The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (AGGV) has announced the appointment of Dr. Toby Lawrence as its new curator of contemporary art, signalling a fresh chapter in the institution's commitment to modern artistic expression.
Lawrence, a seasoned curator with 15 years of experience, joins AGGV from the University of British Columbia's Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery, where she served as the curator of outdoor art. Her previous role as curator at Open Space Artist-Run Centre in Victoria adds to her deep connections within the British Columbia art scene.
Steven McNeil, chief curator and director of collections and exhibitions at AGGV, expressed enthusiasm about the appointment.
"I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Toby Lawrence to the AGGV curatorial team," McNeil said. "Toby has a stellar reputation for building strong relationships with artists and a deep commitment to contemporary art in B.C. Her work will build upon the AGGV's commitment to hold space for living artists and for critical thinking about the contemporary world."
Lawrence's academic credentials are equally impressive, boasting an MA in art history and theory from the University of British Columbia and a PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on curatorial practice from the University of British Columbia Okanagan.
Reflecting on her new role, Lawrence said, "I'm excited to be back in lək̓ʷəŋən territory and working with the AGGV. There is so much potential here, with the size of the organization, to offer responsive programming and meaningful collaborations."
"I will be building on the extensive work of my predecessors at the gallery to think deeply about what it means and looks like to expand the parameters of what is possible through art," Lawrence added.
Lawrence's appointment comes with a rich history of involvement in the art community. In July 2023, she was appointed to the B.C. Arts Council and previously chaired the City of Victoria Art in Public Places Committee. From 2017 to 2019, she spearheaded an annual gathering for curators across Vancouver Island, collaborating with galleries in Nanaimo, Comox Valley, and Campbell River.
As an independent curator, Lawrence has developed numerous projects, including ‘Bread, Flesh & Ink’, an interdisciplinary, cross-border collaboration exploring gestures of hospitality and guest-host relations.
The AGGV, situated on the unceded and traditional territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən Peoples, known today as the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, continues to evolve its curatorial vision with this appointment. While specific exhibition plans under Lawrence's curation have not been announced, her arrival is expected to bring fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to the gallery's contemporary art programming.
For more information about the AGGV and its upcoming exhibitions, interested parties are encouraged to visit the gallery's website at aggv.ca.
