Molly Steels is a Toronto-based artist and arts administrator originally from Bradford, Ontario.
By world-building in tandem with family archives, Steels blends the past into the present. Here she creates surreal conceptual spaces using photography as a tool for connection across time. Through experiments with materiality, collage and the treatment of images as objects she aims to visualize intangible qualities of grief, longing, community and memory - with an emphasis on the nuance within these experiences.
Steels’ work has been exhibited in galleries and festivals across Canada, including The Aurora Cultural Centre, Sankofa Square, Artspace TMU and Contemporary Calgary during Exposure Photography Festival's International Open Call. She recently completed her first artist residency with Gallery 44, culminating in a solo exhibition within their Members’ Gallery. Steels holds a BFA in Photography and a minor in Sociology from Toronto Metropolitan University.
CV
steels.photo@gmail.com | @molly_steels_photography
Solo Exhibitions:
The Image Centre, Forthcoming 2026
Within a Surface, Gallery 44 Member’s Gallery, 2026
Not a Sin Not a Sinner, Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library, 2024
Re-Visiting in my Mind, Gallery 310, Toronto Metropolitan University, 2023
Holding On, Toronto Metropolitan University Image Arts Vitrine, 2022
Selected Group Exhibitions:
Within & Between: an Exhibition for Pride, Aurora Cultural Centre, 2026
Almanac, Gallery 44,2025
New Vistas: Echoes of Home, Etobicoke Civic Centre Art Gallery, 2024
On Paper, Grimsby Public Art Gallery, 2024
International Call - Exposure Photo Festival, Contemporary Calgary, 2024
Exposure Billboard - Calgary, 2024
Perennial Darkness, Aurora Cultural Centre, 2023
Media Architecture Biennale 23, Yonge-Dundas Square Screens, 2023
Function Magazine Public Art Installation, The Creative School, 2023
Perennials - Maximum Exposure 28, Toronto Metropolitan University, CONTACT Photography Festival, 2023
I Used Tape and Glue, Artspace TMU, 2023
Twenty Somethings, Propeller Art Gallery, 2022
Imprints -Maximum Exposure 27, Toronto Metropolitan University Image Arts, 2022
Published Works:
Perennial Darkness Catalogue, Perennial Darkness, 2022
Re-visiting in My Mind, Cover of Qwerty Literary Magazine, Issue 47, 2023
Not a Sin Not a Sinner - Student Spotlight, Function Magazine, Issue 24, 2023
The Book, Style Circle, Issue 08 - 2023
Re-visiting in My Mind, Zine 24.1, Function Magazine, 2023
Socializing Girls, Third Year Show Catalogue, Imprints, 2022
Under Wraps, RAD Magazine, Issue 14, 2021
Rust and Rot, Blank Spaces Magazine, Issue 4, 2020
Cover of Qwerty Literary Magazine, Issue 39, 2018
Artist Residencies
Gallery 44 Member in Residence (forthcoming 2025-2026)
Artist Talks, Presentations and Panel Discussions:
Presentation & Panel Discussion. Conversations on the Family Archive, Exposure Photo Festival,Contemporary Calgary, 2024
Interview. Art Byte #4: Re-Imagining the Archive with Molly Steels, Aurora Cultural Centre, 2023
Curatorial Projects:
Perennials - Maximum Exposure 28, Toronto Metropolitan University Image Arts, CONTACT Photography Festival, 2023
Maximum Exposure Salon Show, Toronto Metropolitan University Image Arts, 2023
Awards:
Studio Spotlight Award, Artspace Creative Market, 2024
CONTACT Photography Festival Student Exhibition Award Shortlist, 2023
The Image Centre Student Exhibition Award Shortlist, 2023
Nadia Marzouca Memorial Award, 2023
PIC Print Award, Artspace Creative Market, 2023
President and Provost Office Image Acquisition, Toronto Metropolitan University, 2022
Collections:
Toronto Metropolitan University Image Arts Collection, 2023
