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Jah Grey

Jah Grey

Bio/Statement


Jah Grey is a self-taught photographic artist primarily focused on portraiture who began his career researching and studying concepts of black masculinity in 2014. His photographs are an ongoing study that’s focused on the relationship between the black masculine body and vulnerability, explores the disconnect between the concepts of vulnerability and masculinity, showcasing the struggle between the idealized norm vs. the desired embodiment through a trans lens. His work is inspired by shared experiences of vulnerability and aim’s towards supporting positive notions of black masculinity.His subjects are typically black men who do not fit or have a desire to fit the label of hyper-masculinity imposed upon them. Jah skillfully uses the power of his photographic images to share the deep and meaningful stories behind his subjects and actively remains unafraid to expand himself as an artist. Jah is on a dedicated journey to transparency by living his truth, depicting it through photography, and video installations.

Jah’s work acts to educate and encourage society to unlearn the teachings that act to separate us in order to advocate for a more fluid and diverse world. Systems of oppression have been created to ensure that certain folks who aren't considered the 'norm' continue to be the most unwanted, undesired, and unprotected of the races. By focusing on challenging these concepts, his photos bravely remind all of us of the similarities we share, despite our differences. Jah Grey’s work encourages us all to live out loud and not feel silenced or shamed around our bodies but feel able to express ourselves in any way we choose.

Jah Grey’s photographs have been shown across Ontario - including in the Museum of Contemporary Art the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Art Gallery of Burlington Jah Grey’s photographs have also been shown across the United States of America - including at the Ford Foundation Gallery in New York City and in Los Angeles at the LAMBDA LITFEST and for the National Day of Healing hosted by Ava Duvernay at her ARRAY HQ.

CV


HONOURS / AWARDS
  • 2021 - Visual Artist Grant | Toronto Arts Council
  • 2020 - Media Artists Creations Projects | Ontario Arts Council
  • 2019 - Chalmers Professional Development Projects Grant | Ontario Arts Council
  • 2018 - Visual Artist Grant | Toronto Arts Council
  • 2018 - Creative Enterprise Grant | CUE/SKETCH & Associum
  • 2017 - Skills and Career Development: Indigenous Arts Professionals & Artists of Colour | Ontario Arts Council
  • 2017 - Visual Artists Creations Projects | Ontario Arts Council
  • 2016 - Visual Artist Grant | Toronto Arts Council
  • 2016 - CUE Grants | Margins of Era Gallery
  • 2015 - Best Artist Award | Nuit Rose
MENTORSHIP AND FACILITATION WORKS
  • TRANSFORMATIVE MASCULINITY, CONSENT AND BOUNDARIES
  • 2021 - Toronto District School Board | Toronto
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SELF-CONFIDENCE FACILITATOR
  • 2021 - Planned Parenthood | Toronto
  • GOODGUISE FACILITATOR
  • 2020-2021 - SKETCH Working Arts | Toronto
  • CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND PHOTOGRAPHER MENTOR
  • 2018-2020 - Men Who Take Baths | Toronto
  • IAM PROGRAM MENTOR
  • 2019 - JAYU | Toronto
  • MENTOR AND CONSULTATOR
  • 2019 - Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography | Toronto
SOLO EXHIBITIONS / COLLABORATION AND CURATED PROJECTS
  • CURATOR – TORONTO PUBLIC ARTS INSTALLATION
  • 2020 - present, SKETCH Working Arts: GoodGuise | Toronto
  • NO MORE ROOM
  • 2018 - Margins of Era Gallery | Toronto
  • "MAN UP"
  • 2018 - Canon Canada: Free Space | Toronto
  • A ROOM FULL OF BLACK BOYS
  • 2016 - Blank Canvas Gallery | Toronto
  • PORTRAITS BY: JAH GREY
  • 2014 - Capital One Cafe Gallery | Toronto
  • JAH GREY X SIDDIQUI EXHIBIT
  • 2013 - Tequila Bookworm Gallery | Toronto
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
  • FLESH ON THE FLOOR
  • 2021 Devan Patel Gallery | Toronto
  • REMEMBER SLAVERY
  • 2019 United Nations Headquarters | New York
  • THE GENDER CONSPIRACY
  • 2019 Art Gallery of Burlington (AGB) | Toronto
  • REFLECTIONS OF LOVE
  • 2019 Harbourfront Centre | Toronto
  • PUPLE NIGHTS
  • 2019 Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) | Toronto
  • A LOVE ETHIC
  • 2019 Gladstone Hotel | Toronto
  • WHAT’S DONE, MUST COME
  • 2018 Los Angeles LGBT Centre – The Village | Los Angeles
  • THE HEARD: SAWUBONA PROJECT
  • 2016 Daniels Spectrum | Toronto
  • EXPOSED: SOLACE
  • 2016 Gladstone Hotel | Toronto
  • NUIT ROSE
  • 2015 ARTSCAPE | Toronto
  • EXPOSED
  • 2015 The Project Gallery | Toronto, ON
  • QUEERING BLACK HISTORY MONTH
  • 2015 Ryerson University | Toronto
  • 8TH ANNUAL MANIFESTO ART EXHIBITION
  • 2014 The Steam Whistle Brewery | Toronto
  • QUEERING BLACK HISTORY MONTH
  • 2014 Ryerson University | Toronto
  • MY CITY MY STORY
  • 2013 The Theatre Pop Up | Toronto
COMMISSIONED WORKS
  • 25 DIGITAL PRINTS
  • 2020 Art Gallery of Ontario | Toronto
  • 5 DIGITAL PRINTS
  • 2020 Pride Toronto | Toronto
  • 4FT X 6FT DIGITAL PRINT
  • 2020Hipster Bachelor Pads Hotel | Toronto
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
  • 2021 - FLESH on the Floor Artist Talk | Devan Patel Gallery
  • 2021 - GET REEL Mental Health Film
  • Fest: Purple Waves Guest Speaker | Stella’s Place
  • 2021 - Young Men/Masculinity Focus Group Guest Speaker | Planned Parenthood
  • 2021 - Trans Day of Visibility Guest Speaker | FORMAT
  • 2021 - African History Month Guest Speaker | Stella's Place
  • 2021 - All We Have is Each Other: A Conversation About Art Making and Community Building | University of Toronto
  • 2020 - Live Sessions: Studio Talks | The Power Plant Gallery
  • 2020 - Live Sessions: "Opening Up" Panel Talk | The Creator Class
  • 2020 - Human Rights Series:
  • Advancing Wellbeing:
  • Tran -sforming Our Social Lifestyles Panel Talk | Pride Toronto
  • 2020 - Manifesto Talks: Removing The Stigma Around Black Mental Health Panel Talk | Manifesto Headquarters
  • 2019 - Journey to Black Liberation Symposium: Art & Activism Panel Talk | Harbourfront Centre
  • 2019 - Wedge Curatorial: A Love Ethic | Gladstone Hotel
  • 2019 - It’s Okay Not to Be Okay Mental Wellness Panel | Soho House
  • 2018 - “Man Up” Panel Discussion | Free Space
  • 2018 - Black Queer Entrepreneurial Activism Panel Discussion | Ryerson University

Download CV