ABOUT ME
Madeline Collins (she/her) is a contemporary art writer, curator, and artist based in Toronto, Ontario. Her practices explore identity-making and world-building through Black diasporic theory, queer-of-colour imaginaries, and the visioning of "worlds otherwise." Her thesis research considered space and time as frameworks for the (un)making of Black diasporic identity. Her publications include the podcast Unboxing the Canon and articles in Journal of Curatorial Studies, Senses & Society, Economía Creativa, and RACAR. Curatorially, she is interested in work that overwhelms, winks, and shocks.
Madeline is a recent graduate from OCAD University, with an MA in Contemporary Art, Design, and New Media Histories. She currently works as a research assistant at the Centre for the Study of Black Canadian Diaspora and as editorial assistant at Studio Magazine.
Open to collaborations and commissions.
CURRICULUM VITAE
EDUCATION
2025 - OCAD University / Master of Arts, Honours: Contemporary Art, Design, and New Media Histories (CADN)
2022 - Brock University / Bachelor of Arts, Honours: History of Art and Visual Culture (Minor: French Studies)
2018 - Meadowvale Secondary School / OSSD, Honours
WORK EXPERIENCE
2026-ongoing — Editorial Assistant, Studio Magazine // Toronto, Canada
2025-ongoing — Research Assistant, Centre for the Study of Black Canadian Diaspora // Toronto, Canada
2024-ongoing — Canada Research Council Chair Application Editor // Toronto, Canada
2025 — Teaching Assistant, History of Photography // OCAD University, Toronto, Canada
2022-2025 — Research Assistant, Threading Frequencies // OCAD University, Toronto, Canada
2021-2022 — Research Assistant, Writer, Sound Editor, and Co-Host, Unboxing the Canon Podcast // Brock University, St. Catharine’s, Canada
2021-2022 — Gallery and Media Lab Supervisor // Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, St. Catharine’s, Canada
2021 — Research Assistant and Database Editor, Kiiwatin Oskapiywis // Brock University, St. Catharine’s, Canada
CURATORIAL PROJECTS
2026 — Curator, material disobedience // The Lost & Found Project Space, Toronto
2025 — Curator, GradEx 110: Medal Winners Exhibition // OCAD University, Toronto
2024 — Installation Assistant, Confluence // ROSEMARY Gallery, Winnipeg
2024 — Curator, Global Design and ARTchives // Ada Slaight Gallery, Toronto
2024 — Co-Curator, The F-Word: Fun, Agency, and Creativity as a Life Ethic // Abbozzo Gallery, Toronto
2023 — Curator, Defying the Margins // Ada Slaight Gallery, Toronto
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025 — Morphology (upcoming) // Toronto
2024 — BLACK IS, WAS + WILL // Ada Slaight Gallery, Toronto
2024 — A Summer Exhibition // Gallery 1313, Toronto
2023 — Defying the Margins // Ada Slaight Gallery, Toronto
2023 — Defying the Margins // Alice Yard, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad & Tobago
PRESENTATIONS & SYMPOSIA
2026 — Chair: Experimental Craft and Cathartic Possibility: Mending, Tactile Knowledge, and Futurities Harbourfront Centre Studio Theatre, Toronto.
2024 — Co-Chair, The F-Word: Cultivating Fun and Play in Research Practice // Universities Art Association Canada (UAAC) Annual Conference, London, Canada
2024 — Co-Chair and Moderator, The F-Word: Fun, Agency, and Creativity as a Life Ethic // CADN Annual Graduate Studies Conference, OCAD University, Toronto
2023 — Presenter, “Concrete Jungle: Denyse Thomasos and Diasporic Spacetime” // Graduate Studies Colloquium, OCAD University, Toronto
2022— Co-Presenter, “Unboxing the Canon: Podcasting and the First-Year Survey” // Art History Pedagogy Caucus Panel, Universities Art Association Canada (UAAC) Annual Conference, Toronto
AWARDS, GRANTS & ARTIST RESIDENCIES
2024-2025 — Artist Program, Morphology, Toronto
2024 — Artist Residency, Preservation and Perseverance: Cultural Heritage and Contemporary Practice, Chiang Mai, Thailand
2023 — Artist Residency, Defying the Margins: with Christopher Cozier, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad & Tobago
2023 — SSHRC National Grant, Joseph Armand-Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship - Master’s (CGSM)
2022 — Bluma Appel Award for Excellence in Humanities, Brock University
2021 — Lesley Bell Award, Brock University
2021 — Match of Minds Research Grant, Brock University