Ryan Legassicke (he/him/his) is a Canadian artist and researcher. His current work addresses the relationship between visual culture and transnational border studies. It is a social inquiry concerned with the role aesthetics plays in producing physical spaces, cultural identities, and social relations. Ryan’s practice is grounded in a commitment to social justice.
Initially trained in furniture design, Ryan’s work takes the form of sculpture, installations, site works and photographs. He approaches creative processes as a transdisciplinary research methodology designed to test, understand and communicate subjectivities. He has shown in many non traditional locations including independent museums, historic sites and temporary exhibition venues.
Ryan would like to acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council and the Nathanson Centre on Transnational Human Rights at York University. He has an MFA from the State University of New York @ Buffalo and is currently a PhD ABD in Communication and Culture, which is a joint program between York University and Toronto Metropolitan Museum in Toronto. Ryan lives and works in Hamilton, Ontario, which is located on the traditional territories of the Mississauga and Haudenosaunee nations, with artist Janet Macpherson and their daughter Frances.
ryanlegassicke(at)gmail.com
Solo Exhibitions
2015 Shadows (Wall Disease), Beit Zatoun House, Toronto, ON
2014 Shadows (Wall Disease), Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space, New York, NY
2014 Shadows (Wall Disease), The Sculpture Center, Cleveland, OH (cat.)
2013 No Trespassing / Space Available & related works, 487 ½ Concord Ave, Toronto, ON
2012 States of Security/Security States, Eastern State Penitentiary Historical Site, Philadelphia, PA
2010 No Trespassing / Space Available, Art & Music Library Gallery, University of Rochester, NY
2009 No Trespassing / Space Available, 1716 Main St., Buffalo, NY
2007 Overgrown, curated by Shaun Moore & Julie Nicholson, MADE, Toronto, ON
2007 Whitby Junction Deja-vu, curated by Gil McElroy, Station Gallery, Whitby, ON
2002 A Faculty of Wonder, Marion Nicoll Gallery, Calgary, AB
Selected Group Exhibitions
2019 elcatsbO Obstacle, with Jill Marie Holslin & Andrew Sturm, Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space, New York, NY
2017 fête: 50 Years of Sheridan’s Craft and Design program, Living Arts Centre, Mississauga, ON
2015 Jonald Dudd, curated by Chris Held, Lydia Cambron, Ben Garthus, City Bird Gallery, New York, NY
2015 Toronto Art Installers Art Show, curated by Blair Claxton, Charlotte Hale Gallery, Toronto, ON
2013 Borderline, curated by Megan Press, Living Arts Centre, Mississauga, ON
2012 Radiant Dark, curated by Julie Nicholson & Shaun Moore, MADE off-site, Toronto, ON
2012 Made: Directions and Intersections in Current Canadian Design, curated by Julie Nicholson & Shaun Moore, The Visual Arts Centre of Clarington, Clarington, ON (cat.)
2011 Urban Space, curated by Robert Blackson, Temple University Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2011 Making Sense, curated by Dale Barret, John B. Arid Gallery, Toronto, ON
2011 Looking Back at the Future: 50 Years of Art at the TOAE, curated by Jennifer Rudder, First Canadian Place Gallery, Toronto, ON
2010 Takt Kunstprojektraum, Berlin, Germany
2008 Feasting Eyes, Artists Take on Food, curated by Gerald Mead, Kenan Center, Lockport, NY
2007 Whisper and Clang, curated by Melanie Egan, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, ON
2007 It’s a Beauty, curated by Dale Barret, Pearson International Airport, Toronto, ON
2006 Everyday Living & Other Helpful Hints, with Ryan McLay & Margaret Pryde, LOOP, Toronto, ON
2005 Come Up to My Room, curated by Pamila Matharu & Christina Zeidler, Gladstone Hotel, Toronto, ON
2005 Alley Jaunt, curated by Paul McClure, Jennifer Bulthuis & Lise Beaudry, Toronto, ON
2005 Riverlands, Gallery 96, Stratford, ON (cat.)
2004 Junction Arts Festival, (storefront installation), Toronto, ON (juried)
2004 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, (also 2002, 2001, 2000, juried)
2003 Piano Works, curated by Gil McElroy, The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa, ON (cat.)
2000/01 Looking Forward, curated by Paul Greenhalgh, destinations included Tom Thomson Memorial Art Gallery, Owen Sound, ON, McMaster Museum of Art, Hamilton, ON (cat.)
Selected Awards, Scholarships, Grants
2020-2018 Ontario Graduate Scholarship
2020-2016 York University, Graduate Fellowship
2017 Martin Cohnstaedt Graduate Research Award for Studies in Non-Violence, York University
2014 Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance Grant
2014, 12, 10 Ontario Arts Council Emerging Artists Grant
2013 Canada Council for the Arts Project Grant
2013, 11 Toronto Arts Council Emerging Artist Grant
2009 Canada Council for the Arts Research / Creation Grant
2008, 07 Tuition Scholarship, State University of New York at Buffalo, NY
2008, 07 Teaching Assistantship, State University of New York at Buffalo, NY
2007 Deans Fellowship, State University of New York at Buffalo, NY
2006 Chalmers Professional Development Grant, Ontario Arts Council
2006 Ontario Arts Council Emerging Artists Grant
2004 Shelia Hugh Mackay Foundation Inc. Grant
2002 Pilchuck Glass School tuition Scholarship
2002, 01 Tyman and Victor Brosz Memorial Scholarship, Alberta College of Art & Design
2001 Best of Show, Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition (judges: Jessica Bradley, John Armstrong, Barbara Astman)
2001 Best Sculpture, Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition (judge: Carl Tacon)
2001 Illingworth Kerr Travel Scholarship, Alberta College of Art & Design
2000 Betty Kantor Award, Sheridan College School of Craft & Design
Talks, Visiting Artist, Residencies, Teaching / Conferences
2019 The Extra-linguistic: Research Creation as Methodology 2 (roundtable), Intersections Cross Sections Graduate Conference, York University
2018 The Extra-linguistic: Research Creation as Methodology (roundtable), Future Communications Conference, York University
2012 Visiting Artist, State University of New York at Buffalo, Visual Studies Dept., Buffalo, NY
2012 Guest Faculty, Sheridan College Glass Studio, Oakville, ON
2011 Presenter, TEDx Bermuda (Separation Wall Global Park: A Proposal)
2011 Presenter, Homework: Infrastructures and Collaboration in Social Practice, presented by Broken City Lab, Art Gallery of Windsor, ON
2011 Artist in Residence, Spaulding Court, Detroit, Michigan
2010 Artist in Residence, Takt Kunstprojektraum, Berlin, Germany
2010 Instructor, Skateboard Deck Design, Living Arts Centre, Mississauga, ON
2009, 08 Instructor of Record, Public Space, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
2008 Teaching Assistant, Gary Nickard – Intro to Critical Theory, SUNY @ Buffalo
2007 Instructor of Record, Basic Sculpture, SUNY @ Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
2007 Artist talk, Pecha Kucha, Soundlab, Buffalo, New York
2006 Guest Speaker, Alberta College of Art & Design, Calgary, Alberta
2005, 04 Instructor, Klin Cast Glass Sculpture, Sheridan College School of Craft and Design, Oakville, Ontario
2003 Teaching Assistant for David Nash, North Lands Creative Glass, Lybster, Scotland, UK
2001 Summer Artists in Residence, Harbourfront Center, Toronto, ON
Professional Activities
2016-12 Installation Technician / Fabricator, Gardiner Museum, Toronto, ON
2016-15 Installation Technician / Fabricator, Toronto International Film Festival, Toronto
2015-09 Installation Technician / Fabricator, Harbourfront Center, Toronto, ON
2014 Fabricator for the exhibition Ron Thom & the Allied Arts, Gardiner Museum, Toronto, ON
2013 Fabricator for the exhibition Climate is Culture, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, ON
2013 External Advisor, Living Arts Centre Artists in Residence Program, Mississauga, ON
2012 Curator, The Last Glass Show (the next glass show), Ontario Crafts Council Gallery, Toronto, ON
2009 Project Director, Beam Camp, Strafford, New Hampshire
2008 Project Assistant for Ingrid Calame, Albright Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY
2008 Assistant to British artist David Nash, Bleanau Ffestiniog, Wales, UK
Collections
Thunder Bay Art Gallery, Thunder Bay, ON
Selected Bibliography
2015 Gil McElroy, “Ryan Legassicke: Wall Disease,” blog.sculpture.org, June 24.
2015 Allison Fonder, “Jonald Dudd Exhibition Challenges the Definition of Design,” core77.com, May 22.
2015 Douglas Max Utter, “Window to Sculpture Emerging Artists Series,” Sculpture Center, Cleveland, 14-15
2014 “Making and breaking barriers around the globe,” East Villager, New York, Oct.16, p3.
2014 Ann Albano, “Breaking Boundaries at The Sculpture Center,” CAN Journal, Cleveland, Summer, 42.
2013 David Paterson, “City Strife: LAC unveils exhibition of urban grit,” Mississauga News, April 28.
2012 Nelda Rodger, ed. “Natural Selection,” AZURE, Toronto, May, 54-55.
2011 Sirkka Huish, “Speakers Touch a Variety of Topics at TEDx Bermuda,” The Royal Gazette Online, Bermuda, Nov. 30.
2009 Colin Dabkowski, “Theme Shift,” The Buffalo News, Buffalo, April 17-24.
2008 Lucy Yau, “Feasting Eyes,” ARTVOICE, Buffalo, Sept. 11-17, 16-17.
2008 Dory Carr-Harris. “Made in Toronto,” Toronto Life, Toronto, February, 42-51.
2005 Lauren Hall. “An Essay” Riverlands. Stratford: Gallery 96.
2005 Kristi Cameron. “Up in the Old Hotel,” METROPOLIS, New York City, May, 70-72.
2005 Nelda Rodger, ed. “Rooms With a View,” AZURE, Toronto, May, 87.
2004 Ryan Legassicke. Still Life / Motion Life. (flip book) Toronto: self published.
2004 Rachel Gotlieb. “Ryan Legassicke & Tanya Lyons” Studio, Toronto, Summer issue, 4-6.
2003 Gil McElroy. Piano Works. Oshawa: Robert McLaughlin Gallery.
2001 John Kelsey & Rick Mastelli, eds. Studio Two: Traditions in Contemporary Furniture. Free Union, Virginia: The Furniture Society, 118.
2000 Ingrid Bachmann. “The Object Talks Back.” Looking Forward. Ed. Susan Warner Keene, Toronto: OCC, 45-50.
Education
2016- PhD Communication and Culture, York / Ryerson University, Toronto, ON
2007-2009 MFA Studio Practice, State University of New York at Buffalo, NY
2000-2002 BFA Glass/Sculpture, Alberta College of Art and Design, Calgary, AB
1997-2000 dip. Furniture Design, Sheridan College, Oakville, ON