Photographs shaped by wandering, recognition, and the quiet poetry of the everyday — Cole Osiowy, on view Feb 4–11
In MacBook Flânerie, Cole Osiowy invites viewers into a slow, attentive way of seeing—one shaped by wandering, recognition, and the subtle exchanges between photographer, subject, and viewer. Drawing on the figure of the flâneur—the urban wanderer guided by delicate impressions—Osiowy’s photographs trace moments where the everyday briefly sharpens into focus.
The exhibition unfolds as a constellation of images: domestic interiors, passing landscapes, fragments of text, and intimate details gathered through daily movement and observation. Rather than “taking” photographs, Osiowy approaches image-making as a process of receiving—allowing light, subject, and circumstance to imprint themselves on the camera. Images are linked through tangential connections, forming a web of meaning shaped by memory, place, and presence.
Sound plays a central role in shaping the experience of the exhibition. The gallery is accompanied by music for photographs, composed by Sam Fournier especially for this show. Reflecting on the collaboration, Osiowy shares: “I’m so grateful to Sam Fournier for making the music for this show; he understood the assignment perfectly. I sent him this huge file of photos, and within a week he produced a beautiful 40-minute ambient track. With his music playing, the photos come alive.” The ambient soundscape encourages visitors to slow down and remain with each image, deepening the exhibition’s contemplative atmosphere.
The exhibition also reflects a deeply personal, hands-on process. With support from his family, Osiowy built over 200 frames for the show—an act of care and labour that mirrors the intimacy of the photographs themselves. A process image included in the exhibition shows his mother and grandmother painting frames, underscoring the collective effort behind the presentation.
MacBook Flânerie offers a pause within the rhythms of everyday life—an invitation to wander, notice, and reconsider photography as a shared exchange between the world and the observer.
Cole Osiowy
The event was held February 4–11, 2026
School of Art Student Gallery
158 Taché Arts Complex
umanitoba.ca/art/student-gallery
Cole Osiowy is a young man and art student. He has made many minor achievements throughout his life and has known many beautiful people. Mostly he commutes by bicycle, and these days he has a nice circle of friends. He drives a 1998 Toyota Camry, but really just inherited it—he aspires to a city without private vehicles, really. Outside of university, Cole is a professional Christmas light-installer and has begun to cook Indian food for dinner most evenings.
The School of Art Student Gallery presents ever-changing exhibitions throughout the academic year, typically on view for one to two weeks at a time. Exhibitions are organized by School of Art students in conjunction with the Student Art Curatorial Selection Committee, offering students an important opportunity to gain hands-on experience programming, preparing, and mounting exhibitions as part of their developing professional creative practices.
Location: 158 Taché Arts Complex (Taché 2), 150 Dafoe Road, University of Manitoba
Learn more: umanitoba.ca/art/student-gallery
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