Tasneem Dairywala is a multidisciplinary artist and author who is passionate about using the arts to inspire empathy, resilience, and kindness in children. As a mother of a young child, she understands the importance of creating accessible and inclusive art that can be enjoyed by families and children of all ages.
With a major in Drawing and Painting and a minor in English from OCAD University, Tasneem’s work is characterized by its vibrant colors and imaginative worlds. She has exhibited her paintings and illustrations in galleries and cultural spaces across Toronto. She has also been recognized for her contributions to the arts community through grants from the Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, the City of Toronto, and Inspirit Foundation.
In addition to her personal art practice, Tasneem is the founder of Art Ignite, a non-profit organization that offers art programs across Toronto with the goal of connecting people from diverse backgrounds through the arts. Her love for children’s literature and her experience as an art educator has led her to pursue writing and illustrating children’s books. Her first book is now available on Amazon.
To stay up-to-date on Tasneem’s work, be sure to subscribe to her monthly newsletter and follow her on Instagram and Facebook. She is always excited to connect with her audience and share her artistic journey.
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Education
2015 Bachelor of Fine Arts, OCAD University
Professional Development
2022 How to Draw Everything, Society of Visual Storytelling
2022 Creative Composition, Society of Visual Storytelling
2022 Light and Shadow, Society of Visual Storytelling
2021 Publish and Sell Your E-Books, Gale Courses
2021 Getting Published, Gale Courses
2021 Writing for Children, Gale Courses
2018 Communities of Care, Ryerson University
2018 Creative Facilitation Camp, East End Arts
2018 Rebirth: Artist Educator Training, Voice of Purpose
2017 Entrepreneurs 4 Entrepreneurs, Vibe Arts
2016 Mural Art Career Development, Mural Routes
Upcoming Exhibitions
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Solo Exhibitions
2022 Find Your Glow, Cedar Ridge Creative Centre
2020 Embrace, Fairview Library
2019 Metamorphic Reflections, Toronto Centre for the Arts
2016 The Ignored Geniuses, The Local
Group Exhibitions
2022 Akin Winter Art Market
2022 From the Depths, Miles Nadal JCC
2021 Bring to Light, Queen West Art Crawl
2020 Darkness into Light, Women’s Art Association of Canada
2019 Artsideout, University of Toronto
2019 Emerging Artist Festival, StArt Youth Presenting Art, Scarborough Village Centre
2018 Communities of Care, Ryerson University
2018 Lawrence Park Art Show, Lawrence Park Community Church
2018 Vibe Arts Fest, Ontario Place
2017 Lawrence Park Art Show, Lawrence Park Community Church
2017 Emergence, Toronto Centre for the Arts
2017 A-Show, Artscape Youngplace
2017 Art Takes Action for Charity, The Merchant
2017 Buy Good. Feel Good. Expo, Heritage Court – Exhibition Place
2016 North York Arts’ Arts Market, Toronto Centre for the Arts
2016 Toronto Marks, Queen West Art Crawl
2016 Flemo City Media Mural, Flemo City Media
2016 RAW: Toronto Presents REVEAL, Mod Club
2016 Where Are You Really From?, Daniels Spectrum
2015 In the Round, Graven Feather
2015 Delta, Project Gallery
2015 GradEx, OCAD University
Publications
2023 “Yellow Socks” published by The Layered Onion
2022 “How to Show Love” published by Chubby Cheeks Press
2022 “I Remember” published by Lived Collective
2022 “Building a Creative Career” published by North York Arts
2022 “Building Relationships: Part 2” published by ArtReach
2022 “Building Relationships: Part 1” published by ArtReach
2022 “Building a Creative Practice” published by North York Arts
2022 “Buried in Blankets” published by Free Spirit
2022 “Attending Art School” published by North York Arts
2022 “Building a Creative Career” published by ArtReach
2022 “Imagination” published by North York Arts
2022 “Beginnings” published by Lived Collective
2022 “My Reasons” published by North York Arts
2022 “Building a Creative Practice” published by ArtReach
2022 “Being an Artist” published by North York Arts
2019 “Art Ignite’s Open Studio Exhibition!” published by SNAPD
2018 “Repainting Perceptions” published by SNAPD
2017 “Cultural Hotspot 2017” published by Cultural Hotspot
2016 “Featured Artist of the Month” published by SNAPD
2016 “Cultural Hotspot 2016” published by Cultural Hotspot
2015 “Green Paper Leaf” published by Green Paper Leaf
Public Art
2019 Environment, Lead Artist, Vibe Arts
2017 150 subway panel, Assistant Artist, Ecole Elementaire Felix Leclerc
2017 UN Canadian Diversity Outdoor Mural, Assistant Artist, Fisherville PBS
2016 Long Live People’s Resistance!, Lead Artist, 15 Years of War
2016 Flemo City Media Mural, Lead Artist, Flemo City Media
2016 Connection, Assistant Artist, Parkway Forest Community Centre
Collectives/Rosters
Women’s Art Association of Canada
North York Visual Artists
Vibe Arts
North York Arts
Published Interviews
2019 “Metro Morning with Matt Galloway” radio interview by CBC Radio
2019 “Stories by Laila Hobbs” published by TSTV Media
2018 “Challenging Islamophobia” published by Inside Toronto
2018 “The Cycle of Art” online interview by Izdeyar Setna
2018 “Bring to Light” published by Art Reach
2016 “April 2016 Youth Feature” online interview by AVNU
Artist Talks
2018 Arts Based Approaches to Engaging Community, University of Toronto
2018 TPL Unconference: Inform, Engage, Collaborate, Community Development Unit
2018 Path of Possibilities: Exploring the Arts Sector in Toronto, Art Starts
Juries
2018 Intersection Festival, Myseum of Toronto
2017 Plat Form A Micro Grant, Vibe Arts
Collections
Dennis R. Timbrell Resource Centre
Flemo City Media
Works held in private collections in Canada, USA and Pakistan
Teaching
2022 Draw Your Happy, Mabelle Arts
2022 Nature Poetry, Vibe Arts
2022 How to Write a Bio, Stitching Diaries
2022 Creative Writing, Stitching Diaries
2022 What’s Your Story?, Vibe Arts
2021 Digital Painting, Virtual Workshop
2021 How to Write an Artist Statement, All Around Us
2021 Vision-Boarding, Virtual Workshop
2020 Website Development, Virtual Workshop
2020 Cartooning, Virtual Workshop
2020 Self Care For Seniors, Flemingdon Park Library
2020 Canvas Stretching, Flemingdon Park Library
2020 Paper Mache, Flemingdon Park Library
2020 Glass Painting Techniques, Flemingdon Park Library
2020 Oil Painting 102, Flemingdon Park Library
2019 Watercolour Techniques, Flemingdon Park Library
2019 Youth Ignite, Flemingdon Health Centre
2019 Glass Painting Mandalas, Flemingdon Park Library
2019 Art & Mindfulness, Flemingdon Park Library
2018 Blending with Gouache, Flemingdon Park Library
2018 Oil Painting 101, Flemingdon Park Library
2018 Colour Theory with Watercolours, Flemingdon Park Library
2018 Metamorphic Reflections (glass painting), Flemingdon Park Public Library
2018 Fun Fair, Flemingdon Park
2018 Repainting Perceptions (portrait painting), Flemingdon Park Library
2017 – Present Seniors Ignite, Flemingdon Park Public Library
2017-2018 Bring to Light 2 (light painting), Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute
2017 Narrative Painting, Flemingdon Park Public Library
2017 Painting (dreamscapes), Flemingdon Health Centre
2017 Multicoloured (landscape painting), Flemingdon Park Public Library
2017 Bring to Light 1 (light painting), Flemo City Media
2016 Community (mural), Flemo City Media
2011-2016 Painting (watercolours and gouache), City of Toronto: Parks, Forestry and Recreation
2008-2010 Sketching, City of Toronto: Parks, Forestry and Recreation
2008 – 2010 Cartooning, City of Toronto: Parks, Forestry and Recreation
Visual Arts Project Grants
2022 Career Catalyst, Ontario Arts Council
2022 Deaf and Disability Arts, Ontario Arts Council
2018 Deaf and Disability Arts, Ontario Arts Council
2017 Deaf and Disability Arts, Ontario Arts Council
2016 Learning Journey Scholarship, AVNU
Community Arts Project Grants
2022 Community Arts Project Grant, Toronto Arts Council
2022 Artists in Communities and Schools, Ontario Arts Council
2020 Community Arts Project Grant, Toronto Arts Council
2020 Artists in Communities and Schools, Ontario Arts Council
2020 Spark Project, Cultural Hotspot
2019 Artists in Communities and Schools, Ontario Arts Council
2019 Community Arts Project Grant, Toronto Arts Council
2019 Art Reach, Toronto Arts Council
2018 Artists in Communities and Schools, Ontario Arts Council
2018 Community Arts Project Grant, Toronto Arts Council
2017 Change Up Grant, Inspirit Foundation
2017 Artists in Communities and Schools, Ontario Arts Council
2017 Art Reach, Toronto Arts Council
2017 Spark Project, Cultural Hotspot
2017 Micro Grant, Vibe Arts
2016 Spark Project, Cultural Hotspot
Awards
2010 CNE Express Yourself Competition first place award
2009 BMO Financial Group Award
2009 Zainab Kazmi Memorial Scholarship
2009 John Andrews Memorial Scholarship
Tasneem Dairywala 