
Cleopatria Peterson is a multidisciplinary artist that writes, printmakes, illustrates and loves self-publishing.Their work focuses on themes of nature, humour, identity and above all things, love. They graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University's Fashion Communication program and are the medal winner for Cross-Disciplinary Arts: Publications at OCAD.They are a huge advocate for encouraging people from all backgrounds to make art and are the co-founder of Old Growth Press, a small press working to change the publishing landscape with work from POC and/or LGBTQ+ creators. They are available for panels, zine & comic workshops and freelance work. Feel free to get in touch.
Photo by Yasmin Emery
C.V
EDUCATION
2017 - 2020 - OCADU Publications
2010 - 2014 - X University - Fashion Communications
WORK
2023 - Present - Arts Educator at the AGO
2018 - Present - Co-founded Old Growth Press
2020 - Present - Manager at TYPE books
2022 - Sensitivity Reader - All The Right Notes - Dominic Lim (Hachette)
2022 - The Game Agency - Freelance
2017 - 2020 - Page & Panel Bookseller and Buyer
2018 - 2019 - Student Monitor - OCAD Printmaking Department
EXHIBITIONS
2023
A Medium To Tell Stories - Open Studio (October 27-Dec 2nd)
The Secret Codes - Textile Museum of Canada (October 28th - April 28th)
Bestie Mart - Open Studio
Transforming Grief: Loss & Togetherness in COVID-19 - Toronto History Museum
TCAF 2023
VANCAF 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
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
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
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
