Erin Szikora
Curator, Researcher, and Beadwork Artist | Middlebrook Prize Winners
Toronto, ON, CANADA
Erin Szikora is an emerging curator, researcher, and beadwork artist of Cayuga, Scottish, and Hungarian ancestry.
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Biography
Erin Szikora (Cayuga/Scottish/Hungarian) is an emerging curator, researcher, and beadwork artist born and raised in Guelph and currently based in Toronto. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Visual Studies from the University of Toronto and a Master of Arts in Contemporary Art, Design, and New Media Art Histories from OCAD University. Szikora has worked in curatorial and research roles at the Art Gallery of Guelph, Art Canada Institute, Brock University, McMaster Museum of Art, OCAD University, and the University of Toronto. She currently works as Assistant Curator – Indigenous Projects at The Robert McLaughlin Gallery where she is co-curating the Oshawa iteration of the project Mamanaw Pekiskwewina | Mother Tongues: Dish With One Spoon Territory with Missy LeBlanc.
Accomplishments (1)
2022 Middlebrook Prize, Art Gallery of Guelph (professional)
Education (2)
OCAD University: M.A., Contemporary Art, Design, and New Media Art Histories
University of Toronto: B.A., Art History and Visual Studies
Links (1)
Testimonials (1)
Molly Lamb Bobak, Life & Work By Michelle Gewurtz | Art Canada Institute
It has been a pleasure to work with the wonderful team at the Art Canada Institute—including Anna Hudson, Ruth Jones, Erin Szikora, Michael Rattray, and Kendra Ward. The book has benefitted immensely from Rosemary Shipton’s guidance and editorial input, and I thank her for her patience and good humour. I am especially grateful to Sara Angel for her constant encouragement and for inviting me to contribute to this wonderful resource.
Media Appearances (5)
2022 Middlebrook Prize awarded to Erin Szikora
Akimbo online
2022-04-22
The Art Gallery of Guelph (AGG) is pleased to announce that Erin Szikora has been awarded the 2022 Middlebrook Prize for Young Canadian Curators. Her proposed exhibition, Homecoming, has been selected as the winning submission to be presented at the Art Gallery of Guelph from September 15 – December 18, 2022. This year’s Middlebrook Prize jury was composed of Darryn Doull (Curator, Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery), Jaimie Isaac (Chief Curator, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria), and Bushra Junaid (Independent Curator).
September 2021 Featured Artist - Erin Szikora
Otherwise Studios online
2021-09-12
Erin Szikora: “A lot of my inspiration comes from the beadworkers who’ve come before me. Beadwork has its roots in demonstrations of sovereignty and friendship, and as such, I find it important to bead in a good way that honours that legacy.”
Meet our new Assistant Curator
The Robert McLaughlin Gallery online
2021-06-18
Hello RMG community! Meet our new Assistant Curator, Erin! Erin will be working in collaboration with TRUCK Contemporary Art’s Curatorial Resident, Missy LeBlanc, to develop and deliver the Aazhawayi’iing/Oshawa iteration of the project Mamanaw Pekiskwewina | Mother Tongues.
Museum launches curatorial mentorship program for BIPOC leadership
Education News Canada online
2020-10-09
"I'm thrilled for the opportunity to work at the McMaster Museum of Art under the curatorial mentorship of Rhéanne Chartrand," says Szikora. "I met Rhéanne last November while researching for my MA thesis, Visual Sovereignty and the Making of NIIPA: Tracing an Archival History of the Native Indian/Inuit Photographers' Association (1985-2005/2006). Her curation, research, and writing on NIIPA and Indigenous futurities at-large has been instrumental in my own research and writing, and so it's an honour to work alongside her and the MMA staff to bring to life a major retrospective exhibition of photographs by NIIPA members and to create the first-ever publication on NIIPA's history.
Kids on their way to Summer Art Camp
Guelph Today online
2017-06-30
“When you have kids coming here for camp, they bring their families in,” Szikora said. “We have little exhibitions on Fridays, on temporary walls. Bringing people into the gallery is really important. And a lot of kids have come back from last year. It’s fun to see the impact it has on them.”
Conferences (1)
Beading Workshop with Erin Szikora
Art Gallery of Guelph Online (Zoom)
2021-04-17
Curatorial Projects and Exhibitions (2)
Homecoming
Artists Anita Cazzola, Laura Grier, and Justine Woods
Mamanaw Pekiskwewina | Mother Tongues: Dish With One Spoon Territory
Co-curated with Missy LeBlanc
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