Natalie Wood (curator)

For other uses, see Natalie Wood.

Natalie Wood
Born	Trinidad
Alma mater	Ontario College of Art and Design University of Toronto York University
Occupation(s)	Artist, Professor
Employer	George Brown College
Website	https://iamnataliewood.blogspot.com/

Natalie Wood is a Trinidadian-Canadian multidisciplinary artist, curator, and educator. Her work focuses on areas of popular culture, education, and historical research, spanning the visual and media arts. Art practice mediums include painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, video and performance. Through her politically-engaged and identity-based art she engages with issues of representation and challenging hegemonic systems, and explores black feminist, queer, and diasporic identity in historical narratives. She is also a community-based queer activist.

Early life and education

Wood was born and raised in Trinidad, relocating in 1984 to Toronto, Ontario to pursue a specialist degree in Psychology, Sociology and Women's Studies from the University of Toronto. At the time, despite early interest in drawing, her family had raised her to see art as a hobby rather than a profession. She later took studio courses and obtained a degree in Studio Art from the Ontario College of Art (now OCAD) and an M.A. in Art Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.

She is currently a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Environmental Studies at York University. Wood's studies include a focus on: Black futurity, designing and performing change, and the healing role of artists in the Afro-Caribbean diaspora. Asking how do these artists and cultural producers imagine and sustain models of liberation and change in the face of anti-Black racism in the present?

Wood is a Professor in the Social Service Worker Program at George Brown College.

Artist Works

Visual Works

• Participatory Sculpture: Pillow Play (2018) - with Nila Gupta, a collaboration group – called Plan B.
• Church Street Mural: Kiss & Tell (2014) - digital prints of 5 couples in silhouette, inspired by the "Kissing Doesn't Kill" poster by Gran Fury.

Videography

• Busshead Hardhead, 02:55 minutes, colour, English (2024)
• Blue 06:00 minutes, colour, English (2018)
• Time Will Come 06:00 minutes, colour, English (2018)
• Hangman 08:00 minutes, colour, English (2016)
• Touched by a Soucouyant 05:00 minutes, colour, English (2015)
• Bananagrams 27:05 minutes, colour, English (2013)
• Will 03:00 minutes, colour, English (2012)
• The Bond Girl 04:45 minutes, colour, English (2008)
• Daisy Redux: Daisy Gets a Divorce 06:00 minutes, colour, English (2008)
• Homesick 03:14 minutes, colour, English (2007)
• Packing Unpacking 04:20 minutes, colour, silent (2007)
• The Line is Drawn 00:32 minutes, colour, English (2007)
• Call Me Daisy 03:00 minutes, colour, English (2006)
• Dash Domi 01:29 minutes, colour, English (2005)
• The Locks Narrative 10:00 minutes, colour, English (2005)
• Medusa's Hats 03:00 minutes, colour (2005)
• The Dozens 07:00 minutes, colour, English (2004)
• Enter, Hailey 08:00 minutes, colour, English (2002)

Activism and Community Art

• Blue Devil Performance at Blockorama Pride (2017)
• Blue Devil Caribana Performance at Harbourfront Centre (2011)
• Blue Devil Performance at Caribana (2015)
• Blue Devil Live Theatre Performance at Buddies In Bad Times Theatre (2006)
• Blue Devil Live Dance Performance at Toronto Pride (2006)

Academic Work

Wood is a Social Service Worker professor in the School of Social and Community Services at George Brown College, incorporating arts interventions into her research and advocacy.

Wood serves as the Black Futures Coordinator at the Black Futures Hub at the George Brown Waterfront Campus.

Wood co-founded the Social Innovation Hub (SIH) with Zuby Saloojee in 2014 at George Brown College. The SIH served as a pilot incubator with a vision to create a world where social entrepreneurship and innovation contribute to economic and social justice.

Curatorial Work

Lifelines Wildseed Centre for Art & Activism, co-curated with (2024).

Shad ow on the Prairie Images Festival & WARC Gallery, media show by Deanna Bowen (March 2009).

I Represent ASpace Gallery (2006).

The Hero Project WARC Gallery (2006).

Iconography of Divination, and Sign of Spirit ASpace Gallery, by Winsom Winsom (2003).

Starting Fires ASpace Gallery, Lesbian Artists Group Show (2002).

Collections

• Royal Bank of Canada
• The Wedge Collection

Awards

• Explore and Create Program, Canada Council for the Arts (2020).
• WildSeed Arts Fellow ( 2019–2022).
• Access and Career Development Grant, Ontario Arts Council ( 2019).
• Black Leadership Award, Black Student Success Network at GBC (2017).
• Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance (2012).
• Access Grant, Ontario Arts Council (2011).
• Established Media Artist Grant, Toronto Arts Council (2007).
• New Pioneers Award for contribution to Arts and Culture (2006).
• K.M. Hunter Nomination for Interdisciplinary Arts (2006).
• Ontario Arts Council Mid Career Media Arts Award (2006).
• Audience Choice Award, Mpenzi Toronto Film and Video Festival (2006).
• Trinidad Artist Residency, Canada Council for the Arts (2005).
• Emerging Artist for Visual Arts, Ontario Arts Council (2004).
• Emerging Artist for Visual Arts, Canada Council for the Arts ( 2003).
• Emerging Artist for Visual Arts, Toronto Arts Council (2003).
• M. NourbeSe Philip Award for d02 (2003).
• City of York Civic Recognition Award for work within the Arts (1997).