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
JOSEPH SIDDIQI
Living and working in Montréal, Québec, Canada
EDUCATION
2004 M.F.A. Painting, Boston University, Boston, MA
1999 B.F.A. Studio Art with Distinction, Concordia University, Montréal, QC
École National des Beaux-Arts de Bourges, France (1997-98)
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
2002 Visage paysage, Maison de la Culture Mercier, Montréal, QC
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 flat works on the wall, sculptures down the centre, curated by Ioana Dragomir, Concordia University MFA Gallery, Montréal, QC
2022 Contemplations of Our Pandemic Journey, curated by Jennifer M.L. Stephens, Athabasca University, Athabasca, AB
2020 Deck the Walls! Newzones Gallery, Calgary, AB
2015 Landscape/Cityscape, 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 Convocation Exhibit, Athabasca University Main Building, Athabasca, AB
2011 Tom Hopkins Memorial Exhibition, Battat Contemporary, Montréal, QC
2008 Grand Opening, Galerie St-Laurent + Hill, Ottawa, ON
2005 Night of 1,000 Drawings, Artists Space, New York, NY
2004 Work on consignment, Spike Gallery, NY
2004 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 New Canadian Painting, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax, NS
1998 Partcours, Église Saint-Pierre, Bourges, France
ART FAIRS
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 Art Toronto, with Mira Godard Gallery, Toronto, ON
2014 Toronto International Art Fair, with Mira Godard Gallery, Toronto, ON
2013 Toronto International Art Fair, with Mira Godard Gallery, Toronto, ON
2012 Toronto International Art Fair, with Mira Godard Gallery, Toronto, ON
TEACHING
2007-Present Part-time Faculty, Concordia University, Montréal, QC
2018-2019 Instructor, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC
RESIDENCIES
2023 Pouch Cove Foundation, curated by Monica Tap, Pouch Cove, NL
GRANTS & AWARDS
2021 Professional Development Grant, Concordia University Part-time Faculty Association
2019 Professional Development Grant, Concordia University Part-time Faculty Association
2015 Professional Development Grant, Concordia University Part-time Faculty Association
2009 Production Grant, Canada Council for the Arts, Visual Arts
2004 Artist Grant, Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation
2003 Dean's Scholar Award, Boston University
2003 Travel Grant to Spain, Boston University
2002 Constantin Alajalov Graduate Scholarship, Boston University
2002 Visual Arts Project Grant, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec
2001 Artist Grant, Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation
MEDIA COVERAGE
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Alexander Hackett, “Concordia fine arts professors collectively exhibit their work at the MFA Gallery this summer,” Concordia News, July 5, 2023. https://www.concordia.ca/news/stories/2023/07/05/concordia-fine-arts-professors-collectively-exhibit-their-work-at-the-mfa-gallery-this-summer.html
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Andy Murdoch, “Video: Joseph Siddiqi takes his painting and drawing courses online,” Concordia News, August 19, 2020. https://www.concordia.ca/cunews/main/stories/2020/08/19/video-joseph-siddiqi-takes-his-painting-and-drawing-courses-online.html
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K.I., “Siddiqi + Wendt: From Art Toronto last week …” Monochromatic Axonometric (blog), November 4, 2018. http://monochromatic-axonometric.blogspot.com/2018/11/siddiqi-wendt.html
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“2014 Convocation Exhibit,” Thomas A. Edge Archives and Special Collections, Athabasca University, 2014. Exhibition text. https://www.athabascau.ca/archives/online-exhibits/2014-convocation-exhibit.html
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Peter Simpson, “Siddiqi Shines at Galerie St-Laurent + Hill,” Ottawa Citizen - The Big Beat (blog), July 19, 2011.
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Richard Rhodes, ed., “Preview: A Canada-wide guide to the season's best exhibitions,” Canadian Art, Vol. 26, No. 1, 2009. 35.
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Susan Blackman, ed., “Collectors' Guide to Gallery Events.” Canadian Brushstroke Magazine, Vol. 11, January/February, 2009. 27.
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Danielle Poisson, “Joseph Siddiqi,” MV Biographies: Petits mots sur la vie et le travail de personnes de grand intérêt (blog), December 7, 2008. http://noudanou2.blogspot.com/2008/12/siddiqi-joseph.html
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Pam Klicki, “In the Galleries: The Moderns,” Where Calgary, Vol. 21, No. 4, 2002. 37.
TEXTS & CATALOGUES
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Terence Corcoran, “Joseph Siddiqi: New Paintings,” Mira Godard Gallery, 2015. Exhibition text.
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Jason Franz, ed., International Painting Annual 4, Manifest Press, 2015. 166, 168-9.
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Hope, Art Gallery of Regina, 2014. Exhibition catalogue with text by curator, Holly Fay.
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Laurel MacMillan, ed., RBC Canadian Painting Competition: Ten Years, Friesens, 2008. 75.
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Suzanne Dubuc, “Visage Paysage: Une exposition de Joseph Siddiqi,” Les Maisons de la Culture de la Ville de Montréal, janvier-février, 2002. Exhibition text.
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The New Canadian Painting Competition 2001 / Le Concours de nouvelles peintures canadiennes de 2001, Canadian Art Foundation, 2001. Exhibition catalogue.
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Exposition Partcours, L'Association Arensort, 1998. Exhibition catalogue.
BOOK COVERS
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In the Vicinity of Riches, Chris Hutchinson, Goose Lane Editions / icehouse poetry, 2020. Cover of poetry book.
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A Brief History of the Short-Lived, Chris Hutchinson, Nightwood Editions, 2012. Cover of poetry book.
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Le m@rketing: 2e édition, Gaëtan Morin, ed., Chenelière Éducation Inc., 2010. Cover of textbook, School of Management, Université du Québec à Montréal.
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Other People's Lives. Chris Hutchinson, Brick Books, 2009. Cover of poetry book.
COLLECTIONS
Athabasca University Art Collection, Athabasca, AB
Canada Council Art Bank, Ottawa, ON
Colart Collection, Montréal, QC
Hotel Arts, Calgary, AB
Private collections