Ren Lam

...is a graphic designer + artist based in Toronto, Ontario.

They have over 4 years experience developing creative and engaging solutions for community organizations and businesses.

Their practice is all about playful exploration and the mess of human connection.

They can be reached at reeenlam@gmail.com

ENCLOVER

Graphic Designer
2022-2026

⟡ Branding
⟡ Website
⟡ Catalogue

Work for Enclover, a Canadian outdoor lifestyle brand based in Oakville, Ontario.

Developed and executed a rebrand across digital and print, focusing on branching into digital sales and strengthening brand identity. Wore many hats to produce product photography, copywrite, design emails, catalogues, and edit video.

BEGIN TO BE; HAVE BECOME

Community Coordinator
2021-2022

⟡ Programming
⟡ Curation
⟡ Graphic Design

Programming for TakeHome BIPOC Arts House, an artist-run centre and community studio located in Winnipeg’s Artspace Inc.

begin to be; have become was an exhibit centering the work and narratives of trans and nonbinary people of colour, exploring ideas of amorphousness, transience, and the impact of colonization on gender and sexuality. I researched and conducted interviews with artists across Canada to curate work for the show, and designed promotional materials for digital and print applications.

Featuring work by Kole Peplinskie, Rae Swan, Lan Florence Yee, and Helina Zegeye.

MANITOBA CRAFT COUNCIL

Communications Assistant
2021

⟡ Graphic Design
⟡ Animation
⟡ Social Media

Had the great pleasure of interning at MCC, Manitoba’s only not-for-profit organization dedicated to craft and craftspeople in the province.

Creating digital graphics and getting friendly with motion to promote MCC and its events. Plundered the adjoining museum and shop for natural textures and product photos to use.

POWERFANTASY

Personal Project
2022-present

⟡ Design
⟡ Animation
⟡ Social Media
⟡ Jewelry Making

I started making chainmaille as a pandemic activity and loved it. After some practice and wind-up, I opened an online store to sell jewelry pieces under the brand name powerfantasy. Inspired in parts by restraints, fairy tales, and vampires.

A trapped-in-my-bedroom passion project, I’m having loads of fun treating this as a vehicle for type + photography + animation experiments.

I’M HOME (INVENTORY)

Thesis Work
2021

⟡ Linocut
⟡ Bookbinding

I’m home (inventory) is a collection of linocuts and printed materials considering the performance of language and its importance in the formation of identity, self, memories.

The linocut stamps are a way to formally deconstruct written Chinese to mirror the frustration of losing a language. Used as a writing tool.

Zines are handbound, approximately 4.5”x7.5”. Printed on tracing paper, progression through the pages creates a layering effect, each page yielding more meaning until a character is written out in full, one radical/stroke at a time. The colour of the embroidery thread signals an emotion associated with the contents.

PLAY

Personal Works
∞

⟡ Digital Art
⟡ Screenprint
⟡ Chainmaille

Chainmaille garments and jewelry

Ballet, digital illustration

Spore, aluminum, stainless steel, and handwoven paracord

GEMINI II, screenprint

Dew U Love Me, digital illustration

女/neoi/nu/girl, varied edition screenprint

Tasty, digital illustration