Neigh 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.
Among notable achievements such as youth artist mentorship and community workshop facilitation, Ramirez has exhibited oil paintings in Canada and the US, including at the Future Fair in New York City and the Wearable Art Gala at the WACO Theatre in Los Angeles.
CV
Pop-Up Shops
2024 – The Gift Shop 3.0 / Byword Market, Ottawa, ON
2023 – The Gift Shop 2.0 / Stackt Market, Toronto, ON
Group Exhibitions
2024 –Take a Minute / Dominique Gallery, Sovern LA, Black Women in Visual Art, Los Angeles, CA
2023 – The Gift Shop / Square One, Mississauga, ON
2023 – The Alley-Oop Project 2023 / The Give and Grow, The Combine, Toronto, ON
2023 – Within and Without / Whippersnapper Gallery, Toronto, ON
2022 – Wearable Art Gala: Step Into Harlem Nights / WACO Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
2022 – MOOD / Athens Institute For Contemporary Art, Athens, GA
2022 – Art Fair Booth with the Dominique Gallery / Future Fair, Chelsea Industrial, NY
2022 – Meet Me at Sunset / Luminary, Manifesto TO, Toronto, ON
2021 – The Fact of Blackness / Dominique Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Leadership
2024 – Orange Shirt Day Painting Workshop Facilitator / The Teresa Group / Toronto, ON
2024 –Youth Art Therapist at Camp Mandala / The Teresa Group / Dorset, ON
2024 – Mother's Day Portrait Painting Workshop Facilitator / The Teresa Group / Toronto, ON
2024 – Black History Month Portrait Painting Workshop Facilitator / The Teresa Group / Toronto, ON
2024 – One-on-One Youth Arts Mentorship / Project Humanity / Toronto, ON
2023 – One-on-One Youth Arts Mentorship / Project Humanity / Toronto, ON
Notable Achievements
2024 – "Page One" Large Scale Wall Display / Scarborough Town Center, Toronto, ON
2023 – "Girl 6 Study 1" Acquired by Spike Lee
2023 – Notes in Colour Visual Arts Panelist / Stackt Market, Toronto, ON
Commissions and Events
2024 – Live Airbrush Booth for Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony Celebration / CBC, Toronto, ON
2024 – Paint with Pride! Live Painting / Street Art Toronto, Toronto, ON
2024 – Pride Art Battle, Toronto ON
2023 – Black Student Lounge Mural / Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON
2023 – Within and Without Mural ; Within and Without / Whippersnapper Gallery, Toronto, ON
2023 – Aerosol/Airbrush Event Background For Unk's Freaknik / Uncle Delroy, Toronto, ON
2022 - Floor Mural ; The Future Without Oppression / Friends of Kensington Market, Toronto, ON
2022 – Film Poster ; "Alex" / Aisha Evelyna, Toronto, ON
Cohorts
2024 – The Remix Project 19.0, Toronto, ON
2024 – Project Best Dressed, Toronto, ON - Sewing program for Toronto Kiki Ballroom participants
2023 – Creative Catalyst Program / The Nia Centre For the Arts Toronto, ON
Collaborations
2023 – "We Got Heart" collectible artwork / Dominique Gallery x Infinite Objects
Awards and Acknowledgments
2023 – Black Arts Project Grant / Toronto Arts Council, Toronto, ON
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
2024 – Meet Neigh Ramirez | Visual Artist & Creative Director/Shoutout LA, Los Angeles, CA
2024 – Paint with Pride!—Unleashing Street Art, Love and Creativity/Xtra, Toronto, ON
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