Alison Postma

About

My work is currently exploring getting to know objects. Through arranging and photographing still lifes, performing small gestures captured with video, or modifying found objects, I learn about objects with my hands and body.

Based in Toronto, Ontario.


Photo by Nick Vo


Contact

alison.ruma [at] gmail [dot] com

find me on Instagram


Want to hire me for your commercial project?

See a selection of my past commercial work here.

Want to buy my art? 

Limited edition prints available through Eye Buy Art

If you are interested in purchasing artwork not available through the above galleries, please email me.

CV


EDUCATION

2016, BAH in Studio Art, University of Guelph

AWARDS

2020, Emerging Digital Artist Award, presented by EQ Bank and Trinity Square Video

2020, Finalist at The Artist Project’s Untapped Emerging Artist Competition

2018, Nominated and Longlisted for the New Generation Photography Award, Presented by Scotiabank and the Canadian Photography Institute

2016, 1st Place for Studio General Submissions, ARTSIDEOUT, University of Toronto Scarborough

2015, Aimia AGO Photography Prize Scholarship Winner

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS


Solo & Two Person Exhibitions

2020, Perennially Flowing, Akin Vitrine Space, Toronto, ON

2019, Not All Failed Structures Are Structural Failures, private residence, Toronto, ON (two person show with Emma Chorostecki)

2019, Artificial Cave, The Drake Devonshire Living Room, Wellington, ON

2019, Studio Studies, Samsung Experience Store exhibition as part of Contact Photography Festival (two person show with Shelby Fenlon)

2017, Hotel, Trinity Square Video Vitrine Space, Toronto, ON


Events & Performances

2019, A Eulogy for the Coffin Factory, project for Nuit Blanche, curated by Lake Effect Projects, Toronto, ON

2019, Buoyancy Poolside Performances, WG Johnson Indoor Pool, Cambridge, ON

2017, Nuit Rose, the 519, Toronto, ON

2017, Platforms Project, Ed Video booth, Athens, GR

2017, (Of an Organism or a Part), Installation for the Canadian Opera Company “Operanation” presented by the Drake Properties, Toronto, ON


Screenings

2021, PLAY Screening, presented by Platform Gallery, Winnipeg, MB

2020, Cell Phone Film Festival, presented by the Factory Media Centre, Hamilton, ON

2020, Photophobia Contemporary Moving Images Festival, presented by the Art Gallery of Hamilton & Hamilton Artists Inc., Hamilton, ON 

2017, Photophobia Contemporary Moving Images Festival, presented by the Art Gallery of Hamilton & Hamilton Artists Inc., Hamilton, ON 

2015, After-Hours Slideshow, Roman Susan, Chicago, IL


Group Exhibitions

2022, Purpose and Play Prototype Exhibition, Umbra Store as part of DesignTO, Toronto, ON

2021, Garden Variety Vol. I, Curated by Erin Storus at a private residence, Toronto, ON

2020, Presently, Art Gallery of Peterborough, Peterborough, ON

2020, Emerging Digital Artists Award, Trinity Square Video, Toronto, ON

2020, Pits, Seeds, the plumb, Toronto, ON

2019, Material World, 2104 Dundas W, Toronto, ON

2018, Different In My Mind, The Drake Hotel, Toronto, ON

2018, Colour Theory, Black Cat Artspace, Toronto, ON

2017, When you touch one thing, you have to touch all things, Y+Contemporary, Scarborough, ON**

2017, Walls, hosted by Format, Unlovable Gallery, Toronto, ON

2017, Anxious Space, Loop Gallery, Toronto, ON

2017, To Produce (a mark), White House Studio Project, Toronto, ON**

2017, Present Rituals, for Kazoo Fest, Guelph, ON

2016, Artsideout 2016: Expanding Identity, Gallery 1265 at UTSC, Scarborough, ON

2016, The Sandwich Show, White House Studio Project, Toronto, ON

2016, take part (a sport), Preston Gallery, Idea Exchange, Cambridge, ON**

2016, Roundtable Residency Exhibition, Toronto, ON

2016, COURTYARD, Window Installation, OUTPOST Vintage, Kazoo! Festival 2016, Guelph, ON**

2016, A Heap of Random Sweepings, Boarding House Gallery, Guelph, ON

2016, Specialized Open Studios, Alexander Hall, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON

2016, Related Forms (put together), Zavitz Gallery, Guelph, ON

2015, Aimia AGO Photography Prize Scholarship Exhibition, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, ON


** indicates work produced in collaboration with SADSADDERDAZE. Working together 2016-2018, SADSADDERDAZE was the collective project of Emma Green, Alison Postma, Elana Shvalbe, and Emma Welch. Their collaborative work was informed by architectural space and forms, particularly of public spaces.

RESIDENCIES

2020, CoCreate Residency, Otherwise Studios & Bumaroo, Guelph, ON

2019, Reclaim Residency, Haliburton School of Art and Design, Haliburton, ON

2016, Roundtable Residency, Toronto, ON

2016, Drake AV, The Drake Hotel, Toronto, ON

PUBLICATION

2021, Maggie Zine Issue 03: Mending, Cover Artwork, Toronto, ON

2020, Ephemera Magazine Issue 7/8: Work/Play

2018, Ephemera Magazine Issue 4: Age

2017, Hart House Review

2016, Archive Collective ORIGINS 

2015 , This Very Instant Vol 1, Adulthood

OTHER PROJECTS

2022, Co-organizer with Laura Carusi, Emma Green, Callum Schuster, and Emma Welch, Libations for Liberated Living, Exhibition at the plumb as part of DesignTO, Toronto, ON

2021, Co-curator with Emma Green, moveObjects On, Exhibition at the plumb, Toronto, ON

2021, Guest Curator for Buddies in Bad Times annual fundraising auction, Art Attack, Toronto, ON

2021, Mentor, XPractice Project, Guelph, ON

2020, Co-founder and member, the plumb, Toronto, ON

2020, Set & Prop Design for Luna Li Music Video: "Star Stuff" 

Using Format