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"