Artist Bio

Benjamin Verdicchio is a sculptor and interdisciplinary artist whose practice explores how material, landscape, and living systems take form through relationship rather than imposition. Working across the full range of wood — found, salvaged, reclaimed, and milled — he investigates the hidden structures embedded within: growth rings, grain, knots, the morphological memory of felled trees. Through processes of slow, rule-based revelation and dialogue with material, his work asks what becomes visible when imposition gives way to listening.

His practice extends beyond the studio into reciprocal structures, grafting experiments, site-responsive interventions, foraging, and land-based inquiry — each exploring how form emerges through interdependence rather than singular authorship. A lifelong engagement with rhythm, movement, and improvisation carries through into performance and sound, where the body becomes another instrument for responding to environment.

Verdicchio holds an MA in Art and Ecology from Goldsmiths, University of London, and a BFA in Sculpture and Installation from OCAD University, where he also studied Environmental Design. His earlier BA in Geography: Human Environment from Concordia University informs an ongoing attention to how human and natural systems shape each other. He has exhibited in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Italy, and has participated in projects with CIRCA London, The Alternative Art School, and The Journal of Art and Ecology.

Based in Ottawa, Ontario, and Québec's Outaouais region where he grew up, on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe people.

EDUCATION

2022
Goldsmiths - London, UK
- Studio-based MA in Art & Ecology

2021-22
The Alternative Art School (TAAS) - Online:
- Rirkrit Tiravanija: When Nothingness Becomes Form
- Jeremy Deller: Intensive Course
- Mel Chin: TBC: It’s Up to Us: TBD

2015
OCAD University - Toronto, ON:
- BFA in Sculpture & Installation
- Environmental Design

2010
Concordia University - Montreal, QC:
- BA, Geography: Human Environment

2005
Heritage College - Gatineau, QC:
- DCS/DEC, Social Sciences
- Fine Arts

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2022
- Goldsmiths Fine Art Degree Show - MA Art & Ecology. St. James Hatcham Church. London, UK
- Printecology, Liquid Gold Studios. London, UK
- TAAS Artist Exhibition 2022 - The Alternative Art School, Online

2019
- Open Studio, Luke McQueeney Studios. Venice, CA

2015

- GradEx 2015. OCAD University. Toronto, ON
- Patterns & Predictions. OCADU Student Library. Toronto, ON
- Seemingly So. NO FOUNDATION – Katherine Mulherin Projects. Toronto, ON

2012
- Big Mystery. Senate Gallery. Rome, Italy.
- Theories of a Geodesic Framework. New Traditions Festival. Toronto Island, ON

PARTICIPATING PROJECTS

2023
- Earth Makes No Sound, Filament Theatre Company / Southbank Centre. Performer, Climate Chorus. Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, UK. Co-produced as part of Planet Summer climate festival.

2022
- The Alternative Art School. Teacher Assistant (Rirkrit Tiravanija) & Share Session lead. Online
- Cultural Institute of Radical Contemporary Art (CIRCA). Another Confrontation with Agnes Denes. Responding Artist. London, UK
- The Journal of Art & Ecology. Contributed to Volume 1: December 2022: When Matter Whispers.

2016
- A-Z West Encampment - Andrea Zittel. Guest Resident. Joshua Tree, CA
- Cultures of Ecology. Humber College. Series of artist walks in collaboration with Humber Galleries as part of the Culture Days. Toronto, ON

2014
- Slow Smiling - Pedro Reyes. OCADU Graduate Gallery— a collective project with the Nomadic Artist in Residence. Toronto, ON

2012
- Autonomous Public Laboratory at ONSITE Gallery— a collaborative project organized by Yashas Shetty as part of Twinning Artists-Twinning Cities: Avalon (Bangalore and Toronto). Toronto, ON
- The Force Majeure. Selected to be part of an intimate round-table discussion with Helen Mayer Harrison and Newton Harrison prior to their presentation – part of OCAD U's President's Speaker Series. Toronto, ON
- OCADU Grange Design Competition — Honorable Mention. Toronto, ON

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- 2015-2018: Bilingual Nature Interpreter, Centre for Urban Ecology. Toronto, ON

COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS
2019
- Conflict at Serenity Pools, Luke McQueeny.
I helped produce and feature on the album Type A / Type B.