ERIKA DEFREITAS

BORN
Scarborough, Ontario, 1980

EDUCATION:
M.V.S., University of Toronto, Toronto, 2008
B.Ed., York University, Toronto, 2004
H.B.A., Art History and Studio, University of Toronto, Toronto, 2003

AWARDS AND GRANTS:
Ontario Arts Council, Exhibition Assistance Grant, 2008
Canada Council for the Arts, Visual Arts Travel Grant, 2008
Fellowship, University of Toronto, 2006 - 2008
Canada Council for the Arts, Inter-Arts Travel Grant, 2006
Status of Women Award: Promoting Equity in the Toronto District School Board, 2005

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2008, ‘Deaths/Memorials/Births,’ Platform Centre for Photographic + Digital Arts, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
2005, ‘The Snapshot Chronicles,’ CWSE, OISE/University of Toronto.

GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
2009, Gallery 44, Toronto. (Vitrines)
2008, ‘MVS Graduating Exhibition’, The University of Toronto Art Centre, Toronto.
‘Toronto Alternative Arts & Fashion Week’, The Distillery District, Toronto.
2007, ‘Fleeting Face’, A Space Gallery, Toronto .
‘Rehab: Weaning Youth off Corporate Crack, The Gladstone Hotel, Toronto.
2006, ‘Alumni Show,’ The Gallery, The University of Toronto.
‘Art in the Halls,’ 401 Richmond, Toronto.
‘Collision 2006 Inter-arts Research and Practices,’ University of Victoria, B.C.
‘Get on the Bus,’ CITY – SPACE, San Francisco, CA.
2004, ‘Sticks and Stones,’ sisboombah, Toronto. (window)
‘7a*11d International Festival of Performance Art,’ Toronto.
‘LISTEN!: FIVE HOLES series,’ FADO, Toronto.
‘Squarefoot 2004,’ A.W.O.L Gallery, Toronto.
2003, ‘Touch and Go,’ The Third Floor, Brooklyn, NY.
‘Body: Not My Autobiography,’ The Gallery, University of Toronto.
‘Gestures,’ Implant, Toronto.
‘Beautificades,’ Ne Plus Ultra, Toronto.
2002, ‘hardFORM,’ Propeller Centre for the Visual Arts, Toronto.
‘Grapefruit, Lemon, ___________.’ Art System, Toronto.

CURATORIAL PROJECTS
2008, ‘Vivencia Poetica’, FADO Inc., Toronto.

SELECTED TEACHING EXPERIENCE
English Teacher, Riverdale Collegiate Institute (T.D.S.B), Toronto, 2008 -
Teaching Assistant (Marker), Faculty of Liberal Studies, OCAD,Toronto, 2008
Teaching Assistant, Fine Arts Department, University of Toronto, Toronto, 2008
Teaching Assistant (Marker), Faculty of Liberal Studies, OCAD,Toronto, 2007
Teaching Assistant, New Media Studies Department, University of Toronto, Toronto, 2007
Teaching Assistant, Fine Arts Department, University of Toronto, Toronto, 2006
Visual Arts and English Teacher, Riverdale Collegiate Institute (T.D.S.B),Toronto, 2004-2006

SELECTED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Public Programs Manager, Prefix Institute for Contemporary Art, Toronto, 2008 -
Publications Assistant, Prefix Institute for Contemporary Art, Toronto, 2007- 2008
Research Assistant to Curator Barbara Fischer, J.M. Barnicke Gallery, Toronto, Summer 2007
Studio Assistant to Ed Pien, 2007-
Member, Status of Women Committee, Ontario Secondary School Teacher Federation, 2005 - 2006
Board Member, FADO Performance Inc, 2005 – 2006
Assistant Curator. The Gallery. University of Toronto, Toronto, 2001-2002
Program Assistant. Cultural Pluralism and the Arts. University of Toronto, Toronto, 2000-2001

GUEST LECTURE
Artist Talk, Platform Centre for Photographic+Digital Arts, Winnipeg, 2008
Artist Talk, A Space Gallery, Toronto, 2006

JURIES/ADVISORY
Jury Member, Masters of Visual Studies Selection Committee, University of Toronto, 2007
Jury Member, A Space Gallery, Toronto, 2006

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Artist portfolio in Prefix Photo (Issue 18), 2008
Online artist project ‘Deaths, Memorials, Births’ on Extensions: The Online Journal of Embodiment and
Technology, UCLA, Los Angeles,
2008
Reckitt, Helena. “------.” (Catalogue Essay). Toronto: The University of Toronto 2008.
Goddard, Peter. “At the Galleries: Closing Today.” The Toronto Star, July 21, 2007, Sec. E6.
Schecter, Fran. “Ethnicity’s Fleeting Face.” NOW Magazine, July 12-18, 2007, p. 81.
Nicholls, Sophie. “Battling against in-school discrimination.” 24 Hours, December 4, 2005,
p. 6. (Reproduction).
Whyte, Murray. “ Random acts of weirdness.” The Toronto Star, March 26, 2005, Sec. H,
p. 1 and 12.