paolapoletto@gmail.com
paolapoletto.com
My practice includes photography, drawing, sculpture, writing and creative collaboration. Whether DIY or institutional-based, I'm interested in multi-voiced narratives. I am the independent co-producer of art/lit projects including OOL (Office of Life), an imprint I started in 2019. I'm also Director of Engagement & Learning at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto where I oversee opportunities to connect people with art. I am currently pursuing practice-based doctoral research at The Creative School, Toronto Metropolitan University, aiming to make a new museum experience map focused on visitors, artists and staff. It includes a blog where I write about what I am learning and thinking about for a transformational museum experience. It is ordered by panoramic images of the reflecting pool at Mel Lastman Square in North York, a series I took over 10 months during COVID lock down and titled Glitch in 2022. It moves through additional images I've been taking of the AGO's Walker Court, where I consider the symbolic resonances of a seasonal and cyclical water cycle and the metaphor of the pool with site-specificity and my own position stitching the narrative. I imagine this stuff will formally take a couple years to create.
AWARD
2017 John Hobday Award in Visual Arts Management, Canada Council for the Arts
EDUCATION
2021 - Present, pursuing Doctor of Philosophy in Media and Design Innovation, The Creative School, Toronto Metropolitan University
2017 International Leadership Program in Visual Arts Management, New York University, Deusto University, Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain
2000 Master of Fine Arts, Western University, London, Canada
1993 Bachelor of Fine Arts, York University, Toronto, Canada
ARTIST/COORDINATOR
2000 Master of Fine Arts, Western University, London, Canada
1993 Bachelor of Fine Arts, York University, Toronto, Canada
ARTIST/COORDINATOR
Rabbit // Pause, site-specific project with Samantha Sannella, Clark Centre for the Arts, Toronto, 2024, supported by Toronto Metropolitan University. Accompanied by bookwork, Rabbit // Pause.
Sounds of Wonder, in Knowledge Otherwise, curated by Natalie Loveless and Geoffrey Rockwell, FAB Gallery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, 2023, supported by the Institution of Knowledge colab - research-creation + social justice collaborators, University of Alberta. Accompanied by score, Sound of Wonder
Sounds of Wonder, in Knowledge Otherwise, curated by Natalie Loveless and Geoffrey Rockwell, FAB Gallery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, 2023, supported by the Institution of Knowledge colab - research-creation + social justice collaborators, University of Alberta. Accompanied by score, Sound of Wonder
Entanglements (Tea, Maybe): Ivetta Sunyoung Kang, Paul Hong, Jake Kennedy, Paola Poletto, artist-curator, Korean Cultural Centre, Ottawa, 2022, supported by Embassy of Korea, Ontario Arts Council, Okanagan College, Toronto Metropolitan University. Accompanied by bookwork, Mr. Cho Stayed for Tea | Entanglements (Tea, Maybe)
DQA (Double Quadruple Axel - Unentitled), 8 digital photos as part of the virtual 10th anniversary exhibition with North York Arts, October 2021
StudioPeePee (2012-17 and 2020), a durational photo installation, bookwork published in signed limited edition of 25, 2020
Ghosts of Monsters, photo installation, Lower Gallery at Toronto Centre for the Arts, supported by North York Arts, Ontario Arts Council, and presented as part of Contact Photography Festival and Doors Open Toronto, May 2018. Accompanied by bookwork, PARKHOME
We are Coloured, in Imago Mundi, curated by Francesca Valente, Palazzo Loredan, Venezia, Aug - Oct, 2017 and Offsite Gallery - OCADU University, Toronto, Oct-Nov, 2018.
Gas Up! photo series with Liis Toliao in Suburbed, curated by Patrick Macaulay, Harbourfront Centre, Sept - Dec, 2014
Directions for Usefulness photo installation in Survoyeurism: Reconsidering Surveillance, curated by Nives Hajdin, The Open Gallery - OCADU, April, 2014
Oh Dear, Public Art that unhinges North York's sense of modesty, artist/curator, a multi-site-specific exhibition in North York, Jul - Aug, 2013, supported by Ontario Arts Council, North York Arts
Lady Cleaner photo installation in Tel-talk, artist/curator, co-produced with Yvonne Koscielak, Liis Toliao, www.tel-talk.blogspot.com with exhibition at Telephone Booth Gallery (Sharlene Rankin - Director) and book, Sept 2011 - Jul 2012, writing supported by Ontario Arts Council
Boredom Fighters! Graphic Poems, artist/curator, co-edited with Jake Kennedy, Tightrope Books, Toronto-Detroit, 2008
California Dreaming in Waypoint, curated by Patrick Macaulay, York Quay Galleries, Harbourfront Centre, Jul-Sept, 2005
Kiss Machine, artist/curator/co-founder, published twice yearly featuring 300 + artists and writers, and performance series 2000 - 2005, supported by Ontario Arts Council, Canada Council and Canada Magazine Fund:
Babies and Robots (ed. Pohl-Weary/Poletto, design Matt Blackett, cover Mark Connery) March 2004
What and Why (ed. Pohl-Weary/Poletto, design Matt Blackett, cover Julie Voyce) September 2003 - performance launch "Secrets Room" at Canzine - Gladstone Hotel, Toronto
Girls and Guns (ed. Pohl-Weary/Poletto, design Rita Goslevskis) April 2003 – performance lay Shirwin Tjia, Sally McKay with Jean McKay, launch YYZ Artists’ Outlet, Toronto
Cars and Religion (ed. Pohl-Weary/Poletto, design Luigi Ferrara & Avery Hunsberger) August 2002 – performance launch with Novel Amusements and Global Pop Conspiracy, Toronto
Hospitals and Aliens (ed. Pohl-Weary/Poletto, design Ferrara & Hunsberger), performances by Louise May (Winnipeg), Poletto, February 2002 – launch at I.V Lounge, Toronto
Sex and Condiments (ed. Pohl-Weary/Poletto, design Beehive Design), performance by Human Faux Pas (Vancouver) July 2001 – launch at Lee’s Palace, Toronto
Banana Bread in Geostash, with Jon Sasaki, curated by Michelle Kasprzak and Michael Alstad, year.01.com/geostash, October/November 2004, supported by YYZ, Toronto
Girls and Guns, artist/curator, Forest City Gallery, London and performance/launch at YYZ Artist Outlet, Toronto, Apr 2003; Dorrotyea Galleria, Budapest, Aug, 2004; Tirana, Albania, Sept 2004; Novisad Media Festival, Serbia & Montenegro, Oct, 2004, Supported by Canadian Consulate in Budapest
Her Eyes and Hair Repeat, graphic poem in Superheroes, witches, mutants and freaks: Girls Who Bite Back, Sumach Press, anthology ed. Emily Pohl-Weary, 2004
Breathe, photo and audio work in Art Tunes, curated by Toni Latour, 2003, available at V-Tape, Toronto
Was That Forest, photo magnet multiple of 50, 2003, available through Art Metropole, Toronto
Inflatable Museum, artist/curator, on-line project, 2001 – 2004
Language Hotel, site-specific durational installation, St. Norbert Cultural Center, Winnipeg, Dec 2000
Forest, (with Thompson/Wlasenko/Dansereau) Pekao Gallery, Toronto, Oct/Nov 2000
Rockit Girl: The CD Project, (with Cipriano/Osborne), exhibition and CD, She Said Boom, Toronto, Ontario, September, 2000, preceded by Rockit Girl month-long performance/residency and exhibition, Galleries@Galleria, London, Ontario, Jun 2000
Quanto Capish, video installation with Toni Latour, Gallery 396, London, Ontario, Jan 2000
Art Forum Berlin and Art International New York, Artcore Gallery, 1998 - 1999
TALKS
My Office Photograph, Education & Programming Division, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, December, 2023
Sound of Wonder, part of Institution of Knowledge, curated by Natalie Loveless and Geoffrey Rockwell, University of Alberta, Edmonton, May, 2023
Entanglements (Tea, Maybe): Ivetta Sunyoung Kang, Paul Hong, Jake Kennedy, Paola Poletto, moderated by Alice Ming Wai Jim, Korean Cultural Centre, Ottawa, September, 2022
Art Now: Art in the Public Realm - artist talk (series coordinated by Christof Migone), Western University, London, Feb 2016
How Residencies Create Socially Responsible Museums: Nancy Maryboy, Darren O'Donnell, Eric Siegel, coordinator and moderator of panel presentation at American Alliance of Museums conference, April 2015
Oh Dear: Public Art that Unhinges North York's Sense of Modesty, panel presentation for Land | Slide: Possible Futures (curated by Janine Marchessault), Markham Museums, October 2013
Fashion no-no (Berzowska, Dorkenwald and Spitzer, Imai, Yeung, Ling, Thompson) curatorial statement and talk for bi-annual craft/art exhibition, Queen's Quay Gallery - Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, January - March, 2009
Design Director's Talk and Roundtable, North American Conference for Design Museums coordinated by Vitra Museum, Design Miami, December 2007
Canada Goes Wild: Contemporary Canadian Design, presentations at Canadian Embassy, Tokyo and Canadian Pavilion, Expo, Nagoya, April 2005
Pistols, Vacancies and Drifting Snow, presentation at Hot Flashes Symposium on the work of Sheila Butler, University of Western Ontario, February, 2005
Girls and Guns, curator/artist statement in panel discussion, August 2004, Dorrotyea Galleria, Budapest
Multiplicity: Do It Yourself Publishing and Artist Multiples, panel discussion, May 2004, Drake Hotel supported by Gallery TPW, Toronto
WRITER/COORDINATOR
Rabbit // Pause, exhibition and bookwork by Samantha Sannella and Paola Poletto, OOL Toronto, January, 2024
How Residencies Create Socially Responsible Museums: Nancy Maryboy, Darren O'Donnell, Eric Siegel, coordinator and moderator of panel presentation at American Alliance of Museums conference, April 2015
Oh Dear: Public Art that Unhinges North York's Sense of Modesty, panel presentation for Land | Slide: Possible Futures (curated by Janine Marchessault), Markham Museums, October 2013
Fashion no-no (Berzowska, Dorkenwald and Spitzer, Imai, Yeung, Ling, Thompson) curatorial statement and talk for bi-annual craft/art exhibition, Queen's Quay Gallery - Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, January - March, 2009
Design Director's Talk and Roundtable, North American Conference for Design Museums coordinated by Vitra Museum, Design Miami, December 2007
Canada Goes Wild: Contemporary Canadian Design, presentations at Canadian Embassy, Tokyo and Canadian Pavilion, Expo, Nagoya, April 2005
Pistols, Vacancies and Drifting Snow, presentation at Hot Flashes Symposium on the work of Sheila Butler, University of Western Ontario, February, 2005
Girls and Guns, curator/artist statement in panel discussion, August 2004, Dorrotyea Galleria, Budapest
Multiplicity: Do It Yourself Publishing and Artist Multiples, panel discussion, May 2004, Drake Hotel supported by Gallery TPW, Toronto
WRITER/COORDINATOR
Rabbit // Pause, exhibition and bookwork by Samantha Sannella and Paola Poletto, OOL Toronto, January, 2024
Response to exhibition Negotiating Borders, SAW Gallery and Korean Cultural Centre, Ottawa, 2023/24
Sound of Wonder, score by Paola Poletto and David Gauntlett, OOL Toronto, April, 2023
Inner Selfie: the glitch of the missing skull, curatorial essay for Inner Selfie online experience and in person maker space at AGO with Hanif Janmohamed, Maria Lantin, Melissa Smith, February 2023
Mr. Cho Stayed for Tea | Entanglements (Tea, Maybe): Ivetta Sunyoung Kang, Paul Hong, Jake Kennedy, Paola Poletto, curatorial essay, OOL, Toronto, September, 2022
PARKHOME, bookwork by Paola Poletto with Brendan George Ko, Paul Hong and Flavio Trevisan, OOL, Toronto, 2018
Meera Margaret Singh: Echoes, Laughter and Female Body Builders, case study in Feminism and Museums, edited by Jenna Ashton, Museums Etc., London, 2017
AGO Artists in Residence 2011-16, manager/editor, AGO, 2017
Echoes: Meera Margaret Singh, artist bookwork, project manager, AGO, 2016
Oh Dear, Public Art that unhinges North York's sense of modesty, exhibition poster/brochure, 2013, supported by Ontario Arts Council, North York Arts
Tel-talk, artist/curator, co-produced with Yvonne Koscielak, Liis Toliao, Tightrope Books, Toronto-Detroit, 2012, writing supported by Ontario Arts Council
Boredom Fighters! Graphic Poems, artist/curator, co-edited with Jake Kennedy, Tightrope Books, Toronto-Detroit, 2008
Ourtopias: Cities and the Role of Design, co-edited by with Philip Beesley, Catherine Molnar, Riverside Architectural Press, Waterloo, 2008
Jellyfish, Zebra and other Animals: art, fashion and Canadian identity, essay in La moda in Canada. Patrimonio etnico e identità nazionale publication co-edited by Giovanna Franci and Rosella Mangaroni, Emil - Roma / University of Bologna, 2008
Roger Wood, curatorial statement, Design Exchange, December - January 2007/8
A new age for design?, paper in Design For All Institute Of India Newsletter, Mar 2006, Vol.1 N.2
Exchange: Universal Design, editor, Design Exchange, 2005
Design for the Cold, curatorial statement, Design Exchange, September - October, 2005
Robot Landscapes, curatorial statement, Harbourfront Centre, March - May, 2005
Virtual vs. Physical: Creating on-line educational experiences through design, co-authored and presented with Anne Kaye, Museums and the Web Conference 2004, Arlington, VA/Washington DC, Apr, 2004
The mini-revolution of e-textiles, article in Partners Magazine, Winter 2004
Exchange: Sustainability, assistant editor, Design Exchange, 2003
Broken Pencil Magazine, visual arts editor, 2001/2
Michael Alstad: PATH, essay on video work presented at Graz Biennal of Media and Architecture, exhibition catalogue, 2001
Julie Voyce: mail art, Broken Pencil Magazine, article co-authored with Jon Sasaki, Fall 2001
Nancy Fox: prints, SNAP Gallery, essay about artist print in Newsletter Edition, Edmonton 2001
The Analogy of Hibernation, paper, University Art Association Conference, University of Manitoba, Nov. 2000
WORK
2013 - current: Art Gallery of Ontario
Director, Engagement & Learning
2008 - 2013: City of Mississauga
Supervisor, Cultural Programs
2000 - 2008: Design Exchange
Senior Director, Public Programs and Exhibitions
1998 - 2000: Canadian Medical Hall of Fame
Curator
1993 - 1998: Italian Cultural Institute, Toronto/Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Italy
Programs Coordinator/Assistant Curator
Meera Margaret Singh: Echoes, Laughter and Female Body Builders, case study in Feminism and Museums, edited by Jenna Ashton, Museums Etc., London, 2017
AGO Artists in Residence 2011-16, manager/editor, AGO, 2017
Echoes: Meera Margaret Singh, artist bookwork, project manager, AGO, 2016
Oh Dear, Public Art that unhinges North York's sense of modesty, exhibition poster/brochure, 2013, supported by Ontario Arts Council, North York Arts
Tel-talk, artist/curator, co-produced with Yvonne Koscielak, Liis Toliao, Tightrope Books, Toronto-Detroit, 2012, writing supported by Ontario Arts Council
Boredom Fighters! Graphic Poems, artist/curator, co-edited with Jake Kennedy, Tightrope Books, Toronto-Detroit, 2008
Ourtopias: Cities and the Role of Design, co-edited by with Philip Beesley, Catherine Molnar, Riverside Architectural Press, Waterloo, 2008
Jellyfish, Zebra and other Animals: art, fashion and Canadian identity, essay in La moda in Canada. Patrimonio etnico e identità nazionale publication co-edited by Giovanna Franci and Rosella Mangaroni, Emil - Roma / University of Bologna, 2008
Roger Wood, curatorial statement, Design Exchange, December - January 2007/8
A new age for design?, paper in Design For All Institute Of India Newsletter, Mar 2006, Vol.1 N.2
Exchange: Universal Design, editor, Design Exchange, 2005
Design for the Cold, curatorial statement, Design Exchange, September - October, 2005
Robot Landscapes, curatorial statement, Harbourfront Centre, March - May, 2005
Virtual vs. Physical: Creating on-line educational experiences through design, co-authored and presented with Anne Kaye, Museums and the Web Conference 2004, Arlington, VA/Washington DC, Apr, 2004
The mini-revolution of e-textiles, article in Partners Magazine, Winter 2004
Exchange: Sustainability, assistant editor, Design Exchange, 2003
Broken Pencil Magazine, visual arts editor, 2001/2
Michael Alstad: PATH, essay on video work presented at Graz Biennal of Media and Architecture, exhibition catalogue, 2001
Julie Voyce: mail art, Broken Pencil Magazine, article co-authored with Jon Sasaki, Fall 2001
Nancy Fox: prints, SNAP Gallery, essay about artist print in Newsletter Edition, Edmonton 2001
The Analogy of Hibernation, paper, University Art Association Conference, University of Manitoba, Nov. 2000
WORK
2013 - current: Art Gallery of Ontario
Director, Engagement & Learning
2008 - 2013: City of Mississauga
Supervisor, Cultural Programs
2000 - 2008: Design Exchange
Senior Director, Public Programs and Exhibitions
1998 - 2000: Canadian Medical Hall of Fame
Curator
1993 - 1998: Italian Cultural Institute, Toronto/Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Italy
Programs Coordinator/Assistant Curator