--- title: Jonah Strub description: The Hairiest Woman in Showbusiness url: "https://www.artsume.com/a/jonahstrub" type: artist createdAt: 2026-04-13 updatedAt: 2026-04-29 disciplines: - Ceramics - Sculpture location: "Toronto, ON, Canada" website: "https://jonahstrub.com" birthYear: 1996 --- # Jonah Strub *The Hairiest Woman in Showbusiness | Ceramics, Sculpture | Based in Toronto, ON, Canada* ## Artist Statement I'm a Toronto-based gay, Jewish artist with a primary focus on sculptural ceramics. My work is a love letter to camp, kitsch, musical theatre, Yiddish humor, and drag, allowing me to explore my own femininity through the humor of traditionally queer and Jewish aesthetics. I dive into themes like glamorous Jewish grandmothers, flamboyant creatures, and self-portraiture, often layering my face onto my creations, blending over-the-top patterns with exuberant, joyful imagery to celebrate myself as fully realized kitsch. Through my drag persona, Loxanne Creamcheese, a vivacious Jewish superstar, I channel flamboyance in bold, undeniable ways. My work aims to spark dialogue around masculinity, femininity, matzo balls, and outrageous up-dos, embracing the harmony of my Jewish and queer identities with humor, bright colors, animal prints, and body hair. I hold a BA in Studio Art from the University of Guelph, specializing in oil painting and sculpture, and discovered my love for ceramics during an exchange in Bremen, Germany, in 2019. I have participated in both the Banff Emerging Artist in Residence Program and the Medalta International Artist in Residence program in Medicine Hat, Alberta. I’ve exhibited my work across Canada including at The Canadian Clay and Glass Museum, Art Gallery of Burlington, The Artist Project, and the Museum of Jewish Montreal. Alongside my art practice, I work as a ceramics instructor, sharing my passion for the medium with others. ## Biography I am a gay, Jewish sculptural ceramic artist from Toronto, ON. My artwork a love letter to camp, kitsch, musical theatre, Yiddish humor, and drag. I aim to spark dialogue around masculinity, femininity, matzo balls, and outrageous up-dos, embracing the harmony of my Jewish and queer identities with humour, bright colours, animal prints, and body hair. I hold a BA in Studio Art from the University of Guelph and have exhibited and taught widely both nationally and internationally. ## Curriculum Vitae ### Education - **2022** - Certificate, in Cartooning and Illustration, George Brown College, Toronto - **2019** - B.A., in Double Major in Studio Art and Honours Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph - **2019** - Visiting Exchange Student, in Exchange Program, University of the Arts Bremen (HfK), Bremen ### Solo Exhibitions - **2019** - "IBS: The Musical," Front Room Gallery Waterloo ### Group Exhibitions - **2026** - "Hot Stuff," Northern Contemporary Toronto - **2026** - "The Artist Project 2026," Enercare Centre Toronto - **2025** - "241: A Diptych Show," Gallery 1065 Toronto - **2025** - "Made By," The Welcome Market Toronto - **2025** - "Maiolica Contemoranea," Presso Palazzo Persiani Monte Castello Di Vibio - **2025** - "TRANSMUTATION," Gagné Contemporary Toronto - **2025** - "The Artist Project 2025," Better Living Centre Toronto - **2025** - "Shtetl in the Sun," Museum of Jewish Montreal Montreal - **2024** - "Emerging Vistas," Micak Contemporary Art Gallery Aurora - **2024** - "Fusion Breakthrough PLUS Travelling Exhibition," Newmarket Town Hall Newmarket - **2024** - "Fusion Breakthrough PLUS Travelling Exhibition," Art Gallery of Burlington Burlington - **2024** - "Fusion Breakthrough PLUS Travelling Exhibition," The Canadian Clay and Glass Museum Waterloo - **2024** - "Fusion Breakthrough PLUS Travelling Exhibition," The Thames Gallery Innisfil - **2024** - "The Early Bird Gets the Worm," Aurora Cultural Centre Aurora - **2024** - "The Artist Project 2024," The Better Living Centre Toronto - **2023** - "Party People Part Deux," Black Book Gallery Denver - **2023** - "Celebrate 30," Canadian Clay and Glass Museum Waterloo - **2023** - "Art Lotto Presents: Super Hot Scene," B Side Gallery Hamilton - **2023** - "The Artist's Project: Untapped Emerging Artist," Exhibition Place Toronto - **2023** - "I Saw the Merman at the Banff Trading Post," Glyde Hall Banff - **2022** - "Toy Show," Toutoune Gallery Toronto - **2022** - "Voices," Canadian Clay and Glass Museum Waterloo - **2022** - "Boob Tube," Globe Studios Kitchener - **2022** - "Apophenia Zephyr," The Drey Gallery Toronto - **2022** - "Living Room Show," Fabricated Gallery Halifax - **2022** - "Cezanne's Closet," Union Gallery Kingston - **2021** - "Garden Variety Show," Storus Garden Toronto - **2021** - "Adorned: Part of CONTACT Festival," The Plumb Toronto - **2021** - "Temporary Collection," EdVideo Guelph - **2021** - "Plumbraiser Auction," The Plumb Toronto - **2019** - "I.D.," Blue Room Gallery Toronto - **2019** - "Palmification," FeldFünf Berlin Berlin - **2019** - "DOUBLE DOUBLE," Flut Gallery Bremen - **2019** - "B-WARE PART II," Kunstpunkt Berlin Berlin - **2019** - "B-WARE PART I," Decanardstraße Gallery Bremen ### Residencies - **2025** - Contemporary Maiolica: Neo Istoriato, International Centre of the Arts, Monte Castello di Vibio ### Bibliography - **2025** - Lerner, L., Anderson, J., Stride, S., & Antaki, K., "Jonah Strub," *Craft and Craftivism: A Biographical Dictionary of Contemporary Ceramics, Fibre, and Glass Artists in Canada* Vol. 1 pp. 474–479 - **2025** - "Clay Spotlight: Emerging Artist Jonah Strub," *Fusion Magazine* Vol. 49 No. 1 pp. 26-29 - **2024** - "Fusion's 50th Anniversary Scholarships," *FUSION Magazine* Vol. 48 No. 3 pp. 34-37 - **2024** - Marc Weisblott, "Return of the Strub," *The Canadian Jewish News Magazine* pp. 94 - **2022** - Smith, Matthew Ryan, PhD., "Clay, Glass, and Textures of Identity," *Voices: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Canada. Exhibiton Catalogue* pp. 62-66 ### Professional Experience - **2026** - Workshop Instructor, Parkdale Pottery, Toronto - **2025 - Present** - Ceramics Instructor, Prosserman JCC, Toronto - **2025** - Ceramics Instructor, Pottery Club, Toronto - **2025** - Workshop Instructor, Parkdale Pottery, Toronto - **2025** - Workshop Instructor, Parkdale Pottery, Toronto - **2025** - Workshop Instructor, Clay Design Group, Toronto - **2025** - Workshop Instructor, Parkdale Pottery, Toronto - **2025** - Workshop Instructor, Art Gallery of Burlington, Burlington - **2025** - Workshop Instructor, Museum of Jewish Montreal, Montreal - **2025** - Workshop Instructor, Feldspar Ceramics, Toronto - **2025** - Show Ambassador, Enercare Centre, Toronto - **2025 - Present** - Studio Assistant, Ceramicist Kathy Kranias, Toronto - **2024** - Workshop Instructor, Aurora Cultural Centre, Aurora - **2024** - Show Ambassador, Enercare Centre, Toronto - **2024** - Docent, Art Toronto, Toronto - **2023 - 2024** - Handbuilding Instructor, Clay With Me Pottery Studio, Toronto - **2023** - Handbuilding Sculpture Workshop Instructor, Play With Clay, Hamilton - **2023** - Docent, Art Toronto, Toronto - **2022** - Gallery Attendant, The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, Toronto - **2021 - 2024** - Sales Representative and Social Media Manager, Beguiling Books and Art, Toronto - **2021** - Visitor Service Representative, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto - **2018 - 2019** - Gallery and Administrative Assistant, Art Gallery of Guelph, Guelph - **2018** - Research Intern, Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives, Toronto ### Lectures & Presentations - **2024** - "Kvelling or Kvetching: Making Yiddish Art?," Jewish Futures: An Arts and Culture Salon Prosserman JCC Toronto - **2023** - "NPCC Celebrates Pride Featuring Jonah Strub," Nielsen Park Creative Centre Toronto - **2023** - "Voices Exhibition Roundtable and Artist Talk," Canadian Clay and Glass Museum Waterloo ### Professional Service - **2025** - Juror for Installation, Toronto Holocaust Museum, Toronto - **2024** - Official Juror, NPCC Celebrates Pride, Toronto ## Portfolio ### What, this old thing? (2026) *Glazed stoneware, imitaiton gold leaf, glitter, maribou feathers, and fake eyelashes* *Figure: 6 x 4 x 10, Mirror: 3 x 4.5 x 10.5* --- ### Mz. Diva (2026) *Glazed Stoneware, glitter glue, rhinestones, acrylic paint, and fake eyelashes* *13 x 7 x 16* --- ### That Awkward Moment When You're a Poodle (2026) *Glazed Stoneweare and Fake Eyelashes* *Glazed Stoneweare and Fake Eyelashes* --- ### Harold, Pull Around the Car! (2025) *Glazed Stoneware, glitter glue, sparkle stickers, imitation gold leaf, and acrylic paint* *4 x 9 x 9 in.* --- ### Honey, I might not be changing my spots, but I might change into something a little more…comfortable (2025) *Glazed and underglazed earthenware with lustre, kanthal wire, and fake eyelashes* *15 x 10 x 12* --- ### Sweet Poodle Kugel (2025) *Glazed and underglazed earthenware with rhinestones, maribou feathers, and fake eyelashes* *6 x 12 x 18* --- ### Full Sour (2024) *Glazed Stoneware, Fake Eyelashes, and Imitation Gold Leaf* *10 x 10 x 16* --- ### Dressed to the Brines (2023) *Glazed Stoneweare and Fake Eyelashes* *10 x 15 x 27* --- ### When a Zebra and a Gay Guy Love Each Other Very Much (2023) *Glalzed Stoneware and Fake Eyelashes* *6 x 5 x 12* ## Links - **Website:** https://jonahstrub.com - **instagram:** https://www.instagram.com/vicksvapostrub