The Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change is pleased to welcome Visiting Artist-in-Residence Angie Quick this January. Quick is a visual artist based in London, Ontario and her work is featured at York’s Cross Road Gallery until March.

Hosted by Andil Gosine, she is part of Gosine’s Nature’s Wild exhibition series. Known for her evocative, emotionally charged paintings that explore themes of intimacy and human connection, her residency program “I Can’t Come to the Party If I Won’t Fall in Love” will lead up to EUC’s Eco Arts Festival in March that is poised to enrich York’s vibrant arts community and inspire faculty, staff and students alike to view the human experience through unique lens and perspectives.
Quick's work explores tenderness and intimacy both historically and contemporaneously and examines the intersections between sexuality, ecology, and renegotiating narratives from the past with the present. Collaborating on "feral (future love stories)" for which she has produced thirteen small scale oil paintings that serve as companions and part of Gosine's forthcoming exhibitions, both have been engaged in conversations about overlapping interests in ecology, sexuality and crisis since 2018.
"It is in the watercolours and an oil painting I made in response to Dr. Gosine’s book ‘Nature’s Wild’ as well as his essay ‘Chicken: a queer, visual ecopoetics’ that I began to explore sexuality through a phthalo green palette. The heart of this project relies on the intimate connection we share within our work", says Quick.
EUC undergraduate student Laurel Scott interviewed Angie Quick to get to know more about her work and her visit.
Can you tell us more about you and your creative work?
I am a self taught painter based in London, Ontario. I am known for making large luscious sexy oil paintings but have recently started making small intimate works as seen in the show here at the Cross Road Gallery. As a visual artist dedicated to exploring the intersections between sexuality, ecology, and renegotiating narratives from the past with the present, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to and engage with the innovative and interdisciplinary community at EUC.
What do you hope to accomplish during your visit to York University and the City of Toronto?
I am hoping to introduce my work to a different audience within a different context. I am always interested in the dialogue between the art and audience. I am particularly drawn to the EUC’s focus on addressing complex issues through creative practice. The residency’s commitment to fostering dialogue and collaboration within these critical areas aligns seamlessly with my artistic vision and research interests.
I understand that you will be working on a project with Professor Andil Gosine. Can you share some more details about your collaborative work?
I have worked with Andil on a number of projects over the years. Previously, I performed at and contributed drawings for "Nature's Wild (Duets)" at the Niagara Artist Centre, in 2022, an exhibition that was responsive to his book "Nature's Wild." Currently we are collaborating on a project where I respond to his personal essays with paintings. For this new set of work, intended for exhibitions in Toronto and New York, Gosine and Quick are working on creative texts that emerge from follow-up research to "Nature's Wild" which examines "feral futures" as a potential consequence of the unfolding ecological crisis. These literary non-fiction narratives explore the possibility of humans becoming feral in response to ecological crisis, and the challenges to find ways to build "new love stories" in the context of crisis. Included among these texts are studies of and reflections of feral chickens, wildlife in urban cities and the "ferality" of social media apps like Twitter (X) and Grindr.

How do you see the role of art in creating spaces where people can safely explore their emotional landscapes and personal truths?"
Art is a venue where we can be challenged with uncomfortable truths. It is a meditative space to explore philosophical and intimate ideas. What I like about this is that one might not realize it is happening but there is a laying bare of self when one takes in art. It might not be obvious but it is an invitation.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the York community and beyond about your forthcoming artistic works?
I am part of a group show Bedtime Stories opening at ELLEPHANT (Montreal, QC) from February 15- June 1. For more info about my works, do visit the Michael Gibson Gallery and feel free to view and follow my solo exhibitions and selected works.