The Power Plant

Since 2006, The Power Plant has partnered with Art Toronto to present thought-provoking talks by scholars, artists, curators, and art world figures. This year, in the context of Art Toronto’s 20th edition, for the first time presented virtually, The Power Plant is thrilled to present three online studio visits with established and up-and-coming Canadian artists.

Artist Curtis Talwst Santiago will be joined by curator Claire Gilman. The two will discuss Santiago's creative process and elaborate on his artistic career.

Curtis Talwst Santiago (b. 1979, Edmonton, Alberta) studied as an apprentice of Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun. Santiago has exhibited internationally at venues such as The FLAG Art Foundation; The New Museum; The Eli and Edythe Broad Museum at Michigan State University; the Institute of Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University; The Pérez Art Museum Miami; Art Gallery of Ontario; and the SCAD Museum of Art; among others. The artist was included in the inaugural 2019 Toronto Biennial of Art in Toronto, the SITE Santa Fe SITELines.2018 Biennial, Casa Tomada in Santa Fe, and was featured in the 2018 Biennale de Dakar, Senegal. The artist's solo exhibition Can't I Alter, opened in February 2020 at The Drawing Center, New York. His work is in the permanent collection of the Studio Museum in Harlem, New York. Santiago lives and works between New York, Lisbon, and Toronto.

Claire Gilman (Ph.D Columbia University) is Chief Curator at the Drawing Centre in Soho, New York. Gilman has taught art history and critical theory at Columbia University; The Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College; The Corcoran College for Art and Design; and MoMA. She has also written extensively for publications including Art Journal, CAA Reviews, Documents, Frieze, and October.