Chris A Leithead

Toronto, Canada | chris.a.leithead@gmail.com

 

EDUCATION

Master of Fine Arts, Interdisciplinary Master of Art, Media, and Design, OCAD University, Toronto, 2025

Thesis Title­— “Please… Touch the Grass: An Exhibition of Site-Responsive Sculptures Journeying Between Thresholds of Virtual and Real” | Studio-based research practice culminating in an exhibition, supporting paper, and an oral defense.

 

Bachelor of Fine Arts, Cross Disciplinary: Life Studies, OCAD University, Toronto, 2021

Majored in Cross Disciplinary Life Studies. Developed a studio practice focusing on non-traditional materiality. Academic interests included: posthumanism, affect theory, feminist new materialism, object-oriented-ontology, design theory, and ecological theory.

 

EXHIBITIONS

2025 | interphase, Gallery 1313, Toronto, ON

2025 | Please… Touch the Grass (solo thesis exhibition), OCAD U Graduate Gallery, Toronto, ON

2021 | GradEx, OCAD University, Toronto, ON

2020 | Latex Tarps: Essex (private viewings), 127 Essex, Toronto, ON

2017 | Biodesign Challenge, Museum of Modern Art & School of Visual Arts, NY

2014 | Nuts and Volts, Bassline, Toronto, ON

 

COMPETITIONS, GRANTS & AWARDS

2022 | Research and Creation grant for Latex Tapestries project, Canada Council for the Arts, Canada

2021 | Career Catalyst: Project Grant for New Generation Artists, Ontario Arts Council, Canada

2021 | Life Studies Award, OCAD U GradEx 106, Toronto, ON

2021 | Career Launcher Grant, OCAD U Center for Emerging Artists and Designers, Toronto, ON

2019 | First Capital Realty Public Sculpture Competition, Finalist, Toronto, ON

2018 | Joy as Resistance Mural Project (with Artivism OCAD U), OCAD Student Union Project Grant, Toronto, ON

2017 | Biodesign Challenge, Museum of Modern Art & School of Visual Arts, NY

 

RESIDENCIES

2017 | Artscape Gibraltar Point, Toronto, ON

 

ACADEMIC ROLES

2025 | Graduate Research Assistant, Literature Review | Art, Object, Experience | Principal Researcher — Gabrielle Hezekiah

2024 | Graduate Research Assistant, Grantwriting | Decolonizing Art from Turtle Island to the Islands of the Bahamas | Principal Researcher ­— Ilene Sova

2024 | Teaching Assistant, Tutorial Leader | VISC-1002-301 —Global Visual & Material Culture: 1800s to present | Professor — Andrew Gayed

2023 | Teaching Assistant, Tutorial Leader | VISC-1002-301 —Global Visual & Material Culture: 1800s to present | Professor — Nikolas Drosos

2023-2024 | TA/RA Director, OCAD Faculty Association, Toronto, ON

2018-2019 | Faculty of Art Student Representative, OCAD University Senate, Toronto, ON

 

ARTS WORK

2022-Present | Grant Writer and Project Planner, Freelance, Remote/Toronto, ON

2020 | Phase 2 Curatorial Incubator participant, Subtle Technologies, Toronto, ON

2019 | Student Monitor, Ignite Gallery, Toronto, ON

2018 | On-site liaison and installation assistant, InSpace Series (with The White House 

Special thanks to:
The Ontario Arts Council
Canada Council for the Arts