CV / Bio
Alisa McRonald is a Canadian contemporary artist whose work bridges folklore, fantasy, and material memory through reclaimed fibres and handcraft traditions. With an international exhibition history spanning New York, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Mexico City, and across Canada, her work has been presented at venues including Craft Ontario, CAFKA Biennial, The Artist Project, and The Drake Hotel. She is the recipient of the 2024 Craft Ontario Rich Foundation Residency and a DesignTO Best Product/Design Award, and her work has been featured in Harper’s Bazaar Japan, Untitled Magazine, and the Toronto Star. Rooted in DIY culture and community engagement, McRonald maintains both a studio and teaching practice, honouring the labour, memory, and emotional resonance embedded in reclaimed textiles.
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Education
BFA Foundation Year - Concordia University, Montreal, QC, CA (1993)
College Degree in Jewellery Design - Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts, Montreal, QC, CA (1995)
Apprenticeship in yarn making and dyeing, Wellington Fibres Yarn Mill - Elora, ON, CA (2009)
Certificate in Handspinning - Haliburton School of the Arts, Haliburton, ON, CA (2014)
Apprenticeship in Tapestry Weaving, Ixchel Suarez - Oakville Arts Studio, Oakville, ON, CA (2015)
Workshop in Creative Facilitation, Nadia Chainey - Art Not Shame, Guelph, ON, CA (2015)
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2025
Current Works, Rotunda Gallery, Kitchener, ON, Canada
Fables in Yarn, Home Societe/DesignTO, Toronto, ON, Canada
Faces of Folks, Craft Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada
2024
Hey There, The Drey Gallery, Toronto, ON, Canada
2023
Abstract Faces, Artscape Weston Common/DesignTO, Toronto, ON, Canada
I See You - An Assembly of Abstract Faces, The Kube, Gibsons, BC, Canada
I See You - An Assembly of Abstract Faces, Queen Elizabeth Centre, Oakville, ON, Canada
Stay with Me, CAFKA Biennial, Kitchener, ON, Canada
Fables in Yarn, Toronto Reference Library, Queen West Art Crawl and Guelph Civic Museum, Toronto/Guelph, ON, Canada
2022
Current Work, Craft Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada
Pierrot, Likely General, Toronto, ON, Canada
2021
My Little Arcana, The Drake/DesignTO, Toronto ON, Canada
2020
It Always Feels Like (Somebody’s Watching Me), Capacity 3, Guelph, ON Canada
2019
Wiggle Waggle, Short and Sweet/Kazoo Fest, Guelph, ON, Canada
2018
Weaving Structure, Ontario Culture Days Guelph Hub, Guelph, ON, Canada
2017
Ladystar: My Jukebox Heroines, Capacity 3, Guelph ON, Canada
Selected Collaborative Projects - Duo
2017
K2TOG, Short and Sweet/Kazoo Fest, Guelph, ON, Canada
2006
Faerie Vision, Ver Unica/Shinola Gallery, San Francisco/Baltimore, CA/MD, U.S.A
2004
dynamo-ville mini pops, Junie Moon, Tokyo, Japan
2002
dynamo-ville riot, HaNNa Gallery and La Foret, Tokyo, Japan
dynamo-ville forest, Bijoux, Tokyo, Japan
2001
Fancy and Delicious, Show Pony Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A
2000
dynamo-ville, HaNNa Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
Free Crunchers, HaNNa Gallery Tokyo, Japan
1999
Pod Parade, Alife, New York, NY, U.S.A
The Cuddlesquid and Cornoil Show, MNN TV and dynamo-ville gallery, New York, NY, U.S.A
1997
Hot For Pods, CBGB, New York, NY, U.S.A
Selected Group Exhibitions
2024
Craft Award Recipient Exhibition and Ceremony, Craft Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada
Art Gallery of Hamilton Sale and Show, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton, ON, Canada
Apophenia Zephyr, The Drey Gallery, Toronto, ON, Canada
2022
Get Noticed Online, Red Head Gallery, Toronto, ON, Canada
2021
INNOVATE, The Untitled Space, New York, NY, U.S.A
2019
1st International Tapestry Exhibition, Ixchel Suarez/CTTC, Oakville, ON, Canada
2018
Wall of Art: Guelph Pride 2018, Guelph Civic Museum, Guelph, ON, Canada
2005
Petite 101, Junie Moon Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
Keep a Breast, Stay Gold Gallery/The Lab Gallery, New York/Los Angeles, NY/CA, U.S.A
Mothership, ArtScape, Baltimore, MD, U.S.A
Delicate Kinship, HaNNa, Tokyo Japan
Picture Window, Public Art Project, Baltimore, MD, U.S.A
2004
Toy Show, MF Gallery, New York, NY, U.S.A
Variety Fair: Blythe Original Dress Exhibition, Junie Moon Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
Shazam: Contemporary Artists & the Influence of Comics, Creative Alliance, Baltimore, MD, U.S.A
What’s Your 20?, Impero Media Gallery, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
2003
Haunted Dollhouse, Copro Nason Gallery, Culver City, CA, U.S.A
Alife at Dietch Projects, Deitch Projects, New York, NY, U.S.A
Selected Curatorial Activities
2010
Yarn Bombing, Textile Museum of Canada, Toronto, ON, Canada
2003
A Family Affair, Millicent Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A
Weird Feelings, Millicent Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A
T-Shirt Show, Millicent Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A
1998 - 1999
Co-owner and Curator, dynamo-ville gallery, New York, NY, U.S.A
Selected Awards and Acknowledgements
2026
Belonging Artist in Residence, Cambridge Art Gallery, Cambridge, ON, Canada
2025
Artist in Residence, El Room, Mexico City, Mexico
2024
Rich Foundation Residency, Craft Ontario Award, Howe Island, ON, Canada
2023
Invited Artist, Prototype Show, Interior Design Show, Toronto, ON, Canada
DesignTO Best Product/Design Award, DesignTO, Toronto, ON, Canada
Creative in Residency, Ontario Culture Days, Toronto/Guelph, ON Canada
2020
Best of Craft and Design, Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, Toronto, ON, Canada
Selected Speaking and Teaching Engagements
2026
Guest Artist Teacher, Elora Centre for the Arts Supportive Arts Program, Elora, ON, Canada
Guest Artist Teacher, Textile Museum of Canada, Toronto, ON, Canada
2025
Textile Arts Teacher, Craft Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada
2017 - 2019
Textile Arts Teacher, Dundas Valley School of the Arts, Dundas, ON, Canada
2009 - 2011
Program Creator/Fibre Arts Teacher, Passionknit, Toronto, ON, Canada
2001
Guest Lecturer, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD, U.S.A
Publications
2026
Cambridge Art Galleries. Belonging: Made by Many with Artist in Residence Alisa McRonald. Published by Cambridge Art Galleries.
2025
2019
Canadian Tapestry and Texture Centre. Premier International Tapestry Exhibition 2019. Published by The Canadian Tapestry and Texture Centre.
2006
Hung, Shu & Magliaro, Joseph. By Hand: The Use of Craft in Contemporary Art. Princeton Architectural Press.
2004
Garan, Gina. Blythe Style: photographs by Gina Garan. Cross World Connections Books, Japan.
2002
“Out-Of-The-Ordinary”, View on Colour: The Colour Forecasting Book, Volume 18.
Collections
Work is held in both private and corporate collections.