MEET CASSILS
“What interests me about mentoring is learning what young people are making in the world. When I was young, I didn't really have access to mentors, so it feels healing to be able to provide that for somebody else.”
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Disciplines: Experimental film/video art, Sculpture/installation, Photography, Public art, Social practice/participatory
Cassils (b. 1975, Canada) is a Guggenheim award winning visual and performance artist who makes their transgender body the material and protagonist of their performances. Cassils' art contemplates the history(s) of LGBTQI+ violence, representation, struggle, survival and empowerment. For Cassils, performance is a form of social sculpture: Drawing from the idea that bodies are formed in relation to forces of power and social expectations, Cassils’ work investigates historical contexts to examine the present moment.
Cassils currently has a solo exhibition at SITE Santa Fe, NM and is developing a new performance piece as an artist in residency at Park Avenue Armory. They have recent exhibitions and performances at the Banff Center for Art and Creativity, HOME Manchester, National Theater, Southbank Center, Victoria Albert Museum, Barbican; UK, Perth, Institute for Contemporary Arts; AU, Ronald Feldman Fine Arts, NYC and MU Eindhoven, Netherlands.
They are the recipient of the National Creation Fund, a Fleck Residency from the Banff Center for the Arts, a Princeton Lewis Artist Fellowship finalist, a Villa Bellagio Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship, a United States Artist Fellowship and a Creative Capital Award.
Cassils is an Associate Professor in Sculpture and Integrated Practices at PRATT Institute. Learn more at their website.
Work
mentor profile
What interests you about mentoring?
“What interests me about mentoring is learning what young people are making in the world. When I was young, I didn't really have access to mentors, so it feels healing to be able to provide that for somebody else.”
Given your experience and interests, what kind of emerging artist do you feel best positioned to support?
“I am best suited to support trans and queer artists, feminist artists who are working an experimental practices and live performance.”
As a mentor, what would you like to offer an emerging artist? What would you like to receive?
“I would like to offer an emerging artist the opportunity to have a space where they feel supported, heard, and encouraged to explore their creative ideas. I want to provide guidance, not just in technical skills, but in how to navigate the world as an artist—whether that’s through building confidence or learning to trust their own voice and instincts. I also want to help them tap into their potential, giving them the freedom to experiment and make mistakes, knowing that each experience will contribute to their growth.
What I would like to receive: there’s something deeply rewarding in seeing someone bring their ideas to life and knowing you played a part in helping them get there. I also hope to learn from their fresh perspectives, as the energy and new approaches that younger artists bring can push me to think differently about my own work.”
Have you had mentors of your own? Who have they been?
“My mentors include Ron Athey, Jack Halberstam, Amelia Jones, Jennifer Doyle. These are all people who have given me advice and helped me and guided me. Additionally, there are plenty of older artists who I admire.
This Mentor is open to working with Fellows either remotely or in-person!