Alumna Nicole Burisch named director of Concordia’s Leonard and Bina Ellen Art Gallery
Nicole Burisch, MA 11, is the new director of the Leonard and Bina Ellen Art Gallery, effective January 20, 2025. Burisch, an accomplished curator and Concordia alumna, brings over 20 years of experience in arts leadership, programming and advocacy to this prestigious role.
Since 2021, Burisch has served as director of Concordia’s FOFA Gallery, where she oversaw innovative programs including mentorship and training opportunities, a Black Arts Residency and initiatives focused on sustainable exhibition practices. Her leadership has been marked by a commitment to accessibility, community engagement and amplifying underrepresented voices in the arts.
“Nicole’s vision for the Ellen Art Gallery aligns with Concordia’s mission to promote creativity, diversity and impactful research,” says Tim Evans, vice-president of research, innovation and impact. “Her expertise and experience will undoubtedly enhance the gallery’s reputation as a hub for contemporary art and critical dialogue.”
Burisch holds a master’s degree in art history from Concordia and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ceramics from the Alberta College of Art and Design. She is renowned for her expertise in contemporary art, craft theory, performance art and feminist practices. Her career spans roles at the National Gallery of Canada, the Centre des arts actuels Skol and the Mountain Standard Time Performative Art Festival. She has also co-edited influential publications, including The New Politics of the Handmade: Craft, Art and Design.
At the FOFA Gallery, Burisch oversaw landmark exhibitions and fundraising initiatives, securing over $500,000 in grants and donations. She also curated the recent FOFA exhibition Too Good to Waste and led projects exploring the intersections of art, sustainability and community.
“I am deeply honoured to take on this role at the Ellen Art Gallery,” Burisch says. “As an MA student at Concordia, the Ellen Gallery was such an important space of learning for me – about collections, about curatorial writing, about exhibition making. University art galleries have a unique position in the contemporary art landscape, they have the capacity to support in-depth artistic and curatorial research while also being important spaces for experimentation and risk-taking.
The Leonard and Bina Ellen Art Gallery is a cornerstone of Concordia’s downtown campus, and is committed to promoting the awareness of art as a critical form of knowledge through its cutting-edge exhibitions, public outreach and programming and contributions to art education and research.
Visit the Leonard and Bina Ellen Art Gallery website to learn more about upcoming exhibitions and programs.
