Meaghan Ogilvie
Faculty of Animation, Arts & Design
Degree: Bachelor of Photography
Year of graduation: 2003
Meaghan Ogilvie’s beautiful underwater imagery has garnered much attention both in Canada and abroad. Among her most recent accolades is a top 10 finish in the Fashion category at the 2013 Sony World Photography Awards. Meaghan’s work was selected from over 62,000 images entered from 170 countries. She also won an Honourable Mention for her image "Succumbed," from the international All Women 2013 Art Exhibition. In 2012, her underwater photographic work gained exposure in the Silvershotz International Journal of Contemporary Photography’s Annual Folio.
Closer to home, the Toronto-based photographer has been highlighted in Elle Canada Magazine, Breakfast Television, and been part of several local events including Nuit Blanche.
Meaghan’s creative inspiration comes from many sources, not the least of which was her father’s struggle with the degenerative neurological disorder Multiple Systems Atrophy (MSA).
“Rather than focus on the negative effects of the disease, I was inspired to celebrate the freedom of movement and all of its expressions – free of weight, gravity and restrictions. The deep depths intrigued me with all of its mysterious qualities and challenges. It presented itself as a therapeutic release and an ideal environment to explore movement,” she explains.
Her newest series, “Symbiosis” focuses on protected landscapes in Costa Rica, Brazil and Belize. “We need to consider nature as part of our life rather than something we can exploit,” says Meaghan. “Through this work, I am committed to inspiring others to help preserve our natural landscapes that we may lose.”
Images from the series were featured in the 2012 Toronto Artist Project and have been selected for entry into the Applied Arts 2013 Photography and Illustration Awards.
Meaghan sees photography as an opportunity to highlight issues of importance to her. The wisdom and beauty of traditional Aboriginal oral histories and stories will serve a starting point for her next body of work.
“I also want to make my work accessible to anybody, regardless of their social status,” says Meaghan who has donated her work to several charitable organizations including the AIDS Committee of Toronto. “Art is for everyone to share.”
http://www.meaghanogilvie.com/
