   Annual Juried Exhibition, Latcham Art Centre, Stouffville, On.

2023   Diaspora and Belonging, UAL (University of the Arts London) AoCA, London, UK.

2022   Life Doesn’t Stand Still, Leslie Grove Gallery, Toronto, On.

2022   Queer Things, OCAD University GradEx, Toronto, On. 

2022   Familiar Strangers, Vacant Museum, online

2021   Matrix of Mobility, Wollesen Memorial Symposium, University of Toronto

2018   Entartete Kunst, FAT - Fashion Art Toronto, Art Direction and Set Design, Toronto, On.

            Contributors: Zoran Dobric, Draga Jovanovic, Stephen Severn

2016   Fashion and Death, FAT - Fashion Art Toronto, Art Direction and Set Design, Toronto, On.

            Contributors: Sandro Altamirano, Zoran Dobric, Stephen Severn

Education

2027     (Expected) Toronto Metropolitan University – PhD Media and Design Innovation

2022     OCAD University – MFA Interdisciplinary Art, Media, and Design

2009      Sheridan College – Visual Merchandising Arts Diploma, High Honours

Conferences / Talks

2024   Contemporary, Art, Design, and New Media Histories (CADN) Conference, OCAD University, 

            “Forticulture: Queer Fun as Deception and Delight.” Session: Power Play: Strategies for Political

             Disruption

2024   Rubix Scholarly Research and Creative Activity (SRC) Symposium, Toronto Metropolitan University,

            “Fabulous Matter: Speculative Fabulation in Queer Arts-based Research Methodology” 

2022   Universities Art Association of Canada (UAAC) Conference, “Vibrant Things.” Session: Re:making :        

            Mending, Materiality, and Reuse in Craft and Design

2022   UAAC Conference, “Research-Queeration as Methodology.” Session: Research-Creation Caucus    

            Roundtable – At the Intersections of Art and Knowledge-Making: Where Do We Go Now?

2021   UAAC Conference, Graduate Student Lightning Talk

Grants / Honours / Awards

2023    Toronto Arts Council, Visual Artists: Creation 

2023    Ontario Arts Council, Exhibition Assistance Grant

2023    Ontario Graduate Scholarship, Toronto Metropolitan University 

2023    Toronto Metropolitan University Graduate Fellowship 

2022    OCAD University Graduate Student Project Grant

2021    Joseph Armand Bombardier SSHRC CGS-M, OCAD University

2019    Applied Arts Award – Still Life Photography

2009    Royal Doulton Excellence in Portfolio Design Award, Sheridan College

2009    St Joseph Excellence in Photostyling Award, Sheridan College

2008    CGTA Full Tuition Scholarship, Sheridan College

Residency

2021   Contingencies of Care – Toronto Biennial of Art, Bush Gallery, OCAD University, Emily Carr University

 

Employment

2003/5 - Present     Freelance Commercial Artist, represented by Judy Inc. (2017-present). Client list: Holt

                                  Renfrew, Hudson’s Bay Co, The Globe and Mail, Fashion Magazine, Deloitte, Indigo,

                                  Gluckstein Home, Cadillac, Hyundai, Loews, The Body Shop, HomeSense, Marshalls,

                                  Winners, Walmart, Campbells, Kellogg’s, PepsiCo, Longos, Sobeys, Loblaws, Shoppers

                                  Drug Mart, Joe Fresh, etc.

2023/1 - Present    Toronto Metropolitan University, School of Interior Design – Contract Lecturer,       

                                  Toronto, On.

2013/1 - 2021/12    Seneca College for Applied Arts and Technology – Sessional Professor, Toronto, On.

2015/6 - 2017/8      St Joseph Content Group – Prop Lead, Fashion Studios, Toronto, On.

2014/10 - 2015/6    Hudson's Bay Company – Senior National Visual Presentation Manager, Toronto, On.

2013/1 - 2014/10    St Joseph Content Group – Prop and Roomset Stylist, Toronto, On.

2012/4 - 2013/1      Harrods – Visual Merchandising Coordinator, London, UK.

2011/9 - 2012/4      Anthropologie at Selfridges – Manager, London, UK.

2009/6 - 2011/9      Anthropologie – Visual Merchandising and Display, Toronto, On.

 

Internships

2009   Designer’s Walk – Resource Centre

2008   St Joseph Content Group – Studio Prop Department

2008   Holt Renfrew – Visual Merchandising Department

Professional Activities

2021 - Present   Member, UAAC - Universities Art Association of Canada

2020 - Present   Visual Merchandising Arts Program Advisory Committee, Seneca College

2010 - 2011        Visual Merchandising Arts Program Advisory Committee, Sheridan College

 

Set Design

2010/03/30   Zoran Dobric FW 2010 Fashion Show – Toronto LG Fashion Week

2009/03/18   Zoran Dobric FW 2009 Fashion Show – L'Oréal Toronto Fashion Week

2008/10/22   Zoran Dobric SS 2009 Fashion Show – L'Oréal Toronto Fashion Week

2008/03/20   Zoran Dobric FW 2008 Fashion Show – L'Oréal Toronto Fashion Week

 

Publications

2023   Vogue UK, February Issue, “Designer Profile – Zoran Dobric”

2021   (Academic, Peer-reviewed) “A Knot, A Network, A Thing, A World: Composition as Generative Meaning-Making in Still Life Photography,” Tba: Journal of Art, Media, and Visual Culture, vol. 3, no. 1: Reworlding, https://doi.org/10.5206/tba.v3i1.13934

2021   Flora Fiction, vol. 3, no. 2

2021   Superpresent, Summer 2021

2021   Artmagazineium, issue 04

2020   Fashion Magazine, October issue, “Applied Art”

2019   The Globe and Mail, Style Advisor, September issue, “Chain Reaction”

2017   Elle Canada, May issue, “Neutral Territory”

2017   The Globe and Mail, Style Advisor, November issue, “Outside the Box”

Teaching

W 2024            Toronto Metropolitan University, School of Interior Design – IRL500/IDF250 Modern and

                         Contemporary Art, Design

F 2023             Toronto Metropolitan University, School of Interior Design – IRL500/IDF250 Modern and

                         Contemporary Art, Design

W 2023            Toronto Metropolitan University, School of Interior Design – IRH 401 Design Seminar

F 2021              Seneca College, Visual Merchandising Arts – Lighting and Styling

S 2021              Seneca College, Fashion Studies – Portfolios and Presentations

W 2021             Seneca College, Fashion Business Management – Fashion Styling and Merchandising

W 2021             Seneca College, Visual Merchandising Arts – Lighting and Styling

W 2017             Seneca College, Visual Merchandising Arts – Materials and Props 1

F 2016               Seneca College, Visual Merchandising Arts – Lighting for Visual Merchandising

W 2016             Seneca College, Visual Merchandising Arts – Menswear and Merchandising

F 2015               Seneca College, Visual Merchandising Arts – Lighting for Visual Merchandising

W 2014             Seneca College, Fashion Business Management – Merchandising and Space Planning

W 2014             Seneca College, Fashion Studies – Portfolio Capstone

W 2014             Seneca College, Fashion Studies – Fashion Illustration

W 2014             Seneca College, Visual Merchandising Arts – Menswear and Mannequin Styling

F 2013               Seneca College, Fashion Studies – Fashion Illustration

F 2013               Seneca College, Visual Merchandising Arts – Photostyling and Digital Imaging

S 2013               Seneca College, Visual Merchandising Arts – Photostyling and Digital Imaging

W 2013             Seneca College, Fashion Studies – Fashion Illustration

W 2013             Seneca College, Visual Merchandising Arts – Portfolios and Presentations

W, S 2000         Centre for Lived Language – Beginner ESL

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