Laneigh Ramirez is a non-binary, Canadian artist based in Toronto, Ontario. Their art is a breakthrough from their childhood in Sarnia, Ontario, a place far-removed from Black people and culture. Upon branching out to more diverse cities, Ramirez explores how identity can manifest as a genuine expression of self, or act as a response to environments and social conditions. They combine the likeness of reality with their abstract, intuitive inner world through various mediums to depict their journey of finding joy, building confidence, and nurturing their mental health as a Black person. They are inspired by fashion, Black and Queer media, and people who radiate authenticity including community, family, friends, and public figures. Their oil paintings are composed of bold colour and lively brushmarks, influenced by Impressionism, to emphasize their animated view upon life as it is. Their airbrush works utilize simplicity to focus on the essence of the subjects. In all mediums, Ramirez focuses on details, shape and colour to honour Blackness in all its properties.
Ramirez has exhibited oil paintings in Canada and the US, including at Future Fair in New York, NY and at WACO Theatre’s Wearable Art Gala Auction in Los Angeles, CA.
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Exhibitions
2024 – Group Exhibition: Take a Minute / Dominique Gallery, Sovern LA, Black Women in Visual Art, Los Angeles, CA
2023 – Group Exhibition and Pop-Up Shop: The Gift Shop 2.0 / Stackt Market, Toronto, ON
2023 – Group Exhibition and Pop-Up Shop: The Gift Shop / Square One, Mississauga, ON
2023 – Group Exhibition: The Alley-Oop Project 2023 / The Give and Grow, The Combine, Toronto, ON
2023 – Group Exhibition: Within and Without / Whippersnapper Gallery, Toronto, ON
2022 – Wearable Art Gala: Step Into Harlem Nights / WACO Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
2022 – Juried Group Exhibition: MOOD / Athens Institute For Contemporary Art, Athens, GA
2022 – Art Fair Booth with the Dominique Gallery / Future Fair, Chelsea Industrial, NY
2022 – Group Artist Showcase: Meet Me at Sunset / Luminary, Manifesto TO, Toronto, ON
2021 – Group Exhibition: The Fact of Blackness / Dominique Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Leadership
2024 – Black History Month Portrait Painting Workshop Facilitator / The Teresa Group / Toronto, ON
2024 – Youth Arts Mentorship / Project Humanity / Toronto, ON
2023 – Youth Arts Mentorship / Project Humanity / Toronto, ON
Collaborations
2023 – "We Got Heart" collectible artwork / Dominique Gallery x Infinite Objects
Commissions
2023 – Black Student Lounge Mural / Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON
2023 – Within and Without Mural ; Within and Without / Whippersnapper Gallery, Toronto, ON
2022 - Floor Mural ; The Future Without Oppression / Friends of Kensington Market, Toronto, ON
2022 – Film Poster ; "Alex" / Aisha Evelyna, Toronto, ON
Notable Achievements
2023 – "Girl 6 Study 1" Acquired by Spike Lee
2023 – Notes in Colour Visual Arts Panelist / Stackt Market, Toronto, ON
Awards and Acknowledgments
2022 – Artsy Collection Feature "Black Painters on Our Radar"
2021 – Roger McTair Award / Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON
2022 – Image Arts Award / Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON
2022 – Artsy Collection Feature "Artists to Discover if You Like Barkley Hendricks"
2021 – Curated Artist Selection / Black Girls Who Paint x Dominique Gallery
2020 – Artist Scholarship Recipient / Gallery in the Grove, Sarnia, ON
Publications and Appearances
2023 – "Art-based pop-up shop set to hit Square One in Mississauga"/ Insauga, Mississauga, ON
2023 – "New Mississauga pop-up shop showcases Black artists" / Mississauga.com, Mississauga, ON
2023 – "Sarah Edo's Surrender to Mud, Water, and Fire" / Vainqueur
2023 – Written Interview "The Art of Being An Artist" / T-Dot, Toronto, ON
2023 – "Within and Without” Review / C-Mag
2023 – Artwork Spotlight / Instagram, CBC Arts
2022 – Audio Interview "Laneigh" / The Auntie Lanette Show, Toronto, ON
2022 – Art Feature / ICON Mag Issue 04, New York, NY
2020 – Art Feature / The Sarnia Journal, Sarnia, ON
2020 – Art Feature / Sarnia This Week, Sarnia, ON