biography

Ramolen Laruan is an interdisciplinary artist, writer, and educator based in Tkaronto/Toronto, ON. Her non-medium specific practice explores displacement, migration, and politics of knowledge with questions relating to notions of truths, memory work, and failure tactics through sculpture, collage, print, textile, installation, moving image and sound. They have received support from the Ontario Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts and have exhibited throughout Ontario. Select exhibitions include Double-Edged at Xpace Cultural Centre (2022); still, unfolding at Zalucky Contemporary (2020); an intimate index at Latcham Art Centre (2022); and Precarious Joy at Hearth Garage (2021). In 2021, Laruan participated in R.A.R.O, an artists-in-residence program in Barcelona, Spain funded by the CCA. Laruan was selected to participate in RBC Emerging Artist Program at The Power Plant in 2022. Laruan holds a Bachelor of Fine Art from Queen’s University, and a Masters of Fine Art from the University of Western Ontario.

contact

ramolen.laruan@gmail.com

education

2018-2020 The Western University of Ontario, Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts, London, ON
2014-2018 Queen’s University, Bachelor of Fine Art Honours, Kingston, ON 
Minor: Art History
2016 Bader International Study Centre, Herstmonceux, UK 

solo and two person exhibitions (*indicates solo)

2022 a kiss is a moving surface, Queen’s Elizabeth Park Community Centre, Oakville, ON*
2022 A low and slow troll, Outdoor installation along College Street as a part of Scotiabank Contact Festival, Toronto, ON Curated by Mara Lazaro*
2022 Double-Edged, Xpace Cultural Centre, Toronto, ON
2020 still, unfolding, Zalucky Contemporary (MFA thesis exhibition), Toronto, ON*
2018 (un)titled: (un)do., Ontario Hall (Undergraduate thesis exhibition), Kingston, ON*

group exhibitions
2024 HOHOL curated by Patrick Cruz and Christian Vistan, Grunt Gallery, Vancouver (forthcoming)
2024 The Grotto curated by Avalon Mott, Xpace Cultural Centre (forthcoming)
2023 Roundtable Residency Online Exhibition 2022
an intimate index, Latcham Art Centre, Stouffville
2022 Now What?, ABM Confections, Madrid
2022 Now Streaming, Visual Arts Mississauga Riverwood, Missisauga, ON
2021 Precarious Joy Curated by Abby Ho, Hearth Garage, Toronto, ON
2021 Distance: A retrospective on the Space Between People, Organized by University of Toronto
2020 Servillepedia, Organized by Servicios Curatoriales
2020 As the snail takes its shape Curated by Daniel Griffin Hunt, Dainesha Nugent-Palache, Blair Swann,
and Emma Welch, The Plumb, Toronto, ON
2020 Anew Curated by Harper Wellman,
Cohen Commons, Western University, London, ON
2020 To Dwell, To Remember Curated by Adi Berardini,
Cohen Commons, Western University, London, ON
2019 Re: UNION - 25th Anniversary Exhibition, Union Gallery, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON
2019 what we might become, Art Lab, Western University, London, ON
2019 A Museum for Future Fossils, Art Lab, Western University, London, ON
2019 Pacing, Satellite Project Space, London, ON
2019 selsun blue Curated by Liza Eurich, Art Lab, Western University, London, ON
2018 Lost and Found: Members’ Show and Sale Fundraiser, Forest City Gallery, London, ON
2018 Overdue, 12 Cat Arts Collective, Kingston, ON
2018 Course of Action, The Union Gallery, Kingston, ON
2017-2018 Print Pulse. Art and Media Lab at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts, Kingston, ON
Dr. Robert and Andrée Rhéaume Fitzhenry Studios and Atrium University, Hamilton, ON
W.K.P Kennedy Gallery with Nipissing University, North Bay, ON; Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY
2017-2018 Modern Yule: Show and Sale, Modern Fuel Artist-Run Centre, Kingston, ON
2017 Surface, The Union Gallery, Kingston, ON
2017 The Juvenis Festival Gallery, Kingston, ON
2016 Reveal, The Union Gallery, Kingston, ON
2016 Self-y, The Union Gallery Off-Site Exhibition, Kingston, ON
2016 Drawn In, The Union Gallery, Kingston, ON

residencies

2024 PILOTENKUECHE Residency, Leipzig
2023 The Roundtable Residency, Toronto
2021 R.A.R.O. Barcelona (La Maldita Estampa and Pentaculo Escultores), Artist in Residence

awards and grants

2022-2023 RBC Emerging Artist Network Program, The Power Plant, Toronto, ON
2022 Ontario Arts Council Career Catalyst - Project Grant for New Generation Artists
2022 Canada Arts Council, Explore and Create - Research and Creation
2021Ontario Arts Council Grant, Exhibition Assistance
2019-2020 Ontario Graduate Scholarship, Western University, London, ON
2018 Western Graduate Research Scholarship, Western University, London, ON
2018 Faculty of Arts and Humanities Dean's Entrance Scholarship, Western University, London, ON
2018 Faculty of Arts and Humanities Chair's Entrance Scholarship, Western University, London, ON
2018 Nominee for BMO 1st Art! 2018 Art Competition
2018 John Cameron O Memorial Award in Fine Art, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON 
2014-2018 Dean’s Honour List with Distinction, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON
2017 Margaret Craig Scholarship in Fine Art, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON
2017 John Cameron O Memorial Award in Fine Art, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON 
2014 Excellence Scholarship, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON 

selected texts

2024 Exhibition Essay, The Grotto, Xpace Cultural Centre, Avalon Mott
2022 Exhibition Essay, an intimate index, Latcham Art Centre, Tyler Durbano
2022 Upended Grids by Yasmeen Nematt Alla, Xpace Cultural Centre, Toronto, ON
2020 Sutured Stories, tba: Journal of Art, Media, and Visual Culture, Western University, London, ON
2020 Interview, Museum Studies Collective, London, ON
2020 To Dwell, To Remember Exhibition Catalogue, London, ON
2018 (un)do. Exhibition Catalogue. Queen’s University, Kingston, ON
2018 An essay responding to: National Geographic- Come out, wherever you are 
by Leyla Chisamore, The Union Gallery, Kingston. ON
2016 Featured Artist in The Queen’s Journal, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON 

curated projects

2018 same as/different from - Queen’s BFA Alumni Print Show, Union Gallery, Kingston, ON
2016 Bookshelf Selection: Between Two Worlds, Union Gallery, Kingston, ON 
Mentored by Ellyn Walker 

fundraising and special projects

2020 RE:MEMBER 2020 Member’s Show and sale, Modern Fuel, Kingston, ON
2019 Boardroom, Work featured in collaboration with a project by Patrick Cruz at Forest City Gallery, London, ON
2018 Cezanne’s Closet, The Union Gallery, Kingston. ON
2017 Winner of Queen’s University International Photo Contest 2017, Staff’s Pick, Kingston, ON
2017 Film Reverie was a part of a Video Screening Event at The Union Gallery, Kingston, ON
2017 Cezanne’s Closet, The Union Gallery, Kingston, ON
2017 Nasty Women Project, California, USA
2016 Performed in Nadia Myre’s A Casual Reconstruction, Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Kingston, ON 2016 The Art Thing (Auction), Queen’s University, Kingston, ON
2016 Cezanne’s Closet, The Union Gallery, Kingston, ON
2015 Cezanne’s Closet, The Union Gallery, Kingston, ON 

art publications

2022 Yolk Literary, Volume 2.2
2021 withintensions, VISION MAY 2021
2018 Collective Reflections, Queen’s University, Kingston
2017 The Undergraduate Review, Queen’s University, Kingston
2017 Collective Reflections, Queen’s University, Kingston
2017 Free Lit Magazine: Truth or Dare, Kingston

artist writing

2019 “Black Determinism: Movement, Trauma, and Aspiration in We Are From Nicodemus”. McIntosh Gallery, London, ON
2017 “A Review of To Spoil the Party, to Set Our Joy Ablaze”. Modern Fuel Artist- Run Centre Syphon, Kingston, ON
2018 “Can Artists Really Save the World?” panel has no easy answers, The Queen’s Journal, Kingston, ON
2017 “Séance: An interview with Rebecca Anweiler”. Modern Fuel Artist-Run Centre, Kingston, ON
2017 “Columbus” is a quiet, captivating debut, The Queen’s Journal, Kingston, ON
2017 Living through a lens, The Queen’s Journal, Kingston, ON
2017 100 minutes, 100 years, two artistic spaces, The Queen’s Journal, Kingston, ON
2017 “This Time Tomorrow’s” slow win, The Queen’s Journal, Kingston, ON
2017 Agnes obtains early views of Kingston, The Queen’s Journal, Kingston, ON 

artist talk

2023 Toronto Metropolitan University The Image Centre Youth in Focus, Toronto
2022 Xpace Cultural Centre, Toronto
2020 OCAD University, Collage Methodologies Fall 2020, Toronto
2020 Western University Department of Visual Arts – Second Year Class, London
2018 Surface, The Union Gallery, Kingston

work and volunteer experience in the arts

2021-2023 Board of Directors, Trinity Square Video, Toronto
2021 Proofreader, tba: Journal of Art, Media, and Visual Culture
2019-2020 Fundraising Chair, Board of Directors, Forest City Gallery, London
2018-2019 Vice-Treasurer, Board of Directors, Forest City Gallery, London
2019 Student Representative, Spencer Gallery, Weldon Library at Western University of Ontario, London
2018 Studio Assistant for Stonecroft Artist-in-Residence Tau Lewis, Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Kingston
2016-2018 President, Board of Directors, The Union Gallery, Kingston
2017-2018 Committee Chair, BFA Graduating Show, Queen’s University, Kingston
2016 Life Drawing Instructor, Queen’s University – Queen’s Expressions, Kinston
2017 Staff Writer, The Queen’s Journal, Kingston
2016-2017 Museum Docent, Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Kingston
2014 Tour Guide and Presenter, Fine Art Program Open House, Kingston
2015-2016 Vice-President, Board of Directors, The Union Gallery, Kingston
2014-2015 First Year Representative, The Union Gallery, Kingston
2016-2017 Docent, Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Kingston
2016-2017 Co-Editor-in-Chief, The Undergraduate Review, Kingston
2016 Co-Chair, The Art Thing (Queen’s BFA Art Auction), Kingston
2016 Graphic Designer, The Undergraduate Review, Kingston

collection

The Royal Bank of Canada
Private collections

thank you

Canada Council for the Arts
Ontario Arts Council