Joy Walker

Joy Walker has established a career in interdisciplinary art, textile science and education, marked by a commitment to innovation and collaboration in the field.  For over 14 years, Joy has served as a professor at George Brown College, where she is focused on fabric science, fabric analysis and textile laboratory.

Joy was also an instructor at Sheridan College, Oakville, Ontario teaching studio textiles and surface design, as well as developing course curricula tailored for graduating students, further highlighting her dedication to fostering the next generation of textile artists.

Throughout her career, Joy has also facilitated numerous workshops across various institutions including as a facilitator at Sheena’s Place - Support for eating disorders in Toronto, designing and delivering a workshop program to clients that focused on printing techniques, and as an instructor for the Toronto District School Board’s Arts Program, where she developed and taught workshops aimed at equipping TDSB art teachers with innovative teaching skills.

In 2014, Joy began a dual career as a creative director and designer for her company WORKtextiles where she focused on designing textiles for wholesale and retail clients. This ongoing role has led to exciting collaborations with fashion and furniture designers.

Joy has received numerous grants and awards over the years, affirming her significant contributions to the arts community. Highlights include two Chalmers Arts Fellowships in 2024 and 2019, as well as multiple Canada Council, Ontario Arts Council, and Toronto Arts Council grants for research, creation, and residency projects spanning 2011 to 2024.

Joy has participated in residencies that have enriched her artistic practice including at the TextielLab in Tilburg, Netherlands (2019) and The Jan Van Eyck Academie in Masstricht (2019 and 2021) and at the Centre des Textiles Contemporains in Montreal, QC.

Joy's artwork is represented in collections including the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal and the National Gallery of Canada Library and Archives and the Luciano Benetton Collection in Italy. Her pieces are also included in the corporate art collections of TD Bank and BMO Financial Group in Toronto, Ontario.