Matt Moreland

Lead Curator / Editor-in-Chief

Starting in the summer of my first year at OCAD, I began a photo blog. This photoblog went from a time-killer to a hobby to a job. It has since put me on a career path towards being a curator and ideally, eventual gallery owner.

I learned quickly that I gained a lot of pride from operating a platform that propels the careers of young artists. At first it was just my friends, then other people's work I had seen on the internet and eventually leading me to artists that I looked up to and had idolized since the beginning of my art education.

Running XRXR has been the greatest job experience I've had as it has taught me how to run my own business, connected me to the art world and taken me farther than I could have ever imagined.

Exhibitions Curated
2013 Poster Party!, Steam Whistle Gallery, Toronto
2013 XRXR Presents: Photocopy Philadelphia, Napoleon, Philadelphia
2013 Somewhere In Between, University of the Arts International Gallery, Philadelphia
2012 Anonymia, OCAD University Gallery, Toronto
2011 Dying Breed, OCAD University Student Gallery, Toronto

Awards / Grants
2012 University of the Arts Critical Inquiry in Photography Award
2011 F.E.A.S.T. (Funding Engaging Actions with Sustainable Tactics) Grant
2011 OCAD University Publications Grant

Talks / Presentations
2013 You Don't Have To Be Successful [...], UArts International Gallery, Philadelphia
2012 Memory & Perception, OCAD University, Toronto
2011 F.E.A.S.T. II: What Happened Next, Xpace Cultural Centre, Toronto
2011 F.E.A.S.T.: One For Each Hand II, Xpace Cultural Centre, Toronto

Exhibition Curator

In my final year of study at OCAD, I was given the opportunity to be a Curator at the OCAD Student Gallery. This was an opportunity I had hoped for since my early days of working events at the gallery. I had worked my way up, from event attendant to installation assistant to installation co-ordinator and finally to Curator.

I gained a great working knowledge of gallery operations, event co-ordination and curatorial skills. From how to repair damaged gallery walls to hanging and opening multiple art shows, I have the OCAD Student Gallery to thank for teaching me the foundation of what it means to run a gallery.

Curator's Assistant

While on exchange in Philadelphia, I was an intern at a gallery that had been a major part of the art community in the city since 1915.

I worked as the Curator's Assistant and was responsible for email correspondence with gallery members, board members and artists in relation to upcoming exhibitions, events and fundraisers. I was also responsible for taking care of the member datababse and the gallery's online and inhouse print shop, selling work from artists and members of the gallery. This also included upkeep of the gallery's private collection and all of its records.

This job gave me experience dealing with multiple points of contact at once while keeping track of their information, needs and prior relations within the gallery.

Blog Coordinator

My first contributor job in the arts was through a work study position in university. I spent a semester working for an incredible emerging artist gallery.

Xpace hired me as their Blog Coordinator. I was responsible for content creation and manipulation of the gallery's blog and website. This involved a lot of experimentation and self teaching in regards to using a new and originally unfamiliar online content platform.

I learned how to get around simple issues like browser problems, template to coding miscommunication and photo formatting for online use. This also gave me the work ethic and research skills to constantly produce content on a consistent schedule.

Installation Co-ordinator

My time at OCAD was split between study and work. One of the many jobs I had during my degree was in the installation department which was responsible for all of the gallery spaces on campus. This included repairing walls, setting up audio and visual, hanging and levelling work, building plinths and putting up window decals.

This job was a gateway for me to become an artist assistant for 2 different faculty members who had noticed my hard work within the OCAD gallery spaces as well as eventually leading me to be a Curator at the OCAD U Student Gallery in my final year of study.