Sanam Samanian is a Toronto-based writer, curator and strategist, focusing on the promotion and curation of art, architecture and design content. Infinitely curious about humanity's impact, she has been academically trained in the field of architecture—with a strong interest in research, exhibition design, conceptual installations and contemporary art. Over the years, she has divided her time between executing independent projects and leading the Business Development, Marketing Communications efforts of Canadian firms such as Sweeny&Co, HPA, PARTISANS and DIALOG. Sanam has been the appointed Executive Director for the fourth installment of the city-wide Toronto Design Offsite Festival in 2014. She cites "Intermission" at MacLaren Art Centre (2011), "Soft Souls" at Walnut Contemporary (2015) and Transmutation at Governors Island Art Fair in New York (2015) to be her most important curation work to-date. Sanam's independent contributions to international journals are published in Canadian Architect, ArchDaily and Spacing Magazine.
Education
MDes Candidate, Strategic Foresight and Innovation, OCAD University, Toronto ON
Bachelor of Architectural Science, Ryerson University, Toronto ON
Sabouhi Academy of Art & Design, Toronto ON
Langstaff French Immersion Secondary School, Thornhill ON
Experience
Communications Specialist, Sweeny &Co Architects Inc., Toronto ON
Communications Strategist/Consultant, PARTISANS, Toronto ON
Integrated Communications Specialist, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto ON
Executive Director, Toronto Design Offsite Festival, Toronto ON
Proposal Manager and Strategist, DIALOG, Toronto ON
Communications Consultant, Kriss Communications, Toronto ON
Communications Director, Hariri Pontarini Architects, Toronto ON
Exhibitions
Transmutation, Governors Island Art Fair, New York NY
Soft Souls, Walnut Contemporary, Toronto ON
Intermission: 18 years 18 projects, MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie ON
Weybourne Project, Toronto, ON
Soudan Project, Toronto ON
Coalesce, Arta Gallery, Toronto ON
Fabric, Ryerson University, Toronto ON
Peaceroute Ramla, Tel Aviv, Israel
Publications
Hans Hollein Reflects on His Career, ArchDaily
In Conversation with Will Alsop, ArchDaily
Carrot City, Canadian Architect
When Theatre & Architecture Merge, Spacing Magazine
Speaking Engagements
Public & Community Engagement Through Design, Panel Discussion, Bahen Centre, Toronto ON
GradEX, Future Practice of Art & Design, Panel Discussion, OCAD University, Toronto ON
Critical Practice in Architecture, Panel Discussion, Ryerson University, Toronto ON
Curator’s Talk, Georgian College, Carnegie Days Festival, Barrie ON