FOUNDER and CURATOR

Ignazio Colt Nicastro is a seasoned contemporary art curator and writer known for their dedication to amplifying underrepresented voices within the art world. With over six years of professional experience, they have curated a diverse range of exhibitions exploring themes of queer identity, intersectionality, and cultural diversity.

Their curated shows offer nuanced reflections on memory, dreams, identity, migration, intersectionality, diaspora, and creative expression. Through these exhibitions, they provide a platform for artists to delve into personal, political, and social inquiries, allowing them to manifest their experiences into tangible artistic expressions. His exhibitions have been shown with CONTACT Festival, Toronto Pride, Nuit Blanche, Miami Art Week, and various galleries across Toronto.

In addition to their curatorial work, Nicastro has publications in esteemed platforms such as Peripheral Review and Femme Art Review. Their writing delves into critical discourse surrounding cultural identity and the diasporic experience.

CURATORIAL ASSISTANT

Kennedy Jolene (they/them) is a visual artist and emerging curator born and based in Toronto, Ontario, researching the nuances of the third-culture as a second-generation settler. Their current works depict narratives of internal and external conflict found constant within the new diasporic identity. Ken is currently pursuing their Bachelor’s of Fine Arts at OCAD University.

CTO and CO-FOUNDER OF TCH

Luigi Nicastro is a virtual reality developer who has his bachelor’s degree in Interaction Design.

His passion for developing extends in to his personal passion project as the CTO for IC Contemporary where he developed their social app: The Contemporary Hub. Using Unity, this virtual art gallery supports emerging artists across the world with exhibition experience and bridges communities to art for free.

In 2019 he attended the MIT XR Reality Hackathon where his team won Best of Accessibility and Best of VR for their Unity package the Accessibility Toolkit.

COMPOSER

Matthew Davies is an emerging multidisciplinary mixed media artist crossing disciplines of music and 3D art. He has composed, produced, and engineered original musical works for over 5 years, while also writing and performing in various bands around Toronto, ON for over 8 years. More recently, Davies has joined the efforts at IC Contemporary as their soundscape artist. In this role, he produces custom soundscapes for their digital exhibitions that meaningfully supplement the exhibited works. The inclusion of his soundscapes aim to deepen the level of immersion for audiences as they maneuver ICC's digital spaces.

UX/UI Design Intern

Sean is a fourth-year student at the University of Toronto, where he has honed his skills in website development, virtual reality (VR) building, and 3D art using Unity. Currently, he is an UX/UI design intern at IC Contemporary, where he plays a key role in enhancing the usability and accessibility of the IC website. In addition to his web design contributions, Sean is actively involved in the development of the upcoming virtual exhibition, applying his expertise in VR and 3D art to create an immersive and engaging experience for visitors.