Biography

Michael Tardioli co-founded The School of the Photographic Arts: Ottawa in 2005 to create an intensive photographic experience for those seeking to hone their artistic skills. Many of his former students have gone on to win prestigious awards and international recognition, with their work having been acquired and commissioned by several noteworthy arts institutions. Michael’s work can be found in the collections of the National Library and Archives, the National Arts Centre, and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. He was also the recipient of the Ottawa Arts Council’s inaugural Community Arts Educator Award in recognition of his educational contributions to the Ottawa arts community.

Skillset

• Michael is a world-class educator with decades of experience not only as a teacher, but also as master printmaker, portraiture artist, and photographic technician.

• His unique pedagogical approach connects to students’ individual creative voice, and his unmatched ability to identify and cultivate artistic talent has led to him serving as a mentor to a generation of successful artists.

• Michael has developed his own post-production and printmaking techniques that have enabled him (and the students who study under him) to achieve a calibre of digital printmaking that had previously only been achievable with traditional tools.