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