2018-2020 I started these colour works by spontaneously drawing out horizontal and vertical lines in thin willow charcoal on bright white grounds. I could then erase and redraw the lines up or down, to the left or right, adding or subtracting until a free-flowing feeling was attained. I painted each shape in multiple layers, adjusting tone, contrast, saturation and hue using thin coats of oil colour. For me it expressed an inner vibration, as if I were an instrument playing out a natural rhythm.
Night Cities, oil on canvas paintings, 2005-2007
Colour Sensations, oil on linen paintings, 2018-2019
Lives and works in Montreal, QC
EDUCATION
M.F.A. Painting, Boston University, Boston, MA (2004)
B.F.A. Studio Art, with Distinction, Concordia University, Montreal, QC (1999)
Année 4 - Art, École National des Beaux-Arts de Bourges, France (1998)
TEACHING
2007-Present Concordia University, Department of Studio Arts, Part-time Faculty, Painting & Drawing, Montreal, QC
2018-2019 Université de Montréal, Department of Art History and Film Studies, Instructor, Painting, Montreal, QC
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2015 New Paintings, Mira Godard Gallery, Toronto, ON
2013 New Work, Galerie St-Laurent + Hill, Ottawa, ON
2011 Stories from the Inner-city, Galerie St-Laurent + Hill, Ottawa, ON
2009 Night Paintings, Newzones Gallery, Calgary, AB
2003 The Marauders, Boston University Commonwealth Gallery, Boston, MA
2002 Visage paysage, Maison de la Culture Mercier, Montreal, QC
2000 Peinture, Galerie Luz, Montreal, QC
GROUP EXHIBITIONS & ART FAIRS
2020 Deck the Walls!, Newzones Gallery, Calgary, AB
2018 Art Toronto, with Mira Godard Gallery, Toronto, ON
2017 Art Toronto, with Mira Godard Gallery, Toronto, ON
2016 Art Toronto, with Mira Godard Gallery, Toronto, ON
2015 Landscape/Cityscape, Mira Godard Gallery, Toronto, ON
2015 Art Toronto, with Mira Godard Gallery, Toronto, ON
2015 Preview 2015, Mira Godard Gallery, Toronto, ON
2014 Hope, curated by Holly Fay, Art Gallery of Regina, Regina, SK
2014 Toronto International Art Fair, with Mira Godard Gallery, Toronto, ON
2014 Convocation Exhibit, Athabasca University Main Building, Athabasca, AB
2013 Toronto International Art Fair, with Mira Godard Gallery, Toronto, ON
2012 Toronto International Art Fair, with Mira Godard Gallery, Toronto, ON
2011 Tom Hopkins Memorial Exhibition, Battat Contemporary, Montreal, QC
2010 Galerie de Bellefeuille, Montreal, QC
2008 Grand Opening, Galerie St-Laurent + Hill, Ottawa, ON
2007 Newzones Gallery, Calgary, AB
2005 Night of 1,000 Drawings, Artists Space, New York, NY
2004 Spike Gallery, New York, NY
2004 MFA Thesis Exhibition, Boston University 808 Gallery, Boston, MA
2003 The Art of Drawing, Concord Art Association, Concord, MA
2003 Fresh Paint, Copley Society of Art, Boston, MA
2003 Limited Edition Multiples, Galerie St-Laurent + Hill, Ottawa, ON
2002 Introductions, Newzones Gallery, Calgary, AB
2002 New Gallery Artists, Galerie St-Laurent + Hill, Ottawa, ON
2002 Landscape Painting, Studio 21 Fine Art, Halifax, NS
2001 RBC Canadian Painting Competition, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax, NS
2001 Hayes, Siddiqi, Studham, Galerie Luz, Montreal, QC
1998 Partcours, Église Saint-Pierre, Bourges, France
1997 Drawing the Line, Espace 522, Édifice Belgo, Montreal, QC
PRESENTATIONS
2020 Joseph Siddiqi: Mindfulness with Fine Art, moderated by Dr. Sanath Mahawithanage, Centre for Mindfulness-Based Research and Practices, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka (virtual)
2015 IdeaLab.03, moderated by jake moore, Centre for Teaching and Learning, Concordia University, Montreal, QC
2014 CUPFA Microtalks: Light and Landscape, hosted by Lorraine Oades, Engineering and Visual Arts Building, Concordia University, Montreal, QC
2011 Part-time Faculty Research and Creative Works Showcase, J.W. McConnell Building, Concordia University, Montreal, QC
GRANTS & AWARDS
2021, 2019, 2015, 2012, 2010 Concordia University Part-time Faculty Association, Professional Development Grant
2009 Canada Council for the Arts, Visual Arts, Production Grant
2004 Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation, Artist Grant
2003 Boston University, Dean's Scholar Award
2003 Boston University, Travel Grant to Madrid, Spain
2003, 2002 Boston University, Constantin Alajalov Graduate Scholarship
2002 Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, Visual Arts, Project Grant
2001 Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation, Artist Grant
2001 RBC Canadian Painting Competition, Finalist (Eastern Canada)
1999 Gouvernement du Québec, Programme Jeunes Volontaires, Art Production and Exhibition Grant
1997 Office franco-québécois pour la jeunesse, International Student Exchange Bursary (Québec-France)
PRESS & PUBLICATIONS
Andy Murdoch, ‘Video: Joseph Siddiqi takes his painting and drawing courses online’, Concordia News, August 19, 2020.
Chris Hutchinson, In the Vicinity of Riches (Goose Lane Editions / icehouse poetry: Fredericton, NB, 2020), cover.
K.I., ‘Siddiqi + Wendt: From Art Toronto last week …’, Monochromatic Axonometric (blog), November 4, 2018.
Terence Corcoran, ‘Joseph Siddiqi: New Paintings’, Mira Godard Gallery, Toronto, ON, 2015. Exhibition text.
Jason Franz, ed., International Painting Annual 4 (Manifest Press: Cincinnati, Ohio, 2015), pp. 166, 168-9.
Hope (Art Gallery of Regina: Regina, SK, 2014). Exhibition catalogue with text by curator, Holly Fay.
‘2014 Convocation Exhibit’, Thomas A. Edge Archives and Special Collections, Athabasca University (online), 2014. Exhibition text.
Chris Hutchinson, A Brief History of the Short-Lived (Nightwood Editions: Gibsons, BC, 2012), cover.
Peter Simpson, ‘Siddiqi Shines at Galerie St-Laurent + Hill’, Ottawa Citizen - The Big Beat (online), July 19, 2011.
Gaëtan Morin Éditeur, Le m@rketing: 2e édition (Chenelière Éducation Inc.: Montréal, QC, 2010), cover.
Richard Rhodes, ed., ‘Preview: A Canada-wide guide to the season's best exhibitions’, Canadian Art, Vol. 26, No. 1, 2009, p. 35.
Susan Blackman, ed., ‘Collectors' Guide to Gallery Events’, Canadian Brushstroke Magazine, Vol. 11, January/February, 2009, p. 27.
Chris Hutchinson, Other People's Lives (Brick Books: London, ON, 2009), cover.
Laurel MacMillan, ed., RBC Canadian Painting Competition: Ten Years (Friesens: Altona, AB, 2008), p. 75.
Danielle Poisson, ‘Joseph Siddiqi’, MV Biographies: Petits mots sur la vie et le travail de personnes de grand intérêt (blog), December 7, 2008.
Pam Klicki, ‘In the Galleries: The Moderns’, Where Calgary, Vol. 21, No. 4, 2002, p. 37.
Suzanne Dubuc, ‘Visage Paysage: Une exposition de Joseph Siddiqi’, Les Maisons de la Culture de la Ville de Montreal, janvier-février, 2002. Exhibition text.
The New Canadian Painting Competition 2001 / Le Concours de nouvelles peintures canadiennes de 2001 (Canadian Art Foundation: Toronto, ON, 2001). Exhibition catalogue.
Exposition Partcours (l'Association Arensort: Bourges, France, 1998). Exhibition catalogue.
COLLECTIONS
Artists Space Collection of Artist Files, NYU Fales Library & Special Collections, New York NY
Athabasca University Art Collection, Athabasca AB
Canada Council Art Bank, Ottawa ON
Colart Collection, Montreal QC
Hotel Arts, Calgary AB
Private collections