Bio
Alondra Ruiz-Hernandez is a Mexican Canadian cross-disciplinary artist, and has participated in thirty-nine exhibitions, including three solo exhibitions. She has exhibited at the Archäologisches Museum Innsbruck, The British Library, The Bloomsbury Festival, MAFA International Festival, ‘LATE AT TATE’ Tate Britain, Toronto Biennial of Art, and Kitchener’s THEMUSEUM. Alondra won twenty-one awards, including FOLAS/SIS Academic Writing Award in Social Science, a Figureworks honourable mention, nine-teen Scholastic’s Arts and Writing (four Gold Keys and six Silver Keys). She was a speaker at eight talks discussing various topics such as artistic practice to climate change, politics, as well as de-stigmatizing menstruation and addressing period poverty underneath an artistic perspective. Alondra acted as an art juror for three events. Her work has been presented in eight international publications for audiences in Austria, United Kingdom, Canada, and Mexico. Alondra will be partaking in two art-based internships in 2022 including the Fúgens Intern program, prioritising wellbeing in a fast-paced world via art and CIC responding to natural disasters. She is pursuing an MA in Fine Arts at UAL's Chelsea College of Arts, 2020-2021. Alondra completed a BFA majoring in Drawing and Painting and a minoring in Social Sciences (graduated from both with distinction) at OCAD University, 2015-2020. Her interest in diverse cultures and her passion for informed research helped her win coveted places to study in OCAD U’s self-directed Florence program, 2017-2018, and in Jiangnan University, 2017. In high school Alondra attended art-specific schools, majoring in Contemporary Arts at Etobicoke School of the Arts from 2013-2015 and Visual Arts at Cawthra Park Secondary School from 2011 to 2013.
Statement
Alondra visually addresses the ambiguous area where her cultures (Mexico and Canada) collide. This investigates the dual identity that Alondra—and that any generational immigrants could—experience. Her work varies in medias just as it echoes the concept of one’s fluidity of identity. This overlap in media serves to establish a discussion about the boundaries within cultures, artisanry, and high art along with fashion.
In contemplating ambiguous identity it seems unfeasible not to consider the current socio-political context, specifically the migrant crisis, climate crises, and currently the health crisis of the Covid-19 pandemic. Alondra proposes and investigates a concept that these crises are outcomes of a traumatized society. The philosopher Marshal McLuhan predicted the world as a global village that would continue to shrink as technological development evolved. McLuhan compares interconnected communication networks to a ‘global nervous system’. Extending this analogy, it can be concluded that, like any other consciousness, this system can also experience trauma and react accordingly.
Are we living in a traumatized society? Does our capacity to dehumanize others for capital gain and to destroy our planet points to collective trauma? How can societies offer solace, coping mechanisms, and healing to satisfy the psychic need for certainty and solid ground in a world that is in constant flux? How do we deal with a crisis of meaning and isolation from the rest of the community?
Alondra's work explores the notion of a traumatized society, vulnerability, transformation and collective consciousness.
Education
2020-2021
2015–2020
2017–2018
2017
2013–2015
2011–2013
• UAL Chelsea College of Arts, MA Fine Arts, London, United Kingdom
• OCAD University, Drawing & Painting Major, Social Science Minor, Toronto, Canada
• OCAD University, Off-Campus Florence Program, Florence, Italy
• Jiangnan University, Chinese Culture Program, Wuxi, China
• Etobicoke School of Arts, Contemporary Visual Arts Program, Toronto, Canada
• Cawthra Park SS, Visual Arts Program, Toronto, Canada
Solo Exhibition
Education
• 2020-2021, UAL Chelsea College of Arts, MA Fine Arts, London, United Kingdom
• 2015-2020, OCAD University, Drawing & Painting Major, Social Science Minor, Toronto, Canada
• 2017-2018, OCAD University, Off-Campus Florence Program, Florence, Italy
• 2017, Jiangnan University, Chinese Culture Program, Wuxi, China
• 2013-2015, Etobicoke School of Arts, Contemporary Visual Arts Program, Toronto, Canada
• 2011-2013, Cawthra Park SS, Visual Arts Program, Toronto, Canada
Solo Exhibition
• 2021, Somatic Shift, The Cookhouse Gallery, London, United Kingdom
• 2020-2021, The Night’s Breath Responds to the Sea, Quest Art, Midland, Canada
• 2017, Stitching Time, Propeller Gallery, Toronto, Canada
Events
• 2021, The Faces at Braga, Performance reciting David Whyte's poem, William Goodenough College, United Kingdom
• 2020, LATE AT TATE BRITAIN ONLINE, TATE, London, United Kingdom
Festivals
• 2021, The Contemporary Art Festival Premierentage, Postcards from Isolation, Archäologisches Museum Innsbruck, Austria
• 2021, Día de Muertos: A Celebration of Life, La Isla Para Morir, British Library, London, United Kingdom
• 2021, Bloomsbury Festival, Shades of Light, Conway Hall, London, United Kingdom
• 2021, MAFA INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL, Chelsea College of Arts, International
• 2020 ERIC Festival, ERIC, Online
• 2019, Toronto Biennial of Art, Unknowable Unknowing, Toronto, Canada
Juried Exhibitions
• 2021, La Isla Para Morir, British Library, London, United Kingdom
• 2021, Recast: Turning the Symbolic into the Concrete, Community Garden Art Collective, Online
• 2020 RUPTURE • T O N I C • REGENERATE, QuaranTonics, Online
• 2019, Unknowable Unknowing, The Great Hall OCAD University, Toronto, Canada
• 2019, FLOW | The Menstruation Exhibition, THEMUSEUM, Kitchener, Canada
• 2018, Figureworks, Winner of the Honourable Mention, St Brigid's Centre for the Arts, Ottawa, Canada
• 2017, The Art of Talking to Yourself, 187 Gallery, Toronto, Canada
• 2016, Re-Vision, Propeller Gallery, Toronto, Canada
• 2016, Where Are You Really From? Daniels Spectrum, Toronto, Canada
• 2016, Salon X, Propeller Gallery, Toronto, Canada
• 2015, Magenta Flash Forward, Incubator Program, Twist Gallery, Toronto, Canada
• 2015, Salon IX, Propeller Gallery, Toronto, Canada
• 2014, Migration, Nuit Blanche, Propeller Gallery, Toronto, Canada
• 2014, Photo & Film Festival, Artisans at Work, Toronto, Canada
Group Exhibitions
• 2021, Postcards from Isolation, Archäologisches Museum Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
• 2021, D.R. Show III, Triangle Building, London, United Kingdom
• 2021, D.R. Show II, Triangle Building, London, United Kingdom
• 2021, D.R. Show I, The Cookhouse Gallery, London, United Kingdom
• 2021, RALLY!, Chelsea College of Arts, London, United Kingdom and International Location
• 2021, Utopian Worlds, Digital Exhibition, International collaborations
• 2021, Winter Salon Project, Digital Exhibition, London, United Kingdom
• 2020, Cookhouse Exhibition, The Cookhouse Gallery, London, United Kingdom
• 2020, Track & Fauna, Outdoor Performance Piece, London, United Kingdom
• 2020, Connected Disconnection,Video Exhibition, UAL Chelsea College of Arts, London, United Kingdom
•2019, GradEx 104, OCAD University, Toronto, Canada
• 2019, A Night of Filth & Decadence, The Great Hall OCAD University, Toronto, Canada
• 2018, Frutti: The Fruits of Our Labour, The Great Hall OCAD University, Toronto, Canada
• 2018, Emulsion II, 14 Via Bonifacio Lupi, Florence, Italy
• 2017, Emulsion I, 14 Via Bonifacio Lupi, Florence, Italy
• 2016. Awenda Inspired, Ada Slaight Student Gallery, Toronto, Canada
• 2015, The Contact Photography Exhibition, Artscape Youngplace, Toronto, Canada
• 2014, Portfolio Day 5, Etobicoke School of the Arts, Toronto, Canada
Art Booth
• 2019, REFLECT, RAW TO, Mod Club Theatre, Toronto, Canada
Awards
• 2020, The Social Science Award, OCAD U
• 2018, Figureworks, Honourable Mention
• 2015, ‘I AM THE NEW SCHOOL’ Finalist, Parsons, The New School
• 2015, The Scholastic Arts Awards, 1 Gold Key Award for Art Portfolio
• 2015, The Scholastic Arts Awards, 3 Gold Key Awards (Photography)
• 2015, The Scholastic Arts Awards, 5 Silver Key Awards (Photography)
• 2015, The Scholastic Arts Awards, 1 Silver Key Award (Painting)
• 2015, The Scholastic Arts Awards, 8 Honorable Mentions
• 2014, The Scholastic Arts Awards, 1 Honorable Mention
Talks
• 2021, Port Talk, William Goodenough College, London, United Kingdom
• 2020, The Night’s Breath Responds to the Sea Artist Conversation, Quest Art, Midland, Canada
• 2019, Artist Panel FLOW | The Menstruation Exhibition, THEMUSEUM, Kitchener, Canada
• 2016, Meet the Artist, Propeller Gallery, Toronto, Canada
• 2015, ART TALK 4, OCAD University, Toronto, Canada
• 2015, Meet the Artist, Propeller Gallery, Toronto, Canada
Juror
• 2019, Audition Day, Etobicoke School of the Arts, Toronto, Canada
• 2015, Audition Day, Etobicoke School of the Arts, Toronto, Canada
Publication
• 2021, Büro für Gegenwartskunst (Contemporary Art Office), Die Premierentage des Festivals für zeitgenössische Kunst (The Contemporary Art Festival Premierentage Art), Austria
• 2019, BlogTo, featured in '25 Artist to Watch from the OCADU Graduation Exhibition' article, Canada
• 2019, Canadian Art, Image featured in 'Canadian Museum Plans Exhibition on Menstruation' article, Canada
• 2018-2019, Photo Ed Magazine, full page on the digital edition of 'Studio Magic: Baby it's Cold Outside', Canada
• 2018, Wot Is Art? full page on '2018 February Edition' print, UK
• 2018, A5 Magazine, full page on '2018 February Edition' print, UK
• 2017, Development of Dystopic Scenarios, 10 artworks in academic design guide, Mexico
Publication Project
• 2020, MAFAZINE, London, United Kingdom
Work Experience
• 2021, Poster designer for Shades of Light in Bloomsbury Festival, London, United Kingdom
• 2021, Poster designer for Port Talk, Memento Mori, Goodenough College, London, United Kingdom
• 2021, Poster designer for Port Talk, The Crisis of Capitalism, Goodenough College, London, United Kingdom
• 2018-2020, OCAD U Photographer, OCAD U, Toronto, Canada
• 2019, Private Art Lessons, (building students portfolio to apply to art high-school), Toronto, Canada
• 2018, Volunteer Photographer, The Nook, Toronto, Canada
• 2018, Photographer, OCAD U CO Events x2, Toronto, Canada
• 2017, Art Camp, Etobicoke School of the Arts, Toronto, Canada
• 2016, Art Camp, Etobicoke School of the Arts, Toronto, Canada
• 2015, Art Camp, Etobicoke School of the Arts, Toronto, Canada
• 2014-2015, Private Art Lessons for Children, Mississauga, Canada
Events
2021
2020-2021
2017
• Somatic Shift, The Cookhouse Gallery, London, United Kingdom
• The Night’s Breath Responds to the Sea, Quest Art, Midland, Canada
• Stitching Time, Propeller Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2021
2020
• The Faces at Braga, Performance reciting David Whyte's poem, William Goodenough College, United
• Kingdom
• LATE AT TATE BRITAIN ONLINE, TATE, London, United Kingdom
Festivals
Juried Exhibitions
2021
2020
2019
• The Contemporary Art Festival Premierentage, Postcards from Isolation, Archäologisches Museum
• Innsbruck, Austria
• Día de Muertos: A Celebration of Life, British Library, London, United Kingdom
• Bloomsbury Festival, Shades of Light, Conway Hall, London, United Kingdom
• MAFA INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL, Chelsea College of Arts, International
• ERIC Festival, ERIC, Online
• Toronto Biennial of Art, Unknowable Unknowing, Toronto, Canada
• La Isla Para Morir, British Library, London, United Kingdom
• Recast: Turning the Symbolic into the Concrete, Community Garden Art Collective, Online
• RUPTURE • T O N I C • REGENERATE, QuaranTonics, Online
• Unknowable Unknowing, The Great Hall OCAD University, Toronto, Canada
• FLOW | The Menstruation Exhibition, THEMUSEUM, Kitchener, Canada
• Figureworks, Winner of the Honourable Mention, St Brigid's Centre for the Arts, Ottawa, Canada
• The Art of Talking to Yourself, 187 Gallery, Toronto, Canada
• Re-Vision, Propeller Gallery, Toronto, Canada
• Where Are You Really From? Daniels Spectrum, Toronto, Canada
• Salon X, Propeller Gallery, Toronto, Canada
• Magenta Flash Forward, Incubator Program, Twist Gallery, Toronto, Canada
• Salon IX, Propeller Gallery, Toronto, Canada
• Migration, Nuit Blanche, Propeller Gallery, Toronto, Canada
• Photo & Film Festival, Artisans at Work, Toronto, Canada
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
Group Exhibitions
• Postcards from Isolation II, The Cookhouse Gallery, London, UK
• Postcards from Isolation, Archäologisches Museum Innsbruck, Austria
• RALLY!, Chelsea College of Arts, London, United Kingdom and International Location
• D.R. Show III, Triangle Building, London, United Kingdom
• D.R. Show II, Triangle Building, London, United Kingdom
• D.R. Show I, The Cookhouse Gallery, London, United Kingdom
• Utopian Worlds, Digital Exhibition, International collaborations
• Winter Salon Project, Digital Exhibition, London, United Kingdom
• Cookhouse Exhibition, The Cookhouse Gallery, London, United Kingdom
• Track & Fauna, Outdoor Performance Piece, London, United Kingdom
• Connected Disconnection,Video Exhibition, UAL Chelsea College of Arts, London, United Kingdom
• GradEx 104, OCAD University, Toronto, Canada
• A Night of Filth & Decadence, The Great Hall OCAD University, Toronto, Canada
• Frutti: The Fruits of Our Labour, The Great Hall OCAD University, Toronto, Canada
• Emulsion II, 14 Via Bonifacio Lupi, Florence, Italy
• Emulsion I, 14 Via Bonifacio Lupi, Florence, Italy
• Awenda Inspired, Ada Slaight Student Gallery, Toronto, Canada
• The Contact Photography Exhibition, Artscape Youngplace, Toronto, Canada
• Portfolio Day 5, Etobicoke School of the Arts, Toronto, Canada
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
Art Booth
2019
• REFLECT, RAW TO, Mod Club Theatre, Toronto, Canada
Awards
2020
2018
2015
2015
2015
2015
2015
2015
2014
• The Social Science Award, OCAD U
• Figureworks, Honourable Mention
• ‘I AM THE NEW SCHOOL’ Finalist, Parsons, The New School
• The Scholastic Arts Awards, 1 Gold Key Award for Art Portfolio
• The Scholastic Arts Awards, 3 Gold Key Awards (Photography)
• The Scholastic Arts Awards, 5 Silver Key Awards (Photography)
• The Scholastic Arts Awards, 1 Silver Key Award (Painting)
• The Scholastic Arts Awards, 8 Honorable Mentions
• The Scholastic Arts Awards, 1 Honorable Mention
Talks
• Academic Committee's Port Talk Panel on COP 26, Goodenough College, London, United Kingdom
• Port Talk, William Goodenough College, London, United Kingdom
• The Night’s Breath Responds to the Sea Artist Conversation, Quest Art, Midland, Canada
• Artist Panel FLOW | The Menstruation Exhibition, THEMUSEUM, Kitchener, Canada
• Meet the Artist, Propeller Gallery, Toronto, Canada
• ART TALK 4, OCAD University, Toronto, Canada
• Meet the Artist, Propeller Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2021
2020
2019
2016
2015
Juror
2021
2017
2016
• Bloomsbury Festival, Shades of Light, London, United Kingdom
• Audition Day, Etobicoke School of the Arts, Toronto, Canada
• Audition Day, Etobicoke School of the Arts, Toronto, Canada
Publication
• Büro für Gegenwartskunst (Contemporary Art Office), Die Premierentage des Festivals für
• zeitgenössische Kunst (The Contemporary Art Festival Premierentage Art), Austria
• Arts and Science Review, Myriad Masculinities in a Patriarchal World, OCADU
• BlogTo, featured in '25 Artist to Watch from the OCADU Graduation Exhibition' article, Canada
• Canadian Art, Image featured in 'Canadian Museum Plans Exhibition on Menstruation' article, Canada
• Photo Ed Magazine, full page on the digital edition of 'Studio Magic: Baby it's Cold Outside', Canada
• Wot Is Art? full page on '2018 February Edition' print, United Kingdom
• A5 Magazine, full page on '2018 February Edition' print, United Kingdom
• Development of Dystopic Scenarios, 10 artworks in academic design guide, Mexico
2021
2020
2019
2019
2018-2019
2018
2018
2017
Publication Projects
Work Experience
2020
• MAFAZINE, London, United Kingdom
• Poster designer for Shades of Light in Bloomsbury Festival, London, United Kingdom
• Poster designer for Port Talk, The Crisis of Capitalism, Goodenough College, London, United
• Kingdom
• Poster designer for Port Talk, Memento Mori, Goodenough College, London, United Kingdom
• OCAD U Photographer, OCAD U, Toronto, Canada
• Private Art Lessons, (building students portfolio to apply to art high-school), Toronto, Canada
• Photographer, OCAD U CO Events x2, Toronto, Canada
• Volunteer Photographer, The Nook, Toronto, Canada
• Art Camp, Etobicoke School of the Arts, Toronto, Canada
• Art Camp, Etobicoke School of the Arts, Toronto, Canada
• Art Camp, Etobicoke School of the Arts, Toronto, Canada
• Private Art Lessons for Children, Mississauga, Canada
2021
2018-2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014-2015