Nuit Blanche 2023
Toronto Outdoor Art Fair 2024
ABOUT
I am a Toronto-based Canadian-Chinese queer multimedia artist, sculptor, illustrator, painter, and maker of earrings. My art practice is deeply rooted in my lifelong struggle with mental health, and even as a child, I found refuge in art making. Across all mediums, a visual language composed of obsessive detail, entanglement, darkness, and light embodies a turbulent psychological world. Beginning in 2020 (because of quarantine and climate anxiety), I played with found materials to declutter my apartment without disposing of anything. This experiment burgeoned into an ongoing series of sculptures where chaotic energy, unlikely objects, and trash take on a new life.
My earliest artistic influences include the intricately hand-drawn/painted illustrations in children’s books and search-and-find. Here sprouted my adoration for detail and the desire to create a similar search-and-find experience for viewers. City life, crowds, human-made structures, and materialism have made their way into my art, and climate uncertainty fuels my desire to upcycle and inspire people to do the same. I want my art to spark dialogue about the vulnerable human experience, inspire people to see their darkness (or "trash") as a source of strength, and challenge the definition of "trash" by encouraging people to see potential in all materials.
CURRICULUM VITAE
EDUCATION
Beginning Fall 2025 | Graduate Student, Interdisciplinary Master’s in Art, Media and Design - OCAD University
2024 - 2025 | No degree, Art Psychotherapy Diploma - The Canadian International Institute of Art Therapy
2020 - 2021 | Continuing Studies Certificate Program, Graphic Design & Visual Communication Skills - OCAD University
2015 - 2020 | BFA (Hons.) Drawing & Painting - OCAD University
2019 | Exchange program, Fine Art - DJCAD (UK)
EXHIBITIONS
2025 | TOAF64 - Toronto Outdoor Art Fair
2025 | Transmutation - Gagné Contemporary, 401 Richmond
2025 | Salon des Refusés - OCAD University
2025 | BI BI BABY Thrift - Something Creative Co.
2025 | Intersections: Threads of Tradition & Identity (4th Edition: connections between disability, mental health, and cultural awareness) - Arts Etobicoke, Cloverdale Mall, & QuadReal
2024 | TOAF63 - Toronto Outdoor Art Fair
2024 | Scripted Emotions: A Visual Ode to Language - OCAD University
2024 | 2024 Annual Juried Exhibition - Latcham Art Centre
2024 | The Courage Show - The Jackalope Contemporary Art Gallery
2024 | Fix Up Look Sharp - Northern Contemporary Gallery
2024 | Perpetually Emerging - Propeller Art Gallery
2023 | Breaking the Mold: A Multi-Sensory Art Experience - Blitz Art Gallery & Nuit Blanche Toronto
2023 | TOAF62 - Toronto Outdoor Art Fair
2023 | How I See You - Propeller Art Gallery
2022 | Off the Wall - Propeller Art Gallery
2022 | Time Spinning - OCAD University
2022 | Twenty-Something - Propeller Art Gallery
2022 | and all of a sudden - Propeller Art Gallery
2022 | Re-Imagine - City Arts and Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, UK
2022 | The Pancakes & Booze Art Show - Revival Event Centre
2022 | Creating Inclusive Spaces - OCAD U Career Launcher with Mackenzie Investments
2022 | Yue Moon 完滿: Tiger With Wings 如虎添翼 - STEPS Public Art
2021 | Limitless - Florence Contemporary Gallery (Finalist)
2021 | Mistletoe Magic - John B. Aird Gallery
2021 | Off The Wall - Propeller Art Gallery
2021 | The End - Gallery 1313
2021 | TOAF60 - Toronto Outdoor Art Fair
2021 | Bloom Fest - Purple Glow Magazine
2021 | APOCALYPSE: The Here and Now - Apocalypse Exhibition
2021 | Salon 15 - Propeller Art Gallery
2021 | Made to Love: Our Love Language Mystery Art Auction - OCAD University
2020 | GradEx 105 - OCAD University
2020 | Off The Screen 2020 - Propeller Art Gallery
2020 | Intellectually Engaged - Social Distance Gallery
2020 | Empowering Recovery - The 2020 Mental Health Europe Empowerment Webinar hosted by Mental Health Ireland
2020 | The Class of 2020 - The Gathered Gallery
2020 | Drawing & Painting Class of 2020 GradEx105 Show - OCAD University & Propeller Art Gallery
2020 | Festival of the Body - OCAD University
2020 | Art Prom - OCAD University
2020 | DRPT Thesis Process Work - OCAD University
2020 | 10th Anniversary Awenda Inspired - OCAD University
2019 | Open House - OCAD University
2019 | Ada Slaight Studios Celebration - OCAD University
2018 - 2019 | ART x BISSELL 2018 Art & Mindfulness - Claude T. Bissell Building, University of Toronto
2018 | Beam On - Newmarket Old Town Hall
2018 | Hindsight - OCAD University
2018 | E11even Restaurant Silent Auction - E11even Toronto
2018 | The Big Picture Art Project - The Big Picture Art Project
2017 | 36th Manning Awards Symposium - OCAD University
2017 | Mindfulness: The Power of Art - Newmarket Old Town Hall
2016 | Positivi-tea Show - OCAD University
2016 | Awenda Exhibition - OCAD University
2016 | First Year Celebration Show - OCAD University
2016 | Ada Slaight Reception - OCAD University
2016 | #10000ALLIES - Covernotes Coffee House, Richmond Hill
2013 | Doors of Hope - University of Toronto & Nuit Blanche Toronto
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE (artist talks, commissions, curation, projects, etc)
2025 - present | Neon Fun Club (EL wire light workshops)
2015 - present | Emily Zou ART (freelance artist)
2025 | Transmutation - Gagné Contemporary, 401 Richmond (artist talk)
2025 | Bazaar - St. Agnes Kouying Tsao Catholic Church (face painting)
2025-03-19 | OCAD University (guest critique and artist talk)
2025 | Intersections: Threads of Tradition & Identity (4th Edition: connections between disability, mental health, and cultural awareness) - Arts Etobicoke, Cloverdale Mall, & QuadReal (artist talk)
2024 | The Courage Show - The Jackalope Contemporary Art Gallery (artist talk)
2024 | Perpetually Emerging - Propeller Art Gallery (co-curator)
2022 - 2024 | Let’s Make It (craft workshops)
2022 - 2024 | Propeller Art Gallery (sponsored member)
2023 | YOUphoria - Propeller Art Gallery (co-curator)
2023 | Michael’s Arts & Crafts (team member)
2021 - 2023 | Shape & Space Ltd. (art assistant)
2021 | Bloom Fest - Purple Glow Magazine (artist panel)
2021 | Listening To Micelf, Vol. 1 - EP - Micelf Welch (collaboration album cover art)
2019 - 2020 | Art Prom - OCAD University (Drawing & Painting Catalogue Fundraiser committee member)
2019 | Exuberant - Women's Art Association of Canada & OCAD University (co-curator)
2015 - 2018 | St. Agnes Kouying Tsao Catholic Church (youth events committee member)
2018 | Notes from the Wind - OCAD University (co-curator)
2017 | Cardinal Celso Costantini - Congregation of the Disciples of the Lord (commission for the Superior General)
2016 | Eastern Canadian Chinese Catholic Living Camp (handbook team leader)
2015 | Eastern Canadian Chinese Catholic Living Camp (art team leader)
SELECT FEATURES AND PUBLICATIONS
2025 | “Ethereal Forms" by Jesse King - Toronto Outdoor Art Fair (feature in a curated collection)
2025 | Episode #3 Emily Zou: Where Are You Planted - Creatively Thinking With Carolyn Botelho (podcast interview)
2025 | Meet Emily Zou - Canvas Rebel (article interview)
2024 | TOAF 2024 - ARTORONTO (article feature)
2024 | Toronto Outdoor Art Festival (TOAF) - Film Maniac Productions (Youtube interview)
2024 | Toronto Outdoor Art Fair at Nathan Phillips Square | Canada Urdu Vlogs - Ugly And Traveling (Youtube interview)
2024 | Summer 2024, Volume 43 - Existere: Journal of Arts & Literature (artwork feature)
2023 | "Spookalicious" by TOAF Team - Toronto Outdoor Art Fair (feature in a curated collection)
2023 | "Not Fragile" by Omar Badrin - Toronto Outdoor Art Fair (feature in a curated collection)
2023 | "Now for Something Completely Different" by William Huffman - Toronto Outdoor Art Fair (feature in a curated collection)
2023-06-16 | Toronto Pride 2023: 5 joyful, stunning art exhibitions cover history, reflection and context during Pride month - Toronto Star (curated exhibition article feature)
2021 | Volume 23, November 2021, "Filters" - Withintensions (artwork feature)
2021 | "Gary's Illustration Picks" by Gary Taxali - Toronto Outdoor Art Fair (feature in a curated collection)
2020 | OCAD U Drawing & Painting Catalogue 2020 - OCAD University (artwork feature)
2020 | AV 144.1. - Acta Victoriana (artwork feature)
2019 | Issue 10, Volume 2, "Sweet" - Polemical Zine (artwork feature)
2018 | AV 143.1. - Acta Victoriana (artwork feature)
SELECT AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
2020 | Anne Adler Kagan Award - OCAD University
2019 | Frances Lea Ziegler Memorial Scholarship - OCAD University
2019 | St. George's Society of Toronto Bursary in Art & Design in Honour of Rosalie Sharp - OCAD University
2018 | Marsh Urquhart Memorial Scholarship - OCAD University
2018 | Women's Art Association of Canada Lynne Ritchie Scholarship - OCAD University
2017 | Sully Corth Memorial Fund Scholarship - OCAD University
2016 | Project 31 Drawing and Painting Award - OCAD University
2015 - 2019 | Delaney Scholarship - OCAD University
COLLECTIONS
Private collections in Canada, Argentina, Australia, Denmark, Hong Kong, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, and the UK.