Atticus Gordon

Atticus Gordon is a Lecturer and MFA Candidate at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), specializing in painting and installation art. Born in Ottawa, Canada, he holds a BFA from the University of Ottawa (2019) and is completing his MFA at SAIC. His practice explores contemporary painting’s intersection with digital media, memory, and societal themes, often blending sculptural elements with traditional techniques.

Education:

• 2024 – MFA, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
• 2019 – BFA (Summa Cum Laude), University of Ottawa
• 2014 – Visual Arts Diploma (Honours), Canterbury Arts High School

Research Interests: Gordon’s work interrogates the role of painting in the digital age, focusing on themes like memory, the Anthropocene, and fragmented narratives. His installations often merge physical and conceptual layers, reimagining landscapes and systems through surrealist and collage techniques. Recent works like AI Veneration Monument and Networked Sublime reflect his interest in technology’s impact on perception and materiality.

Exhibitions & Awards: With solo exhibitions in Hong Kong, Berlin, and Chicago, Gordon has shown in over 30 international venues. Awards include the Ottawa Art Gallery Award of Excellence (2019), SAW Prize for New Work (2020), and grants from the Ontario Arts Council. Notable residencies include the Poor Farm (Wisconsin) and SomoS Berlin (2020).

Curatorial & Community Work: As co-founder of Nosy Mag, a non-profit arts publication, Gordon advocates for Ottawa’s art community. He has curated exhibitions like Paintings Will Never Hurt You (Chicago, 2023) and Halfway Between the Imaginary and the Real (Ottawa, 2022). Academic engagement includes teaching roles at SAIC and public workshops on art storytelling.

Labs & Collaborations: Collaborations span interdisciplinary projects, including a residency with Archive Contemporary (Montreal) and co-curation of Transient: Art in the Anthropocene (2017). His work is in public collections at the City of Ottawa and Montreal’s Colart Collection.