Bio
Stephen Severn is an interdisciplinary artist and educator whose practice-based research explores human-material encounters and queer/trans ways-of-becoming. They frequently employ sculpture, installation, and sound to assemble embodied sonic and spatial transformative sites of emergent futurity. Stephen’s current work explores the intersections of critical d/Deaf multimodal listening practices and expanded conceptions of gender through sound installation.
Their art practice is informed by their experience as a set designer fabricating props, displays, and large-scale installations for Harrods, Selfridges, Anthropologie, and Holt Renfrew. Stephen’s styling and designs have appeared in The Globe and Mail, Fashion Magazine, and Vogue UK, while their work has been exhibited in solo shows in Toronto at Remote Gallery, The Window Gallery, and OCAD University, and in group shows at Ignite Gallery, Propeller Gallery, the University of Toronto, and the University of the Arts London.
Stephen’s creative research has been supported by the Toronto and Ontario Arts Councils, the Ontario Graduate Scholarship, and by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) for their MFA in Interdisciplinary Art from OCAD University. Currently, Stephen is an art history and design theory lecturer in The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University, where they are also a Ph.D. candidate and SSHRC Doctoral Fellow conducting practice-based research in the Media and Design Innovation program.
C.V.
Exhibitions - Solo
2023 Forticulture, Nuit Blanche, Toronto, On.
2022 Fluid Things, OCAD University Experimental Media Space, Toronto, On.
2022 Arranging Things, Remote Gallery, Toronto, On.
2022 Solid Things, The Window, Toronto, On.
Exhibitions - Group
2025 Forming Futures, London College of Fashion, London, UK.
2025 re/process, Assembly Gallery, Toronto, On.
2024 Sculpture Expo 2024, Gallery 1313, Toronto, On.
2024 Situated Emergences, Concordia University, Montréal, Qc.
2024 Rummage, SPAO Photowalk, Ottawa, On.
2023 Past-Forward, Ignite Gallery, Toronto, On.
2023 —ome: Object, Material, Experience, ECC, Etobicoke, On.
2023 YOUphoria, Propeller Art Gallery, Toronto, On.
2023 Annual Juried Exhibition, Latcham Art Centre, Stouffville, On.
2023 Diaspora and Belonging, UAL (University of the Arts London) AoCA, London, UK.
2022 Life Doesn’t Stand Still, Leslie Grove Gallery, Toronto, On.
2022 Queer Things, OCAD University GradEx, Toronto, On.
2022 Familiar Strangers, Vacant Museum, online
2021 Matrix of Mobility, Wollesen Memorial Symposium, University of Toronto
2018 Entartete Kunst, FAT - Fashion Art Toronto, Art Direction and Set Design, Toronto, On. Contributors: Zoran Dobric, Draga Jovanovic, Stephen Severn
2016 Fashion and Death, FAT - Fashion Art Toronto, Art Direction and Set Design, Toronto, On. Contributors: Sandro Altamirano, Zoran Dobric, Stephen Severn
Education
2027 (Expected) Toronto Metropolitan University – PhD Media and Design Innovation
2022 OCAD University – MFA Interdisciplinary Art, Media, and Design
2009 Sheridan College – Visual Merchandising Arts Diploma, High Honours
Publications - Peer Reviewed
2025 “UnSound: Trans*spatialisms and Sound Sculpture Installation,” Rubix Journal for Creative Research and Practice, vol. 1, no. 1, doi: 10.32920/27926916.v1.
2024 “Vibrant Things: Casting Queer, Animate, Human-Object Relations,” Tba: Journal of Art, Media, and Visual Culture, vol. 6, no. 1: Friction, doi:10.5206/tba.v6i1.18818.
2021 “A Knot, A Network, A Thing, A World: Composition as Generative Meaning-Making in Still Life Photography,” Tba: Journal of Art, Media, and Visual Culture, vol. 3, no. 1: Reworlding, https://doi.org/10.5206/tba.v3i1.13934
Publications - Professional
2023 Vogue UK, February Issue, “Designer Profile – Zoran Dobric”
2021 Flora Fiction, vol. 3, no. 2
2021 Superpresent, Summer 2021
2021 Artmagazineium, issue 04
2020 Fashion Magazine, October issue, “Applied Art”
2019 The Globe and Mail, Style Advisor, September issue, “Chain Reaction”
2017 Elle Canada, May issue, “Neutral Territory”
2017 The Globe and Mail, Style Advisor, November issue, “Outside the Box”
Conferences / Talks
2025
Arts Researchers & Teachers Society (ARTS SIG) Pre-Conference / Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE) 2025, Toronto Metropolitan University, "re/process", installation and talk, contributor: Deanna Armenti
International Foundation of Fashion Technology Institutes (IFFTI) Conference, London College of Fashion, "Out of the Closet: Queer Temporal Speculative Practices in Fashion Curation”
IFFTI Conference, London College of Fashion, "Corporeal Flux: Displacement and Healing", installation and talk, collaboration with Zoran Dobric
Rubix Scholarly Research and Creative Activity (SRC) Symposium, Toronto Metropolitan University, “Queer Textile Performance as Spatial Disruption”
2024
Situated Emergences Media Studies Conference, Concordia University, "UnSound: Trans*spatialisms and Sound Sculpture Installation." Session: Research-Creation Artist Talks
Fashion Studies Network Symposium: Unravelling Fashion Narratives, Parsons The New School, “Worry Lines.” Session: Thinking Through Cloth: Contemporary Creative Practice
Contemporary, Art, Design, and New Media Histories (CADN) Conference, OCAD University, “Forticulture: Queer Fun as Deception and Delight.” Session: Power Play: Strategies for Political Disruption
Rubix Scholarly Research and Creative Activity (SRC) Symposium, Toronto Metropolitan University, “Fabulous Matter: Speculative Fabulation in Queer Arts-based Research Methodology”
2022
Universities Art Association of Canada (UAAC) Conference, “Vibrant Things.” Session: Re:making : Mending, Materiality, and Reuse in Craft and Design
UAAC Conference, “Research-Queeration as Methodology.” Session: Research-Creation Caucus Roundtable – At the Intersections of Art and Knowledge-Making: Where Do We Go Now?
2021
UAAC Conference, Graduate Student Lightning Talk
Grants / Honours / Awards
2025 SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship
2025 Design + Technology Lab/Design Fabrication Zone Grant, Toronto Metropolitan University
2024 Ontario Graduate Scholarship, Toronto Metropolitan University
2024 Toronto Metropolitan University Graduate Fellowship
2024 The Creative School Graduate Development Award, Toronto Metropolitan University
2023 Toronto Arts Council, Visual Artists: Creation
2023 Ontario Arts Council, Exhibition Assistance Grant
2023 Ontario Graduate Scholarship, Toronto Metropolitan University
2023 Toronto Metropolitan University Graduate Fellowship
2022 OCAD University Graduate Student Project Grant
2021 Joseph Armand Bombardier SSHRC CGS-M, OCAD University
2019 Applied Arts Award – Still Life Photography
2009 Royal Doulton Excellence in Portfolio Design Award, Sheridan College
2009 St Joseph Excellence in Photostyling Award, Sheridan College
2008 CGTA Full Tuition Scholarship, Sheridan College
Residencies
2025 ArtSpace – 401 Richmond, Toronto
2021 Contingencies of Care – Toronto Biennial of Art, Bush Gallery, OCAD University, Emily Carr University
Employment
2003/5 - Present Freelance Commercial Artist, represented by Judy Inc. (2017-present).
2023/1 - Present Toronto Metropolitan University, School of Interior Design – Contract Lecturer, Toronto, On.
2013/1 - 2021/12 Seneca College for Applied Arts and Technology – Sessional Professor, Toronto, On.
2015/6 - 2017/8 St Joseph Content Group – Prop Lead, Fashion Studios, Toronto, On.
2014/10 - 2015/6 Hudson's Bay Company – Senior National Visual Presentation Manager, Toronto, On.
2013/1 - 2014/10 St Joseph Content Group – Prop and Roomset Stylist, Toronto, On.
2012/4 - 2013/1 Harrods – Visual Merchandising Coordinator, London, UK.
2011/9 - 2012/4 Anthropologie at Selfridges – Manager, London, UK.
2009/6 - 2011/9 Anthropologie – Visual Merchandising and Display, Toronto, On.
Professional Activities
2021 - Present Member, UAAC - Universities Art Association of Canada
2020 - 2022 Visual Merchandising Arts Program Advisory Committee, Seneca College
2010 - 2011 Visual Merchandising Arts Program Advisory Committee, Sheridan College
Set Design
2010/03/30 Zoran Dobric FW 2010 Fashion Show – Toronto LG Fashion Week
2009/03/18 Zoran Dobric FW 2009 Fashion Show – L'Oréal Toronto Fashion Week
2008/10/22 Zoran Dobric SS 2009 Fashion Show – L'Oréal Toronto Fashion Week
2008/03/20 Zoran Dobric FW 2008 Fashion Show – L'Oréal Toronto Fashion Week
Teaching
2025
Toronto Metropolitan University, School of Interior Design – IRL500/IDF250 Modern and Contemporary Art, Design
2024
Toronto Metropolitan University, School of Fashion – FSN503 Critical Issues in Design
Toronto Metropolitan University, School of Interior Design – IRL500/IDF250 Modern and Contemporary Art, Design (Fall)
Toronto Metropolitan University, School of Interior Design – IRL500/IDF250 Modern and Contemporary Art, Design (Winter)
2023
Toronto Metropolitan University, School of Interior Design – IRL500/IDF250 Modern and Contemporary Art, Design
Toronto Metropolitan University, School of Interior Design – IRH401 Design Seminar
2021
Seneca College, Visual Merchandising Arts – Lighting and Styling (Fall)
Seneca College, Fashion Studies – Portfolios and Presentations
Seneca College, Fashion Business Management – Fashion Styling and Merchandising
Seneca College, Visual Merchandising Arts – Lighting and Styling (Winter)
2017
Seneca College, Visual Merchandising Arts – Materials and Props 1
2016
Seneca College, Visual Merchandising Arts – Lighting for Visual Merchandising
Seneca College, Visual Merchandising Arts – Menswear and Merchandising
2015
Seneca College, Visual Merchandising Arts – Lighting for Visual Merchandising
2014
Seneca College, Fashion Business Management – Merchandising and Space Planning
Seneca College, Fashion Studies – Portfolio Capstone
Seneca College, Fashion Studies – Fashion Illustration
Seneca College, Visual Merchandising Arts – Menswear and Mannequin Styling
2013
Seneca College, Fashion Studies – Fashion Illustration (Fall)
Seneca College, Visual Merchandising Arts – Photostyling and Digital Imaging (Fall)
Seneca College, Visual Merchandising Arts – Photostyling and Digital Imaging (Spring)
Seneca College, Fashion Studies – Fashion Illustration (Winter)
Seneca College, Visual Merchandising Arts – Portfolios and Presentations
2000
Centre for Lived Language – Beginner ESL
Internships
2009 Designer’s Walk – Resource Centre
2008 St Joseph Content Group – Studio Prop Department
2008 Holt Renfrew – Visual Merchandising Department