2024/2025 BTAR Exhibition – Multitudes Exhibition
Wildseed Centre / Gallery
Apr 3, 2025 — May 3, 2025
Join us for the grand opening of our (BTAR) Black Trans Artist Residency Exhibition, titled “Multitudes” by Ifetayo, Z. Alabi.
This show celebrates the culmination of a three-month creative journey offering a glimpse into the process, exploration, transformation that took place over the period of the residence and the incredible works developed by our talented artist during their time.
We are pleased to host you and present this exhibit, meet the artist, experience their vision, and discover the stories behind their work amidst music and great ambience.
Date: April 3, 2025
Time: 5pm to 8pm
Venue: Wildseed Centre For Arts and Activism (24 CECIL ST, TORONTO ON)
Synopsis by artist-in-residence (BTAR 2024/25), Ifetayo Alabi (they/she/he)
This installation was created by Ifetayo Z. Alabi as apart of Wildseed’s Black Trans Artist in residence. This 6 month residency has had a focus on Blackness, Transness and queerness. The installation reflects of these themes while centering Ifetayo’s unique experience as a mixed Afro Indigenous persons who is also disabled. Through the use of collage, linocut prints and paintings Ifetayo addresses themes of race, gender, health and ancestry. All works dive into the multitudes of Ifetayo’s identity and experience within their multitudes. Ifetayo uses collage as a medium of intersections of painting, photography, and poetry to create this installation. Collage is an art form that allows for the meeting of many artistic mediums.
The artist’s work largely focuses on exploring their identity and its intersections. Ifetayo works within abolitionist, disability, community care, Black, Queer, indigenous sovereignty and Trans liberation frameworks. As a queer and non-binary person, Ifetayo centers their art and activism around queer, non-binary and trans liberation subconsciously. When they make work that is specifically queer and trans focused they aim to educate others about these frameworks. Art creates an opportunity to discuss with viewers and offer them a different perspective from their own.
Their work and exploration often ties in with their activism. Ifetayo has captured countless sit-ins, protests, and marches in their photography work as a record keeper. Black, Queer, and Trans/Non-binary people deserve artwork that is representative of the happiness and joy that comes along with these multiple identities.
About the Artist
Ifetayo Z. Alabi is a multidisciplinary artist whose work has had a focus on collage, poetry and photography work. Ifetayo is a mixed Afro Indigenous persons who is disabled and trans/nonbinary. They graduated with a BFA from OCAD University in the Life Studies department in 2023. They have been working as a professional artist for nearly 7 years. Ifetayo has worked with BLM Canada, Vancouver Queer Film Festival, BLOCKO and more. Ifetayo is currently based in Toronto. As a mixed-Afro-Indigenous person reconnecting with their ancestry, I must explore what all those intersections mean to me. In my short film Running, I am coming to terms with the fact that some of my ancestors likely had a role in the enslavement and genocide of my other ancestors. I have been researching the inter-sectionality of Blackness and Indigenity. I hope to explore Afro-Indigenity more in this residency and the coming projects.
Arinola Olowoporoku
Curatorial Advisory
Kama La Mackerel
BTAR Mentor 2024/2025
- Organizer(s)
- Arinola Olowoporoku
- Programming Manager
- arinola@wildseedcentre.com
