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Jude Akrey (they/them) is a white, trans, and Autistic artist living on Between the Lakes Treaty Territory No.3 (Guelph), and working in Block 2 of the Haldimand Tract (Kitchener). Their interdisciplinary practice is rooted in painting, printmaking, and community-engaged methodologies. Their work explores and represents facets of Autistic experience, including routine, stimming (self-stimulatory behaviour), and pattern-seeking through formal exploration of framing devices, gestural brushwork, and colour relationalities. Jude’s practice is rooted in trans and Autistic experience, shaped by relational care and communication. They are committed to investigating the power of empowered communities through shared learning and community-engaged artmaking.

Jude holds a BA (Honours) in Studio Art from the University of Guelph. In 2023, they were selected as the City of Guelph 10th Annual Artist-in-Residence, and their project From One Queer to Another received the Warren Garrett Inclusive Programming Award through Ontario Culture Days. They have exhibited at galleries across Ontario, including the Art Gallery of Guelph, Art Not Shame, Digestif Gallery, RedHead Gallery, and the Guelph Civic Museum. In 2026, Jude will present solo exhibitions at 10C Gallery and the Old Post Office through Cambridge Art Galleries, and co-curated Queer Print Project: Body Language at the Art Gallery of Guelph.

CV

Jude Akrey
julianakrey13@gmail.com
@judeakrey

b. 1999, London ON

Education
2023 | Bachelor of Arts with Honours, Studio Art, University of Guelph
2024 | Creative Facilitation Training with Nadia Chaney

Select Solo Exhibitions 
2026 | Here we Are, We are Here, 10C Gallery, Guelph, Ontario
2026 | Meadows in the Margins, Cambridge Art Galleries, Cambridge, Ontario
2025 | Harsh Winds, Strong Roots, Red Brick Gallery, Guelph, Ontario
2023 | Asters: tangentially, 3rd Floor Gallery, Guelph, Ontario
2023 | From One Queer to Another, Guelph Civic Museum, Guelph, Ontario
2023 | Featured Artist: Wyndham Art Supplies Window Gallery, Guelph, Ontario
2023 | Earthly Delights, N/A Gallery, Guelph, Ontario
2022 | Late Bloomer, Zavitz Gallery, Guelph, Ontario

Select Group Exhibitions
2026 | Eureka!, Propeller Art Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
2026 | Body Language, Art Gallery of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario
2025 | Hope is a Strategy, Art Not Shame, Guelph, Ontario
2025 | 155,578, Art Gallery of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario
2025 | Jawbreaker, Digestif Gallery, Hamilton, Ontario
2024 | Get Noticed, Red Head Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
2023 | Neophyte Club, artBar, Guelph, Ontario
2023 | Collective Colours, Homer Watson House and Gallery, Kitchener, Ontario
2023 | Start Quote, Lalani Jennings Contemporary Art, Guelph, Ontario
2023 | Sore Thumb, Lalani Jennings Contemporary Art, Guelph, Ontario
2022 | Lump, Zavitz Gallery, Guelph, Ontario

Facilitation & Presentation
2026 | Artist Talk, Hammock Residency
2026 | Facilitator, Strategized Creativity: Anarchist and Queer Print Methods, Rebel Knowledge Symposium, OPIRG Guelph
2025 | Facilitator and Organizer, DYKE NIGHT, Guelph
2025 | Facilitator and Organizer, Printmaking Protest Posters: Ontario Culture Days Festival
2025 | Facilitator, Queer Print Project, University of Guelph
2025 | Facilitator and Organizer, Queer Crafty Hang, Guelph
2025 | Queer Youth Art Club Facilitator, Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery
2025 | Fine Arts Network Visiting Speakers Series, University of Guelph
2024 | Co-facilitator, Queer Print Project, University of Guelph
2024 | Guest facilitator (various programs), Art Not Shame, Guelph
2023 | Co-facilitator, Queer Print Project, University of Guelph
2023 | Artist Talk, From One Queer to Another (F1Q2A), Guelph Civic Museum, Guelph
2023 | Community Workshop Facilitator, 10C, Guelph
2022 | Collaborative Life Drawing Facilitator, Fine Arts Network, University of Guelph

Residencies and Mentorships
2026 | Hammock Residency
2023 | Artist in Residence, City of Guelph
2023 | Boarding House Residency, Guelph
2023 | Guelph Emerging Artist Mentorship Program

Awards
2025 | Visual Artists Creation Projects, Ontario Arts Council
2024 | Warren Garrett Inclusive Programming Award, ON Culture Days
2023 | Activating Community Microgrant Award, Guelph Arts Council
2023 | Jane Graham Memorial Award, Guelph Arts Council
2023 | Runner-Up: Warren Garrett Inclusive Programming Award, ON Culture Days
2023 | Faculty Recognition Award, 55th Annual Juried Art Show

Media
2026 | Queer Print Project explores identity through screen printing
2025 | Come as you are: the story behind Queer Crafty Hang
2023 | City of Guelph Artists-in-Residence Grand Finale
2021  | The Interviewing Artist Series- E.001: Julian Akrey

Professional Experience
2026 | Co-Curator: Body Language, Art Gallery of Guelph, Guelph
2025 | Juror, Activating Community Microgrant, Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition
2025 | Juror, Artists in Communities and Schools Projects, Ontario Arts Council
2025 | Program Coordinator, Community Engagement and Learning, Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery
2025 | KWAG Youth Council Coordinator, Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery
2024 | Program Coordinator, Culture Events, City of Guelph
2023 | Educational Programs Assistant, Art Gallery of Guelph
2023 | Artist Assistant to Brenda Reid
2023 | Executive Coordinator, 55th Annual Juried Art Show, University of Guelph
2022 | Exhibition Coordinator, Research Park Centre Student Art Exhibition, Guelph
2022 | Curator, Research Park Centre Student Art Exhibition, Guelph
2022 | Collections Assistant, Art Gallery of Guelph
2022 | Collections Assistant, SOFAM Print Study Collection
2022 | Artist Assistant to Adrien Crossman
2022 | Curriculum Committee Student Representative, School of Fine Arts and Music, University of Guelph
2022 | Graduate Studies Liaison, Fine Arts Network, University of Guelph
2022 | Volunteer Coordinator, MFA Open Studios & Dasha Shenkman Lecture in Contemporary Art
2022 | College of Arts Student Union Representative, University of Guelph
2021 | Member, Guelph Public Art Advisory Committee, City of Guelph