This March, my work will be part of Grotto at the Ottawa Art Gallery, an exhibition built around the collection of Bill Staubi—a longtime supporter of queer artists and a fixture in Ottawa’s art community. The exhibition runs from March 8, 2025, to February 8, 2026, with a reception on April 17, 2025.
Staubi has been collecting art since 1978, starting with five pieces from a grad school residence show. That first purchase kicked off decades of collecting, championing emerging artists, and shaping a collection that reflects queer identity, activism, and community. His commitment to artists—especially queer artists—has made him a beloved figure in Ottawa’s contemporary art scene.
The exhibition takes its name from Staubi’s own personal grotto—a half-bath crammed with gifts, relics, and symbols of relationships. Like that space, this show brings together artworks that speak to connection, belonging, and queer storytelling.
I’m showing work alongside a fantastic group of artists: Lynne Anderson, Pascale Arpin, Jeremiah Degrandpre, Ruth Dick, Marc Dubois, Evergon, Andrew Fay, Tony Fouhse, Robert Houle, Tim Jocelyn, Olivia Johnston, Don Kwan, Sam Loewen, Zachari Logan, Marie-Claude Marquis, Claude Marquis, Andrew McPhail, Kent Monkman, Christos Pantieras, Saivani Sanassy, Bill Staubi, Carl Stewart, Cara Tierney, Anna Williams, Michelle Wilson, and Ming Wu.
Curated by Sam Loewen and Caro Stewart, Grotto is both a love letter to queer artists and a reflection of how collectors help shape what gets seen and remembered. Staubi’s collection is personal, but it also holds a broader history—one built through relationships, conversations, and a lifelong investment in artists and their work.
The exhibition is made possible through the Ottawa Art Gallery, with early research by Rachelle Dickenson and support from the City of Ottawa, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Canada Council for the Arts.
If you’re in Ottawa this spring, please visit.