Business/Organization Description Sean Martindale is an internationally recognized interdisciplinary artist and designer based in Toronto. His interventions activate public and semi-public spaces to encourage engagement, often focused on ecological and social issues. His playful works question and suggest alternate possibilities for existing spaces, infrastructures and materials found in the urban environment. Frequently, Martindale uses salvaged goods and live plants in unexpected ways that prompt conversation and interaction.
Profile Sean Martindale's practice is focused on, but not limited to, public space. He has experience with a variety of mediums such as sculptural installation, design, and mural work. Decisions on his method of approach are based on the demands of each project. Considerations of site and community-specific contexts are a central part of Martindale's practice. He has created significant public works. Sean also has experience working as a mentor and lead artist on youth focused projects and a wide range of collaborations.
Interest and availability While consistently busy, Martindale is always open to discussing and exploring potential opportunities for new projects and collaborations.
Experience Sean Martindale holds an MFA from the Interdisciplinary Master’s of Art, Media and Design program at OCAD University in Toronto, and a Bachelor of Design from Emily Carr University in Vancouver. He has successfully created, directed, and produced many celebrated public projects including a StreetARToronto funded project last Summer (2012) in collaboration with ArtStarts, the TCHC, Joshua Barndt and youth from Lawrence Heights.
Work history The Toronto Friends of the Visual Arts (TFVA) awarded Martindale their prestigious Artist Prize for 2012. He was the Decennial Hancock Lecturer at the University of Toronto’s Hart House where his work was on view in 2011. Martindale has taken part in multiple solo and group exhibitions, and his projects have been shown in cities such as Montreal, Madrid, New York, Shanghai, Victoria, Vancouver, Venice, Charlottetown, Minneapolis, Paris, Angers, Brussels, Berlin and Doha. 2012 marked the opening of NOW, Martindale’s major two-person exhibition with Pascal Paquette at the Art Gallery of Ontario as part of the AGO’s Toronto Now contemporary project series. More recently, his work has been seen at The Royal Ontario Museum for Hot Docs, at Toronto’s City Hall, and in Montreal for Art Souterrain / Nuit Blanche 2013. Sean has also taken part in a number of residencies, and the Ontario Arts Council has granted him a Chalmers Arts Fellowship for 2013.