SUMMARY
Elsa Hashemi (She/Her) is an interdisciplinary artist in Toronto, originally born in Tehran, Iran. Working across calligraphy, photography, video-performance, text-art and installation, her practice often deals with recurring themes of dislocation, isolation, and connection; and how these states intersect and shape experience. Rooted in lived experiences of cultural hybridity and migration, and through layered visual narratives, she creates space for reflection, resilience and collective belonging. Her work also treats language as material, following how words thin, shift, and transform in diaspora; and through layered calligraphic palimpsests, cut-out Finglish forms, and installation, she asks what gathers in the space where legible language gives way.
She views her work as a mode of storytelling, believing that sharing narratives may be the only way we can collectively begin to make sense of our contemporary realities.
She holds a BA in English Translation/Training, an MA in Photography, and now is pursuing her MFA at York University. Her work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions; and has been the recipient of awards and grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), the Ontario Arts Council, and the Toronto Arts Foundation. Elsa has also done live calligraphy performances and calligraphy workshops and have worked with the city of Toronto, Street Art Toronto, and Mural Arts, photo-documenting their murals, events and workshops. In addition, she has been documenting a variety of artists’ artwork for over a decade now.
Education:
2025 - 2027 - Master of Fine Art student, York University, ON.
2008 - 2011 - Master of Arts in Photography, Art University of Tehran, Iran.
2002 - 2006 - Bachelor of Arts in English, Azad University of Tehran, Central Branch, Iran.
Awards & Scholarships:
2026 - Canada SSHRC Graduate, Master’s Research Scholarship
2026 - Recognition Award, Aird Gallery and Downtown Camera, Contact Photography Festival
2026 - StART-Street ART Toronto Mentorship Program
2026 - The Academic Excellence Fund, York University
2025 - The Franc & Mary Joubin Bursary Fund, York University
2025 - York University Graduate Fellowship, Masters Domestic
2022 - Space Award, Toronto Art Council, and Akin Studios, Toronto, ON
2022 - Exhibition Assistance Award, Ontario Art Council, Toronto, ON
2018 - RBC Mentorship Award, Neighbourhood Arts Network, Toronto, ON
2017 - RBC Access Funds, Neighbourhood Arts Networks, Toronto, ON
Publications & Interviews:
2026 - tba: Journal of Art, Media, and Visual Culture, Western University
2026 - Suboart Magazine, September Issues
2026 - Photoed Magazine, Home Vs Away Issue
2024 - Photoed Magazine, The Time Issue
2023 - Akin Takeover Social Handles,
https://www.instagram.com/p/CpVS5crL6Iu/ Akin Projects Social Media
2022 - ROM (Royal Ontario Museum); online exhibition of Iranian Women, curated by Dr. Fahmida Suleman.
2021 - Monday Art Post, 2020-2021, The Photograph, Coordinated by Kamelia Pezeshki
2021 - Artists Wellness Series, In partnership with Muse Arts and Street Art Toronto
2021 - "How to be/stay an artist in Canada", Mondial Studios Podcast produced by Visa Mondial Immigration Organization, interviewed by Farid Ebadi
Live Performance:
2025 - Aga Khan Museum, "Rouh & Rhythm", Solo Calligraphy Performer with Sham Blues Musician Band
2024 - Richmond hill Public Library, "Persian Heritage Month", Live Calligraphy Performance with Azadeh Pirazimian
Teaching & TA-Ships:
2026 - Teaching Assistant, VISA 3085 - IMAGE & NARRATIVE Lab 2 and Lab 3, with Course Director/Professor Chris Ironside, York University, ON.
2021 - 2025 - Art Activities Lead and ESL Instructor at Hansa Language Centre, Toronto, ON.
2023 - Aurora Cultural Centre, Workshop Facilitator, Calligraphic Painting techniques with gold leaf, Aurora, ON.
2019 - 2020 - Instructor of Science and Creative Classes, at Brick Labs Inc. , Toronto, ON.
2017 - 2020 - Visual Arts Instructor/ Photographer, at Rosetta School of Visual Arts, Toronto, ON.
2012 - 2015 - ESL instructor and Activities Lead, Vesta Language Center, Tehran, Iran.
2008 - 2014 - Voluntary Photography Instructor, Reyhaneh Physical Rehab and Care Center for girls with special needs, Tehran, Iran.
2007 - 2008 - Assistance Professor of Portrait Studio Photography, with focus on interdisciplinary approaches to Portraits/Self-Portraits; (Fall and Winter semesters), Faculty of Fine Arts, Azad University of Art & Architecture, Tehran. Iran
Solo Exhibitions:
2023 - "Unbound", At Origin Coffee, Toronto, ON.
2023 - "The White Cave", Remote Gallery, Toronto, ON.
2023 - "I Am An Artist", North York Public Library, Toronto, ON.
2022 - "The Gazers", Queen Gallery, Toronto, ON.
2017 - “I, In Wonderland”, Art Square Gallery Hub, Toronto, ON.
Group Exhibitions
2026 - 'Matter Matters', curated show at The Gales Gallery, York University, ON.
2026 - 'Who is Your Self-ie?' at John B. Aird Gallery, Contact Festival, Arts & Letters Club, Toronto.
2026 - 'In Translation' curated by Amira Radwan, OCAD University Graduate Gallery, Toronto.
2025 - 'Threads in Between', Co-curated by me, Jenny Kim and Asma Sultana, The Gales Gallery, The UUAC Conference, York University, ON.
2025 - 'Echoes of the Everyday' Curated by Dr. Marissa Largo, Jenny Kim And Zach Allison, The Gales Gallery, York University, ON.
2025 - 'Capic Toronto Annual Juried Photography Show', "Expose'"at Todmorden Gallery, Toronto.
2024 - 'The Human Condition' at Sahar K. Boluki Gallery, Toronto.
2024 - 'Between Ashes & Dreams', at OCAD University co-curated by ocad instructors, Toronto.
2024 - TOAF (Toronto Outdoor Art Fair), Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto.
2024 - Contact Photography Festival, "No Limitation" at Sahar K. Boluki Gallery, Toronto.
2024 - Viva Alliance Annual group Exhibition, Roundhouse Center, Vancouver, BC.
2023 - TOAF, (Toronto Outdoor Art Fair) in collaboration with Start-StreetART Toronto
2022 - Social Media Exhibit by ROM (Royal Ontario Museum); online exhibition of Iranian Women, Toronto.
2022 - Ten-year Anniversary by Street ART Toronto, at Only One Gallery, Toronto.
2022 - "Annual Juried Exhibition" of Visual Arts at Art Gallery of Mississauga, Mississauga, ON.
2022- "On the Fence", In collaboration with Contact Photography Festival & StART Street ART Toronto.
2022 - "Modern Women", A curated exhibit of Calligraphy and Painting Art at Arta Gallery, Toronto.
2019 - A curated exhibit “Street Art Photography” by Street ART Toronto, Artusiasm Gallery, Toronto.
2019 - “2018 RBC Newcomer Spotlight” show on behalf of Claire Hopkinson, Toronto Arts Foundation & Toronto
Arts Council, Stream Whistle Brewing, Toronto.
2018 - “Click”, Arta Gallery, Scotia Bank Contact Photography Festival, Toronto.
2018 - “Through My Lens”, Rosetta Gallery, Contact Photography Festival, Toronto.
2018 - “A Portrait”, Propeller Gallery, Toronto, ON.
2017 - “Common Goods”, Forest City Gallery, London, ON.
2017 - “I, In Wonderland”, selected by Daven Patel, the owner and director of Project Gallery, Toronto.
2017 - “Where Home Is”, Gallery 1313, Toronto.
2017 - “The Precious Land”, Gallery 1313, Toronto.
2017 - “The Art of Politics”, Propeller Gallery, and the Artist Talk, Toronto.
2012 - Artworks by Iranian artists, Saba Cultural and Artistic Institute, Tehran. Iran.
2011 - Juried Group Photography Exhibition, Mahe-Mehr Gallery, Tehran. Iran
2010 - Photography Group Exhibition, Art University of Tehran, Tehran. Iran.
2010 - Firouzeh Photography Festival, Tabriz. Iran.
Other Experiences:
1. Activities Lead and Instructor at Hansa Language Centre
2. Instructor of Science and Creative Classes, at Brick Labs Inc.
3. Visual Arts Instructor/ Photographer, at Rosetta School of Visual Arts
4. Photographer and Art Coordinator, at Arta Gallery
5. Event Photography Experience:
2023 - "Sherlock Holmes Walk" Murals, with StreetART Toronto, Toronto Reference Library, and TTC.
2023 - "Cycling Path & Pedestrian Walk" with Transportation Department of City of Toronto, ON.
2023 - "Toronto Newcomers Day" at Nathan Phillips Sq, with City of Toronto, ON.
2022 - "Untold Stories" reception at La-Mashu Artscape by Elham Fatapour, Toronto.
2022 - "Basketball Court" mural and community event, by EnMass Project & StreetART Toronto, Scarborough.
2022 - Nuit Blanche at Humber College, Satellite Project by Elham Fatapour, ON.
2022 - New Comer Day Event, Toronto Art Foundation & Neighbourhood Arts, City Hall, Toronto.
2022 -"Come As You Are" Mural Painting & Launch Day, StreetART Toronto.
2022 - Farewell Party at Silverthorn Studios, Toronto.
2021 - Mural Photography of "Western Beaches Containers", in Collaboration with StreetART Toronto.
2020 - Mural Photography of "Water Hoarding Site", in collaboration with StreetART Toronto and Wallnoize.
2020 -"Curb TO Photography", by Transportation Department of the City of Toronto, during Covid-19, ON.
2020 - "Resilience; Redefined", Group Exhibition by Iranian-Canadian Artists at Artscape Yongeplace, Toronto.
2019 - "Alan Powell" event photography and mural photography, with StreetART Toronto, Toronto.
2019 -"My Story", Solo exhibition by Elham Fatapour, 918 Bathurst, Toronto.
2019 -"Euclid Laneway" event photography and mural photography, with KjBIT and StreetART Toronto.
2019 - “Incubator Program 2019” with Magenta Foundation at Stephen Bugler Gallery, Toronto.
2019 - “Art-focused meeting”/Opening Reception, Art Starts at Les Chester Community Center, Scarborough.
2019 - “Jane’s Walks” Festival, Toronto, ON.
2019 - “Turbulence” Event Opening Reception, Scarborough Art Gallery, Art Starts, Scarborough.
2019 - “Consultation meeting” at Parkway Forest Community Center, Nicole Marcano, Art Starts TO.
2018 - "Felstead Laneway" Murals photography, StreetART Toronto.
2018 - "Women Paint Laneway" Murals photography, StreetART Toronto.
2018 - "Feel Good Laneway" Event and Murals photography, StreetART Toronto.
2018 - “Euclid Laneway Murals” photography, StreetART Toronto.
2018 - In collaboration with “Art Starts”, Kids’ programs at Le Chester Community Center, Scarborough.
2018 - “Zion School House” event, in collaboration with Art Starts, Scarborough.
2018 - “Trust: An Artist journey” Azadeh Pirazimian with Markham Group of Artists, Markham Public Library.
2018 - Panel Discussion by Airsa Art & Thought Association at Art Start Studio, Toronto.
2018 - March Art Camp photography at Rosetta School of Visual Art.
2018 - “Stumble on A Secret Pool”, The Genius of Aron Tager at Silverthorn Studios, Toronto.
2016 - Opening Party of Silverthorn Studios at Silverthorn Studios, Toronto.
2016 - “A Golden Glow to Light the Day & Beyond Times”, Arta Gallery, Toronto.
2016 - Aron & Ann’s Ultimate Sale Event at Cherry Nook Gardens, Toronto.
2016 - Presentation & Book Lunch, “Adams’ Darkroom” by Fereshteh Molavi at Arta Gallery, Toronto.
2016 - “Streets of Colors”, a photography exhibition by Peter Jolicoeur at Arta Gallery, Toronto.
2016 - “Land & City” Opening Reception, a group painting exhibition at Arta Gallery, Toronto
2016 - “There Is No There There” Opening Reception, Contact Show Festival at Arta Gallery, Toronto.
2016 - “Every Rose Has Its Thorn”, a Painting exhibition by Khosrow Abtahi at Arta Gallery, Toronto.
2016 - “Her Story” Opening Reception, a painting exhibition by Alexis Fraser at Arta Gallery, Toronto.
6. Photo-Documentation of Artworks:
Certificates:
2025 - Ethics Tutorial Certificate, York University, ON.
2025 - WHIMS Course Certificate (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System), York University.
2020 - TESL Ontario Certificate, CCLCS (the Canadian Centre for Language and Cultural Studies), Toronto.
2017 - Photography for Ads Agencies, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), Toronto.
2012 - Lighting & Photography, Mah-E-Mehr Cultural and Educational Institution, Iran.
2013 - Commercial/Product Photography Certificate, Mah-E-Mehr Cultural and Educational Institution, Iran.
Contact Info:
Email: elhashemi82@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elsa.hashemi/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elsaphotographyy/