Sessional Instructor: Complicated Bodies, Faculty of Art, Fall 2025

OCAD University acknowledges the ancestral territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinaabeg and the Huron-Wendat, who are the original owners and custodians of the land on which we live, work, and create.

OCAD University , Canada’s largest and oldest art and design university, is a vibrant community of bold, curious and compassionate artists, designers and scholars who are imagining and creating a joyful, equitable and sustainable world. The University is an internationally renowned hub for art, design, digital media, research, innovation and creativity, and arts administration. It embraces collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to change-making through art, design-thinking curriculum and research, making OCAD U a local, regional, national and global leader in art and design.

It is an exciting time to join the OCAD U community as the University is at a key stage in its institutional transformation, with the implementation of its Academic and Strategic Plan  and guiding principles — driving positive impact; decolonization, indigenization and equity; environmental sustainability; emerging as a vibrant hub; student centered approaches; innovation in learning teaching and research; and financial stewardship.

The Faculty of Art invites applications for the following anticipated course offerings in the Fall 2025 term:

CROS-3019: Complicated Bodies (​0.5​ credit) 
(Fall 2025 Semester: September 3, 2025 – December 2, 2025; Monday: 11:50AM - 2:50PM; Blended delivery)  

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Bodies are contentious, vital subjects in contemporary art. In figurative art and body representation, tensions are evident between mainstream images and our lived experiences of embodiment. Acknowledging and questioning the problematic histories of figurative art, students examine issues of critical race theory, genders, non-binary positions, and sexuality. Discussions delve into how depictions of bodies are understood through class, abilities, beauty, abjection, post-human iterations, animal bodies, celebrity, documentary, power and performativity. Activities including critiques, studio-based experimentation, concept and prototype development, critical readings, discussion and presentations deepen understandings of this complex subject in contemporary art.   

RESPONSIBILITIES: Teaching and teaching-related responsibilities may include but are not limited to: course outline development, studio preparation and delivery inclusive of lectures, critiques, grading, mid-term evaluations and final evaluations/reviews; including responsibility for health & safety and meeting academic and curricular requirements and deadlines.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• The successful applicant should have a terminal degree in art, design or relevant discipline and/or equivalent professional/practical experience
• Experience teaching at the post-secondary level is considered an asset, equivalent relevant experience will be considered
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills
• Demonstrated leadership and experience promoting a respectful and inclusive work and learning environment for students, staff, and faculty

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: Sessional appointments are fixed-term annual contracts. Sessional compensation includes a per-course pay scale with salary level of $7,508.00 (per 0.5 credit course) plus 7% in lieu of benefits and vacation pay, per the provisions of the Employment Standards Act. These positions are subject to budgetary approval and satisfactory enrolment levels.

Applications should include:

Please upload all five (5) components (including the URL to work) as one PDF. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please name your upload:  FirstName_LastName-Job Code

Interested applicants are invited to submit their application in confidence, addressed to Faculty of Art Appointments Committee, online, by clicking the “Apply Now” button below.

The review of applications will begin on Wednesday, July 23rd 2025 at 4:00pm and will continue until the position is filled.

Applicants must be eligible to work in Canada for any employer (with a valid work or study permit, SIN and Canadian bank account).  

As an institution committed to art, design, digital media and related scholarship, OCAD University (OCAD U) recognizes the profound and essential value that diversity brings to the creation, reception and circulation of creative practices and discourse. OCAD U understands that valuing diverse creative practices and forms of knowledge are essential to and enrich the institution’s core mission and vision as an art and design university with a local and global scope.

As an employer committed to employment equity, we encourage applications from members of equity-deserving communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions.

We encourage members of designated equity-deserving groups to self-identify within the voluntary Applicant Questionnaire.

In order to alleviate the under-representation of racialized and Indigenous faculty, priority in hiring will be given to qualified racialized and Indigenous persons who self-identify as such in the application process. This initiative is a special program under the Ontario Human Rights Code. 

OCAD U is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier free experience to applicants with accessibility needs. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage during the recruitment process. Please contact People & Culture for more information or refer to OCAD U’s Policy of Accommodation in Employment for Persons with Disabilities

All qualified persons are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those short-listed will be contacted.