Meet our Team
Niamh O’Laoghaire [nee-iv olera] (B.A., M.A., Ph.D.), a first generation settler, has over 25 years experience in the culture sector in Canada. From 1991 to 1999 she taught historical and contemporary art at McMaster University. She briefly ran her own gallery, Saints Cyril and Methodius (SCAM) Contemporary, before becoming Director of the University of Toronto Art Centre (now Art Museum), 2001 to 2013. She joined the Varley Art Gallery of Markham as Director in 2014. Since 2016 she has also overseen the City of Markham’s Public Art Program, and was closely involved in the creation of Markham’s first Public Art Master Plan (2019), and Public Art Implementation Plan (2020).
Anik Glaude (B.F.A., M.A.) is a Franco-Ontarian and twelfth-generation settler who lives in Toronto, ON. Her practice is centered around collaboration, relationship building, and making art accessible to a wide audience. As an institutional curator, she aims to rectify imbalances within our sector by centering the voices of women, Indigenous, Black, culturally diverse, and artists from the 2SLGBTQ+ community. She applies a critical lens to collections-based exhibitions, exposing the colonial legacy of museums as well as challenging their role in contemporary society. She is the recipient of several awards from Galeries Ontario/Ontario Galleries, including the award for Innovations in a Collections Based Exhibition for Field Notes in 2023.
Rachel D’Oliveira Fell (B. A., Hons) leads a team of artists and educators to design and facilitate community programs such as camps, art classes, concerts, and talks. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a shift to online programs, and over the past eight weeks, they distributed art activity kits to over 400 people, inspiring creativity despite the challenges. Rachel enjoys the vibrant and creative individuals the gallery attracts, making it a joy to show up every day. She looks forward to announcing more learning, networking, and art practice opportunities soon.