Creative Campus Galleries push Sheridan’s artistic spirit beyond classroom walls

Sheridan has long been known for the creativity and innovation happening inside its classrooms.

Since 2016, however, that artistic spirit has extended well beyond the classroom walls with help from the Creative Campus Galleries (CCG), which cares for and displays over 300 pieces of artwork across the college’s halls, common areas and exhibition locations.

One such work, now displayed at Sheridan’s Marketplace Gallery, offers a striking example of the artistic vision that defines the CCG.

The work, created by renowned Indigenous artist Joshim Kakegamic, was donated to the school by Michelle Keast, a former Research Development Lead at Sheridan, and her parents June and Marty Keast, adding to the CCG’s growing collection.

Alex Nagy, the CCG’s exhibition technologist, says that the stylized details and strong colours of Kakegamic’s piece made it a natural choice for its prominent placement at the Marketplace Gallery, located near the well-travelled food court at the Trafalgar Road Campus.

"The Creative Campus Galleries is responsible for curating and maintaining Sheridan's art collection,” says Nagy. “Along with alumni and student work, we’re interested in collecting Indigenous art and works by professional artists, so (Kakegamic’s) piece was a fit.”

The donation process began in 2023, when Michelle Keast approached Sheridan with the idea of donating Kakegamic’s work, which had been hanging proudly in her parents’ home for many years. The piece was then carefully evaluated and appraised by the CCG team to determine its suitability for the collection, a process that can take months to complete.

The CCG team follows a rigorous Collection Management Policy, which ensures that any artwork accepted aligns with Sheridan’s standards and thematic focus, including making sure any art donated was created after 1967, the year of the college’s founding.

The Sheridan art collection features a wide range of art forms, from photography and sculpture to paintings and mixed media, and includes works by notable Indigenous artists such as Jeff Thomas, Carl Beam and Couzyn van Heuvelen.

Nagy, alongside assistant curators Emiley Webb and Valentyna Onisko, manages three main exhibition spaces at Sheridan: The Creative Campus Galleries at Hazel McCallion Campus, the Trafalgar Gallery and the Marketplace Gallery.

They also display and maintain the Art Lending Library, Sheridan’s Public Art Displays, the Faculty of Animation, Arts & Design display cases and help the Sheridan Student Union with the Student Showcases at Trafalgar, ensuring that the college’s three campuses remain creatively stimulating for its students, faculty and staff.

Alex Nicholson, a first-year Art Fundamentals student at Trafalgar, is one of many students who appreciates the vibrancy that the Sheridan art collection brings to campus.

“I personally find it very inspiring seeing all the artwork around campus, especially the animation and illustration art,” Nicholson shares. “It pushes me to work harder because getting into illustration and the creative industries is where I want to go.”

In addition to acquiring works from established artists, Sheridan also emphasizes supporting its own graduates through initiatives such as the Graduating Student Art Award — an initiative that recognizes outstanding graduating students by purchasing their artwork for inclusion in the Art Lending Library. This program helps showcase the work of talented Sheridan students as they enter the professional art world.

“Purchasing artwork from students is important because it helps push them to continue their art practice outside of school,” explains Webb. “When we purchase or display their artwork, it just gives them a little push so they can continue to create. They can put it on their CV, and other people can see that they are featured in an art collection. It's very important to us that we to continue to support our students.”

Sheridan has long been dedicated to supporting Indigenous voices, and the acquisition of Kakegamic’s work is part of a broader strategy to increase the representation of Indigenous art across the campus.

“We’ve been working closely with the Centre for Indigenous Learning and Support, as well the Office of Indigenous Engagement and Education to ensure Indigenous artists are well-represented within our galleries,” explains Webb.

The Creative Campus Galleries are open to the public, and visitors can view the collections both in-person and online. For more information or to explore current exhibitions, visit the Creative Campus Galleries website.

Pictured in article are (top to bottom) Joshim Kakegamic's artwork displayed in the Marketplace Gallery at Trafalgar Road Campus; the 2022 About The Collection: New Acquisitions exhibition at the Creative Campus Gallery at Hazel McCallion Campus (HMC); the 2024 Graduating Student Awards exhibition at the Creative Campus Gallery at HMC; and the 2023 Graduating Student Arts Award exhibition at the Creative Campus Student Gallery at Trafalgar Road Campus. All photos provided by Emiley Webb.