“Myths, Monsters and Machines”, Northern Contemporary Gallery, Toronto, ON. Curated by James Turner.
Tessah Noreen is an emerging Canadian artist working primarily in mixed media drawing and digital illustration. Tessah explores mental health and other themes through whimsical portraiture of ethereal and mystical women. These fairy-like vessels reflect her introspections, what she loves, fears or obsesses over: nature, life, death, her hair, her purpose, her connection to the universe.
Tessah’s drawing inspiration comes from her love of picture books, fantastic art and comic art. She graduated from the University of Toronto in 2010, where she double majored in Visual Arts and New Media. During her time at university, she appeared in several group shows including the Chancellor’s Exhibition where Tessah received the “Chancellor’s Award” for Visual Arts.
Currently lives and works in Pickering, Ontario
Education
2010 Bachelor of Arts, University of Toronto, Graduate with Distinction
Past Exhibitions
12/19 Group Show, Under 100, Northern Contemporary Gallery, Toronto, ON
10/19 Selected Juried Show, The Promise of Sekishu Washi, Propeller Gallery, Toronto, ON
10/19 Selected Group Show, Fix Up Look Sharp 3, Northern Contemporary Gallery, Toronto, ON
08/19 Art Fair, Kensington Market Art Fair, Toronto, ON
06/19 Selected Group Show, Insahyt Catalog 700-779, Black Cat Showroom, Toronto, ON. Curated by Alexus Projects.
05/2019 Art Fair, Artfest, on the Esplanade, Pickering, ON
05/2019 Solo Exhibition, “Visions”, Pine Apple Company, Buffalo, NY
01/2019 Group Show, The Drawing Show, Gerrard Art Space, Toronto, ON
11/2018 Selected Work, Food and Art Cafe, Whitby, ON
10/2018 Group Show, “In the Round”, Proof Studio Gallery, Toronto, ON
09/2018 Selected Group Show, “Myths, Monsters and Machines”, Northern Contemporary Gallery, Toronto, ON. Curated by James Turner.
09/2018 Silent Auction, Food and Art Cafe, Whitby, ON
09/2018 Art Fair, Queen West Art Crawl, Trinity-Bellwoods, Toronto, ON
04/2018 Art Fair, Booze & Pancakes, Opera House, Toronto, ON
10/2017 Art Fair, Booze & Pancakes, Opera House, Toronto, ON
07/2017 Art Fair, Dirty Talk _ Art Show 008, The Round Venue, Toronto, ON
2010 Selected Group Show, “Chancellor’s Exhibition”, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
2010 Collaborative Exhibition, Dead Ends, Gallery 1265, Scarborough, ON (with Diana Hosseini)
2010 Group Show, “The Biggest One of All”, Labspace Studio, Toronto, ON
2010 Selected Group Show, “Annual Juried Show”, Gallery 1265, Scarborough, ON
Commissions
2016 Concept & Storyboard Artist, Bill’s Birthday Bash (Short Film), Directed by Eric Walker
Lectures
2010 Body and Performance for Bill Bowen. University of Toronto, Scarborough, ON
Bibliography & Media
2019 “Path to Creation – Interview with Illustrator Tessah Noreen” by Julia Kipa, April 9.
2010 “U of T students honoured at fourth annual Chancellor’s Student Art Exhibition” by Kelly Rankin for University of Toronto, May 13.
Awards
Recipient of the “Chancellor’s Award” for Visual Arts, 2010
Recipient of “Books and Multiples Award” at UTSC’s Annual Juried Art Show, 2009