ABOUT CLEOPATRIA
Cleopatria Peterson (they/them) has a multi-disciplinary arts practice that explores the intersectionality of their identities as a black, non-binary transgender crip artist through the mediums of narrative, printmaking, illustration and education. They are a member of the Crip Arts Collective, have had their work shown at The Canadian Textile Museum, and are one of the co-founders of Old Growth Press. They graduated from the Cross Disciplinary Art: Publications program at OCAD U as the medal winner for their class (2020) and also hold a Bachelor’s of Design from TMU’s Fashion Communication program. Their first solo show Bestie Mart will be debuting at Tangled Art + Disability this May.
CV
EDUCATION
2017 - 2020 OCADU Publications
2010 - 2014 TMU University - Fashion Communications
WORK
2023 - Present Arts Educator at the AGO
2018 - Present Co-founded Old Growth Press
2024 - Illustrator - Eraser by Bilal Baig & Sadie Epstein-Fine (Playwrights Canada Press)
2024 - Illustrator - Mayworks Festival
2020 - 2023 Manager, Bookseller and Buyer at TYPE Books Junction
2023 Graphic Designer - Stay Up by Khodi Dill (Annick)
2022 Sensitivity Reader - All The Right Notes by Dominic Lim (Hachette)
2022 The Game Agency - Freelance
2017 - 2020 Page & Panel Bookseller and Buyer
2018 - 2019 Student Monitor - OCAD Printmaking Department
EXHIBITIONS
2024
Some Kind Of We - Art Gallery of Guelph (September 12- December 15)
Bestie Mart - Tangled (May 17 - July 26)
2023
Transit As a Canvas - TTC
A Medium To Tell Stories - Open Studio (October 27-December 2)
Zygote Press - We’re Here, We’re Queer! Letterpress group show
The Secret Codes - Textile Museum of Canada (October 28th - April 28)
Bestie Mart - Open Studio
Transforming Grief: Loss & Togetherness in COVID-19 - Toronto History Museum
Toronto Comics Art Festival 2023
Vancouver Comics Art Festival 2023 - We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts for funding this opportunity to travel.
2021
this house, made and mended by unbelonging hands - Riverdale Community Hub
2020
Murmuración - Open Studio
The International Festival Of Authors - Comic Jam
Your Hands and Eyes Keep Us Alive - Xpace Center
Pink Market - Xmas Edition
/edition Artbook Fair
OCADU Zine Fair
2019
Alaska Mini-Con - Juneau, Alaska
AGO First Thursday - Night Market
OCADU Zine Fair
Zine Dream
Canzine
Acta Victoriana Zine Fair
Shameless Feminist Conference
Xpace Holiday Maker Fair
Sick and Disable Queer Zine Fair
2018
Xpace Holiday Maker Fair
Kaigai Manga Festival - Tokyo, Japan
Corita 100 - Los Angeles, California
Trick or Treat Toronto
See The Forest Through The Trees - Solo Exhibit at OCADU Learning Zone
Helping Wellness - Gender Neutral Signage Exhibit at OCADU Learning Zone
Zine Dream
Acta Victoriana Zine Fair
PUBLICATIONS
2023
Ask Me About God and I Will Tell You About Love
Returning, Returning, Returning
2022
Prairie Fire - Rootless Embrace edited with David Robertson
The Love Of My Life Doesn't Use Dating Apps (But maybe they'll read this zine)
Your Whiteness Is Boring - A Gender Perzine
The Love Of My Life Doesn't Use Dating Apps Part 2 Electric Boogaloo
2021
What We Call Home in Collaboration with Terrence Abrahams, Collusion Press
Growth In Small Gestures - The Soap Box
New Growth - Really Easy Press
2019
Acta Victoriana 143.1
Water Ways
Acta Victoriana - I Trust
OCAD Student Press Broadsheet - Real Folk Blues
How Do I Tell My Mom I'm Black?
2018
Counter With Care - Pedagogical Impulse
Nest Literary Journal
RESIDENCIES
2025 St Michael's Printshop - St Johns, Newfoundland
2023 Digizine Residency
2022 Halls Island Arts Residency
2021 - 2023 Open Studio BIPOC residency
2020 Xpace Centre Summer Residency - Toronto
2020 BIPOC Writers Connect - Toronto
2019 Alaska Mini Robotics Camp - Juneau, Alaska
2018 Gibraltar Point Residency - Toronto Island
GRANTS & AWARDS
2022
Career Catalyst: Project Grants for New Generation Artists - OAC
Koyama Provides Recipient
Shortlisted BPnichol Chapbook Award - What We Call Home
Shortlisted Broken Pencil Best Perzine - The Love Of My Life Doesn't Use Dating Apps
2021
Newcomer & Refugee Mentorship Grant - TAC
2020
Nora E. Vaughan Award for Cross-Disciplinary Art: Publications
CUE grant
2019
Literary Creation Project (Works for Publication) - OAC
Recommender Publishing Grant - Exile Mag - OAC
Recommender Publishing Grant - Koyama Press - OAC
2018
Planned Parenthood LGBTQ Youth Initiative Grant
WORKSHOPS & LECTURES
2024
Zine Workshop - Re-Imagining Community Our Third Place - UofT
Weaving Workshop - Friends of CAB
2023
Linocut Workshop Facilitator - Wildseed
Speaker - PrintSpeak - Open Studio
Moderator - ONE with David Marchetti - TCAF
Panellist -The Soft Movement: Vulnerability in Comics and Zines - TCAF
Panellist -It’s Alive! Things That Go Bump in the Night! -VANCAF
2022
Zine Workshop Facilitator - Youth Pride hosted by the 519
Moderator - Queer Crossroads - TCAF
Moderator - Emma Hunsinger Spotlight - TCAF
2021
Panellist - Cartooning-Related Practices: Their Present and Future in Canada - UofT
Moderator - LGBT+ Micro and Macro Perspectives - TCAF
Panellist - Zines! - Rio Hondo College
Zine Workshop Facilitator for Call & Response - Roy Thomson Hall
2020
Zine Workshop Facilitator for Call & Response - Roy Thomson Hall
Guest Speaker - Nano-Publishing - Shannon Gerrard OCAD
2019
Guest Lecturer - Zine-making- Sabrina Scott OCAD
Zine-Making and Storytelling Workshop - JYSC Juneau, Alaska
Guest Lecturer - Graphic Novels - Michelle Miller OCAD
Queer Zines & Flyer Making Workshop - Gardiner Museum & 519
Character creation for Comics and Video Games - Nuit Rose
