bio

Brenda Reid is an emerging non-binary multi-disciplinary artist who works and lives in Kitchener, ON, on the Haldimand Tract, land promised to the Six Nations.

Their work deals with the complexity of care relationships and thinking about ethics in urban living, often in ways the artist finds humorous or clever. Their practice regularly engages the public in collaborative art and learning experiences, from large-scale projects to interactive time-based installations. Currently, they are tackling questions of care through combinations of media, including textile, animation, printmaking, sound work, photography and sculpture. 

brendamabelreid [at] gmail.com

Photo: Lesley Loksi Chan

CV

Education

2021Master of Architecture (M.Arch), University of Waterloo, Cambridge, ON
2019Bachelor of Architectural Studies (BAS), University of Waterloo, Cambridge, ON


Solo & Two-Person Exhibitions

2024[upcoming at Centre[3] for Artistic + Social Practice] February 23 – April 5
2022Another Way Through, with Vic Mantha-Blythe | May 9 – June 10
Design At Riverside, Cambridge, ON
2021-2022From Behind the Mask, Travelling Exhibition
Design At Riverside Gallery, May 10 – June 9, 2022, Galt, ON
Three Sisters Cultural Centre, April 1 – 10, 2022 St. Jacobs, ON
Stanley Park Community Centre, September 2 – December 7, 2021, Kitchener, ON
Homer Watson House and Gallery, May 21 – August 29, 2021, Kitchener, ON
Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, March – April window ex., 2021, Kitchener, ON
Design At Riverside Gallery, March – April window ex., Cambridge, 2021, ON


Group Exhibitions

2023Mainframe Showcase, July 29 – July ’24
Virtual, Eastern Edge, St. John’s, NL
2023Rolling: Inkfest Steamroller Exhibition, July 13 – August 12
St. Michaels Printshop Gallery, St. John’s, NL
2023Boil-Up | June 30 – August 12
Eastern Edge, St. John’s, NL
2023Peaceful Gathering, June – June ’24
Augmented Reality, Downtown Community Centre, Kitchener, ON
2023The Caretaker, June 3 – September 10
CAFKA Biennial “Stay With Me,” Schneider Haus Museum, Kitchener, ON
2022Journey With Our Kin, October 29 – February 5 (’23)
Cambridge Art Galleries: Queen’s Square, Galt, ON
2022On Courthouse Steps, September 17 – December 31
Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre, Oakville, ON
2022Being Scene, March 31 – May 31
Workman Arts, Toronto, ON
2021SHOW.21, November 22, 2021 – February 13, 2022
Cambridge Art Galleries: Queen’s Square, Galt, ON
2021Carmichael Canadian Landscape Exhibition: Tradition Transformed, Nov. 5, 2021 – Jan. 22, 2022
Orillia Museum of Art and History, Orillia, ON


Residencies

2023Mainframe Residency, May-June, Eastern Edge, St. John’s, NL
2023Emerging Artist Residency, February-April, Centre[3] For Artistic + Social Practice, Hamilton, ON
2021-2022Artist-in-Residence, Nov ’21 – Feb ’22, Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, Kitchener, ON
2021Co-Create Residency, May, Otherwise Studio & Bumaroo Collective, Guelph, ON


Grants / Awards

2023Exhibition Assistance Grant, Ontario Arts Council
2023Microgrant, CAFKA Biennial
2023Craft Project Grant, Ontario Arts Council
2023Research & Creation Grant, Canada Council For The Arts
2023Waterloo Region Micro-Grant, Research, Pat the Dog Theatre Creation
2022Alpha Rho Chi Medal, University of Waterloo
2022Thesis Commendation, University of Waterloo
2022Career Catalyst Grant, Ontario Arts Council
2022Waterloo Region Micro-Grant, Research, Pat the Dog Theatre Creation
2021Joy Experiment Award, HIP Developments
2021Nomination for KW Women of the Year Award, Arts and Culture section
2021M.Arch Merit and Community Engagement Award, University of Waterloo
2020Region of Waterloo Arts Fund, Project Grant
2020Love My Hood, City of Kitchener Community Grant
2020SSHRC J. Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship, Gov. of Canada
2020President’s Graduate Scholarship, University of Waterloo
2020Engineering Matching Graduate Scholarship, University of Waterloo
2019Faculty of Engineering Graduate Scholarship, University of Waterloo
2017FORREC Design Award of Excellence, University of Waterloo


Publications

2022A Brick Amiss, Art Quilting Studio magazine, Summer Issue, pg 144
2021Care, Community and COVID-19, Galt Publication Issue 04: Pause/Play pg 114-118
2021From Behind the Mask, The Joy Experiments, 2021, pg 147-149
2021Care As Architectural Practice, Master of Architecture Thesis, University of Waterloo


Artist Talks / Lectures / Conferences

2023As I Go, From 1 Queer 2 Another, Guelph, ON, August 19
2023Artist’s Talk, Eastern Edge, St. John’s, NL, May 23
2022Quilting Political Space, Norfolk County Quilt Guild, ON, September 6
2022Quilt Architectures: Making Political Space, Association For Art History, Summer Symposium Conference, UK (virtual), July 21
2022Care Not Contract, CAFÉ Capital: Teaching & Learning Workshop, Carleton University, May 10, ON
2022Show.21 Artist Talk, Video, Idea Exchange Gallery, ON, January
2021Community Impact & The Gallery, Art$Pay, ON, August 23
2021From Behind the Mask, Artist Talk, Homer Watson House and Gallery, ON, July 23


Artist Workshops

2023Wander + Wonder: A Practice of Observing and Dreaming, June 5, Eastern Edge, St. John’s, NL
2022Retelling Stories Through Printmaking and Community Mapping, Dec. 3, Cambridge Art Gallery, Cambridge, ON
2022Political Quilting Club, 5 Oct., 19 Oct., 2 Nov., 16 Nov., Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, Kitchener, ON
2022Art Club: Mixed Media, May 19, May 26, Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, Kitchener, ON
2022Creative Sketchbook Making, February 19, March 12 (virtual), Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, Kitchener, ON


Community Projects

2022Unstitching Maps/Retelling Stories
Interactive community storytelling counter-map project, in Journey With Our Kin exhibition, Cambridge, ON,
2022Expressions 47: Look Up
Project + exhibition collaboration between AIR and youth, Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, ON
2020-2021From Behind the Mask Community Quilt Project
Lead Artist, October – May, organized in Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo, ON
www.frombehindthemask-quilt.com


Professional Experience

2023Artist-Researcher, “Uncovering Barriers” regional artists’ survey, City Of Kitchener
2021 – 2022Artist-Educator, Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery
2021 – 2022Contract Architectural Researcher, University Of Waterloo
2021 – 2022Arriscraft 2021-2023 Lecture Series “Praxes of Care” Planning Committee, University of Waterloo
2021Sessional Lecturer, University of Waterloo School of Architecture, Fall 1A Studio ARCH 190
2019 – 2022Guest Critic, University of Waterloo School of Architecture


Memberships / Affiliations

2023Member, Eastern Edge Artist-Run Centre
2023Member, Centre[3] for Artistic + Social Practice
2021 – 2023Member, Kitchener-Waterloo Artists Co-op


Bibliography

2022    “Expressions 47 Brings Student Art To The Forefront,” 
            The Community Edition, Alex Kinsella, June 3, 2022

2022    Interview with Midtown Radio KW, Matt Rappolt, April 9, 2022

2022    “Quilt captures Waterloo Region’s early pandemic story”
            The Record, Anam Latif, March 20, 2022

2022    “Kitchener artists creating quilts with a message”
            The Record, Johanna Weidner, January 6, 2022

2021    “Giant quilt made of masks chronicles ‘struggles and triumphs’ amid pandemic” 
            CBC, Tiffany Mongu, July 24, 2021

2021    “A Stitch in Time”, University of Waterloo, Carol Truemner, April 15, 2021

2021    Interview with 98.5 CKWR, John Maciel, March 15, 2021

2021    “Waterloo Region community quilt being assembled and on display”
            Interviewed by Jessica Smith, March 13, 2021

2021    “Patching together our collective view of pandemic life
            The Observer, Damon Maclean, February 10, 2021

2020    “Community art project helps people share pandemic experiences with quilting”
            CTV Kitchener, Interviewed by Jessica Smith, December 12, 2020

2020    “From Behind the Mask: A Community Quilt of COVID-19 Stories
            Feature in Toque magazine, written by Cai Sepulis, December 2020, pg 150-151

2020    “Community Quilt of COVID-19 Stories”
            The Community Edition, written by Mellisa Embury, December 3, 2020

2020    “Connected while apart: Community quilt tying together stories of the pandemic”
            CTV News, written by Katherine Hill, October 13, 2020