Mahir Siraj b.1992
Lives and works in Toronto, Canada

Mahir Siraj is an Eritrean-born artist who lives and works in Toronto. He is an emerging artist who has a background in painting as a self-thought artist and is currently studying drawing and painting at OCAD University. Mahir’s works employ the use of symbols and metaphors to investigate the relationship between memory and meaning in the context of personal and social identity formations. A recipient of the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair 61 Best of Student Award, Mahir has since had a solo exhibition at Artscape Youngplace Hallway Galleries, a residency at the Artscape Gibraltar Point, and a group exhibition at 183 Gallery.

CV

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS (solo unless otherwise indicated)

  • 2023, TRANSFERENCE (group), 183 Gallery, Toronto

  • 2022, COMMENTARIES (solo), Artscape Youngplace Hallway Galleries, Toronto

  • 2016, STORIES OF MIGRATION (group), Dabanga Art Gallery Khartoum, Khartoum

  • 2010, SPACE BETWEEN THE SPACES (duo), Alliance Francaise Asmara, Asmara

  • 2010, Printmaking (group), Alliance Francaise Asmara, Asmara

  • 2009, COLLECTIVE (group), Segen Eritrean Art Institute, Asmara

FAIRS

  • 2023, Toronto Outdoor Art Fair 62 (online), Toronto

  • 2022, Toronto Outdoor Art Fair 61, Toronto

RESIDENCIES

  • 2022, Self-directed residency, Artscape Gibraltar Point, Toronto

ACCOLADES

  • 2022, BEST OF STUDENT AWARD, Toronto Outdoor Art Fair 61

  • 2022, Artscape Solo Exhibition and Residency Award

  • 2022, Marie Collins Memorial Award

EDUCATION

  • 2025, BFA, Drawing and Painting, OCAD University 

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS  

PRESS