Photo by Dragana Paramentic
Marina Dempster
MAKER
I was born in Mexico City to a French mother and a British father, raised within an artful convergence of cultures, textures, and languages. With family always far flung, an early inborn sense of belonging across borders taught me to be open, adapt, listen deeply, and seek connection in unexpected places.
I work with archetypes as living patterns rather than fixed symbols. They offer a lens for exploring the shared terrain of being human—identity, vulnerability, resilience—and our own stories mirrored in one another.
Loop by loop, stitch by stitch, bead by bead, my work holds contradiction alongside integration. I am drawn to polarities and to the charged space between them—the interstitial where questions stay open and levity meets gravity.
My work has been exhibited internationally in more than a dozen public art museums and was named Curator’s Choice at the Canadian Pavilion of the Cheongju International Biennale, recognizing excellence in contemporary Canadian craft.
Collaboration is central to my practice. With my longtime friend Christina Gapic, I also co-create BELOVE Unlimited—one-of-a-kind, small-batch sewn garments and functional accessories that bring beauty and intention into the rituals of daily life.
"If art is the literacy of the heart, then this sweet soul speaks many languages. From her tangible, tactile creations to the images arrested by her lens, to her exploratory way of connecting people, this woman radiates colour."
PHOTOGRAPHER
As a photographer, I help people see and communicate who they truly are—capturing essence with clarity, attention, imagination, and a relaxed rapport that lets authenticity emerge naturally. Photography has carried me into unexpected places and gifted me so many meaningful encounters. My work has received recognition in the arts and entertainment realm, including a Juno Award.
Teaching and mentoring feel like natural extensions of this practice. As a largely self-taught photographer, it’s meaningful to share what I’ve learned through experimentation, intuition, and sustained attention over the years. I’ve supported youth in a variety of educational settings and have designed intergenerational workshops for youth and grandparents—spaces where the camera becomes a bridge between ages, abilities, and ways of seeing. These gatherings remind me that photography, at its heart, is a practice of presence and connection.
MENTOR
As a mentor and facilitator, I support people of all ages and abilities in building sustainable creative practices that strengthen their voice. I design bespoke workshops and one-on-one sessions where play, presence, and genuine connection become catalysts for growth.
Most recently, I’ve been developing wORd—a constellation of collaborative oracle decks that use wordplay to shift perception and help people reclaim agency over the language that shapes their lives.
Photo by Christina Gapic
Photo by Christina Gapic
MISSION
I’m passionate about sharing creative habits and rituals that foster self-knowledge, artistic development, and meaningful inner and outer connection. Over time, I’ve learned that these small, steady practices become the quiet building blocks of lasting change—personally and collectively.
My work is most alive where the solitary act of making meets the shared field of community—when what begins in my imagination becomes an invitation to share, connect, witness and remember our inherent creative agency.
In a culture shaped by algorithms and distraction, I are here to offer analogue antidotes: practices that help us slow down enough to notice where our attention flows and how that sculpts who we are becoming. I simply wish to offer what I, too, most need.
I live and work in Toronto, Ontario, with my son and daughter, and our cat, Watson.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Exhibitions
2024 Namara Projects, Toronto, Ontario; Behind the Curtain (group)
2023 The Royal Hotel, Picton, Ontario; AMEND (with Tanya Fenkell)
2022 The Lyceum Gallery, Ontario; RE[COLLECTION] (solo)
2021 Art Gallery of Burlington, Ontario; IN//VISIBLE (with Meera Sethi)
2020 The Lyceum Gallery, Toronto, Ontario; SOVEREIGN//TIES
2019 The Lyceum Gallery, Toronto, Ontario; IN//HABIT (solo)
2019 Quest Art, Midland, Ontario; TD Thor Wealth Management 15th Annual Juried Exhibition
2019 Black Cat Artspace, Toronto, Ontario; Counsel
2018 D'Arcy Symposium, Nuit Blanche, Toronto, Ontario; Re-emergence
2016 The Museum of Natural & Cultural History, Eugene, Oregon; Strung Together - Beads, People, and History
2014 The Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts, Melbourne, Florida; Embellished
2011 The Boise Art Museum, Boise, Idaho; The Perfect Fit
2011 The Kimball Art Center, Park City, Utah; The Perfect Fit
2011 The Albany Institute of History & Art, Albany, NY; The Perfect Fit
2010 The Nicolaysen Art Museum & Discovery Centre, Casper, WY; The Perfect Fit: Shoes Tell Stories
2010 Morris Museum, Morristown, New Jersey; The "Shoe" Must Go On
2010 Museum of Vancouver, Vancouver, British Columbia; Art of Craft
2010 The Ontario Crafts Council, Toronto, Ontario; BODY + OBJECT
2009 Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, Massachusetts; The Perfect Fit: Shoes Tell Stories
2009 Canadian Pavilion of the Cheoungju International Biennale, Cheoungju, South Korea; Unity and Diversity
2008 Gallery 1313, Toronto, Ontario; Hands On
2008 The Noyes Museum of Art, Oceanville, New Jersey; Seams: Contemporary Art to Wear
2008 The Annual International Exposition of Sculpture Objects & Functional Art, New York, NY; Option Art
2008 *new* gallery, Toronto, Ontario; It's About Time II
2008 Swizzle Textile Studio - Niagara Arts Centre, Niagara, Ontario; (the return of) 3-D Exquisite Corpses
2007 The Gladstone Hotel, Toronto, Ontario; OBJECToronto
2007 York Quay Centre, Harbourfront, Toronto, Ontario; Whisper + Clang
2007 Swizzle Textile Studio, Kincardine, Ontario; 3-D Exquisite Corpse
2007 The Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto, Ontario; Translations (solo)
2006 The Farnham Maltings, Farnham, Surrey, UK; Carapace Volitilis (solo)
2005 C1 Art Space, Toronto, Ontario; The Shelf Project
2005 Uncommon Objects, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, Ontario; Tell
2005 A.W.O.L. Gallery, Toronto, Ontario; Square Foot
2004 Palace Contemporary Art & Fine Craft, Toronto, Ontario; Dreaming in Colour (solo)
2003 Balzacs, Toronto, Ontario; Dreaming in Colour (solo)
2004 Vieux Presbytère, Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec; reflets et profondeur
2002 Espacio Mexico - Mexican Consulate, Montreal, Quebec; Dos Fuentes (with Alec Dempster)
2002 Galérie RaDa, Montreal, Quebec; Dos Fuentes (with Alec Dempster)
2001 Arcadia, Toronto, Ontario; The Embrace (with Eleni Mokas)
Curatorial Projects
2021 Lyceum Gallery, Toronto, Ontario; Small Victories (w/ Holly Venable)
2020 Lyceum Gallery, Toronto, Ontario; Sovereign/ties
2019 Lyceum Gallery, Toronto, Ontario; The Hope Project (w/Holly Venable & The West End Phoenix)
2009 The DepARTment, Toronto, Ontario; neckLACE - Object + Artifact (w/ Johanna Reynolds)
2004 The Common Room, Toronto, Ontario; Alec Dempster: Un inglès convencional
2004 The Common Room, Toronto, Ontario; Carrie Walker: The best they can do is hiss and grunt
2004 The Common Room, Toronto, Ontario; Patricio Davila: El Living
Community Mentorship
2019 - 2021 University of Toronto, Occupational Therapy students (art journaling sessions)
2020 Windermere United Church (art journaling for young adults)
2014 - 2018 The Leo Baeck Day School (intergenerational photography workshops)
2013 Jackman Institute for Child Study - Artist in Residence (photography)
Residencies
2023 Pouch Cove Foundation, Pouch Cove Newfoundland, Canada
2019 - 2021 Artist-in-Residence (full-time), The Orchard Lyceum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2018 Artscape Gibraltar Point, Ward's Island, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2006 The Farnham Maltings, Surrey, United Kingdom
Awards
JUNO AWARD FOR BEST ALBUM DESIGN OF THE YEAR (2003) In recognition for photography and creative direction on K-OS CD Package 'EXIT' for EMI (In collaboration with designers at Field Day Inc.)
1st PLACE MOBIUS ADVERTISING AWARD — Specialty Advertising (2002)*
SILVER MEDAL NEW YORK FESTIVALS — Image Awareness Print Advertising (2002)*
BRONZE MEDAL SUMMIT CREATIVE AWARDS — Packaging Design (2002)*
CANADIAN MARKETING ASSOCIATION RSVP AWARD (2002)*
* In recognition of a series of photography taken behind the scenes and on the court with the Toronto Raptors, for the Toronto Raptors Season Ticket Package (2001/2002) In collaboration with designers at Field Day Inc.
Books
2021 Yarn. Thread. String: Making, Manufacturing and Creating: Uppercase Encyclopedia of Inspiration by Uppercase Publishing
2013 Suzanne Golden Presents: Interviews with 36 Artists Who Innovate With Beads
1996 Shoes: A Celebration of Pumps, Sandals, Heels and More by Linda O’Keefe
Press
2024 What Women Create magazine (Photography feature of Tanya Fenkell):
2020 Blank Spaces magazine (cover): Healing Fibres: Marina Dempster Sculptural Fibre Artist
2020 Artfully.ca (blog): Featured Artist Interview with Marina Dempster
2019 The Toronto Star: Toronto artist (A. Khounnoraj) gives punch needle crafting a modern twist by Debra Norton
2018 The Opposite of Lonely (Megaphonic podcast): Artscape Gibraltar Point — Interview
2010 CBC NEWS: Hand-made tales: A Vancouver exhibit explores the artistry of crafts
2010 Worn Fashion Journal: Snow Queens
2010 HOME Magazine (Russia): Fashion Art — Marina Dempster
2009 The Boston Globe: Taking a Walk Through Playful Shoes by Cate McQuaid
2008 STYLE magazine: For Arts Sake — Marina Dempster by Kathryn Hudson + Photography by Ashok Charles
2008 LQ Magazine (Russia): Fashion Art — Marina Dempster
2007 FiberArts magazine: Markings in Yarn; Shoes and the body inspired Marina Dempster as she bring her voice to the Huichol Tradition’ by Jessica Hemmings
2003 Outpost magazine: Improvisations in Wax + Yarn: Canadian artist Marina Dempster has connected with her Mexican roots by exploring the indigenous Huichol art of yarn painting by Kisha Ferguson