kiran p. gill (he/they/she) is a malaysian-canadian textile artist and student of craft and labour history based in brampton, ontario. he was born in subang jaya, malaysia to an irish-canadian mother and punjabi sikh father.

his artistic practice centres pre-industrial, land-based textile traditions within the scope of natural dyeing, weaving, yarn spinning, and needlework. with his work, he seeks to reconsider the material cultures of his ancestors within new contexts, combining eastern and western traditions, and finding common ground through themes of spirituality, lineage, grief, and diaspora.

kiran also studies the transformation of craft and textile labour relationships through the rise of western imperialism and global capitalism, as well as the historic and ongoing relationship between textile production and the exploitation of the international working class and the environment.

given his complex background, travel and cross-cultural knowledge sharing are important parts of his practice. in may of 2022 he was an artist in residence at the icelandic textile center in blönduós, iceland, and in spring of 2023 will be in residence at rimbun dahan in his home state of selangor, malaysia.

kiran is currently working on his bachelor of fine art in material art and design (textiles) at ocad university and the master spinner certificate program with ontario handweavers and spinners (ohs) and the haliburton school of art and design. he also volunteers with the textile museum of canada and teaches private and group workshops in textile craft.

education

bfa in material art and design (textiles)
ocad university, tkaronto
2020-present

spinning certificate
ontario handspinners and weaver's guild & fleming college, haliburton
2022-present

diploma in liberal arts
seneca college, tkaronto
2018-2020



residencies

ós textile residency
textilmidstod / icelandic textile center
blonduos, iceland
may 2022

rimbun dahan centre for the arts
selangor, malaysia
spring 2023 (upcoming)

other experience

textile museum of canada
volunteer
2019-present

exhibition record

ós textile residency exhibition
(may 2022)

workshops

artmeets textile edition: printing with natural dyes, east end arts
(august 2022)

graduate craft day: ink-making with natural materials, ocadu student union (july 2022)

grants

explore and create: research and creation, canada council for the arts (2022)

Using Format