2026 Recognized Artists — Visual
Emerging Professional Artists
Photo Credit: Tenille Campbell of Sweetmoon Photography
Holly Aubichon, artist
Regina
“Painting allows me to visually express what I have learned, hope to understand and imagine ...”
Holly Aubichon (Métis/Cree) imagines ways ancestral knowledge reaches urban Indigenous people through memories, land, and storied experiences. Her practice includes painting, tattooing, writing and curation. Aubichon was born and raised in Regina. Her Indigenous relations come from Green Lake and Lestock, SK. Aubichon was the Artistic/Administrative Director for Sâkêwêwak Artists’ Collective from 2021 to 2023. In 2024, she returned to the University of Regina to pursue her MFA in painting, supervised by David Garneau and Dr. Sherry Farrell Racette.
What fuels Holly: “I am an urban cree/métis woman who is trying to learn and love in traditional ways while living in the city. Painting allows me to visually express what I have learned, hope to understand and imagine ways toward being a better human."
Being an artist has offered opportunities to meet other Indigenous artists and relate with new people. I am inspired by the local network of artists in the city who are passionate and helpful in making ideas come to life!”
“Aubichon is a significant artist exploring urban Indigeneity through memory, land, and the body. She has contributed to the arts in Saskatchewan as an artist, writer, curator, mentor and arts administrator. She has been included in group shows and in 2025 she had a solo show at Dunlop Art Gallery.”
– from Stacey Fayant’s nomination statement
Photo courtesy of the artist.
Brody Burns, artist
Saskatoon
“Being able to create is a beautiful gift that I don’t take for granted.”
Brody Burns is a Cree artist from James Smith Treaty 6 Territory currently residing in Saskatoon. He completed his BA in Psychology and an MFA at the University of Saskatchewan. Brody’s work explores the visualization of spirit and energy using abstract paintings done in acrylic, oil and digital media. Digital media has allowed him to go beyond paintings to reimagine concepts such as Traditional Knowledge using augmented reality and projection mapping. Brody has received several awards, including the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Grant, the Graduate Teaching Fellowship, and SK Arts grants from the Micro-Grant and Independent Artists programs.
What fuels Brody: “Chasing the image I have never seen before. Being able to create is a beautiful gift that I don’t take for granted. I feel the most happiness and joy when I’m painting and making something from nothing. It brings me so much freedom and connection to spirit.”
“Brody Burns, a member of the James Smith Cree Nation, is a fulltime artist who navigates vivid realms where Indigenous ways of knowing meet futurism. As his painting practice expands with remarkable depth, his bold experimentation and creative spirit have established him as an artist to watch.”
– from Chris Morin’s nomination statement
Jon Cooper, Fading into the light, 2026. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Jon Cooper, visual artist
Saskatoon
“... I capture the emotion of the human face, the eyes, the texture, spontaneous lines ...”
Jon Cooper is a multimedia visual artist based in Saskatoon, SK. He is a self-taught artist who has been creating since 2008. He is known for his expressive abstract portraits incorporating diverse mediums, including charcoal, watercolour, acrylic, ink, spray paint, pastel and other unique mediums. Jon’s work is inspired by portrait photography, graffiti and urban culture. His work blends realism with loose gestural line work, layered textures and spontaneous colour, capturing emotion and movement within the human face. His artwork is collected internationally, with pieces held in private collections across Canada, the USA, Europe, Australia and the Middle East.
What fuels Jon: “Through my work, I capture the emotion of the human face, the eyes, the texture, spontaneous lines and drips that bring out the emotion of the diverse faces that inspire me.”
“Jon Cooper is a visual artist and entrepreneur in Saskatoon. Jon has a beautiful private collection of (abstract portrait style) art pieces that he sells and has had many successful business ventures within Saskatoon. His unwavering dedication to being an artist deserves recognition.”
– from Tanner Wilson’s nomination statement
Photo Credit: April Doepker
April Doepker, artist, designer
Saskatoon
“My artwork spreads awareness on important issues but can also reflect a more playful, dreamy view of the world.”
April Doepker is a Métis artist based in Saskatoon, SK. As a multi-media artist, her works range from urban graffiti style that often combines historical portraits of Indigenous Peoples to abstract futuristic landscapes, mural designs and installation artwork. Her mediums include spray paint, acrylic, watercolours, ink and hand-cut stencils. Her skills in fashion design have been incorporated into her installation artwork. She often raises awareness of social issues, particularly those affecting Indigenous communities. Her work has been exhibited at The Mann Art Gallery in Prince Albert, the Art Gallery of Regina, Wanuskewin Heritage Park and the Saskatoon Nuit Blanche Festival.
What fuels April: “My artwork spreads awareness on important issues but can also reflect a more playful, dreamy view of the world. My art is continuously evolving using diverse forms of expression like music, fashion design and painting.”
“April Doepker's involvement in the Arts deserves recognition. As a visual artist in Saskatoon, she has made an 'impression' through her prints, graphic design, concepts and paints. She has left an influence on the downtown walls of Saskatoon, online and in the hearts of people, such as myself.”
– from Tanner Wilson’s nomination statement
Photo Credit: Susan Stewart Photography
Marcy Friesen, artist
Carrot River
“I feel the need to create, to get ideas and images out of my mind so I can heal, grow and move forward.”
Marcy Friesen is of Welsh and Swampy Cree ancestry and lives on Treaty 6 territory. Friesen has always been creative; her work is inspired by her family and the world around her. Threading through beads, leather, and furs, Friesen draws the viewer into an intimate experience using her honed skills and intuitive sensibilities toward material, colour and presentation. In Friesen’s practice, the natural and synthetic come together in ways that are inclusive of the contemporary condition, transforming ways of understanding and expectations of cultural production.
What fuels Marcy: “I feel the need to create, to get ideas and images out of my mind so I can heal, grow and move forward. I love to teach because I want others to experience the feelings of accomplishment, to have pride in their work and in themselves. Pride in their culture, resulting in healing and growth.”
“Marcy is the pride of our small town, her art of amazing, beaded pieces speak for her culture, heritage and life experiences. Marcy teaches what she knows freely to her community, volunteers at our arts center has her own show at the Mann Gallery in Prince Albert plus has won other recognitions.”
– from Terri Freeborn’s nomination statement
Photo courtesy of the artist.
Alexa Hainsworth, artist
Saskatoon
“... the ability to exercise the imagination and bring forth nostalgic and associative nature in all of us.”
Alexa Hainsworth is a Canadian artist who works in fibre-based sculpture, immersive installation and costume design. She received her MFA from the University of Saskatchewan. Hainsworth enjoys playing with textiles and other fibre-based materials. Often inspired by nature, both plant and animal forms, Hainsworth plays with colour, pattern and scale, animating her sculptures and installations with a unique life force. Alexa Hainsworth has exhibited her work locally, nationally and internationally, including in Saskatoon, Regina, Toronto, Halifax and Croatia. She has participated in numerous residencies locally and abroad and is a two-time Best-in-Show winner at the Sask Fashion Wearable Art Gala.
What fuels Alexa: "I work in fibre sculpture and costume which is a unique kind of art making. My work in particular is made for a wide audience. People of all ages and cultural backgrounds can enjoy my sculptures and installations because they have the ability to exercise the imagination and bring forth nostalgic and associative nature in all of us."
“Alexa Hainsworth is a soft sculpture artist and an asset to Saskatchewan artists. Alongside her work at the Saskatchewan Craft Council, she serves on multiple arts boards, and supports, encourages, and connects emerging artists with opportunities.”
– from Jillian Bogan’s nomination statement
Photo Credit: Lacno Studios
Syndel Thomas Kozar, artist, community facilitator
Melfort
“I’m eternally grateful to be able to make spaces for folks to create together.”
Syndel Thomas Kozar is a Two-Spirit, neurodivergent nehiyaw (Plains Cree) and white settler artist and community arts facilitator. A band member of One Arrow First Nation, they are from Melfort, Saskatchewan, on Treaty 6 Territory. Syndel’s interdisciplinary practice includes beadwork, ribbon wear, visual art and storytelling, and is grounded in kinship, cultural renewal and care. Through arts-based facilitation and programming, they create welcoming, accessible spaces that support creativity, reflection and connection across communities. Syndel is completing a Double Honours Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of Saskatchewan.
What fuels Syndel: “I’m eternally grateful to be able to make spaces for folks to create together. Art creates the kind of space where stories are shared, culture is carried, and community can grow.”
“Syndel Thomas Kozar is making waves in the art scene while finishing her degree, double honors, at the U of S. Syndel is a Two-Spirit, Indigenous human who uses their talents both to create art and community through their business, Crafting Kinship.”
– from MJ Johnston’s nomination statement
Photo courtesy of the artist.
Brianna LaPlante, fine artist
Regina
“Once I think I know something, I know nothing.”
Brianna LaPlante is a Fine Artist from Fishing Lake First Nation. In 2023, she completed a BFA in visual arts. Artwork is an act of lifelong learning and resilience for her as an Anishinaabe/nehiyaw/Michif creator. Her artwork and community-based programs are rooted in elevating Indigenous knowledge systems informed by the intersections of her life experiences. Like a sweetgrass braid, her artworks are a physical manifestation of mind, heart and spirit.
What fuels Brianna: “Once I think I know something, I know nothing. Art allows me to commit to being a lifelong learner.”
“Brii has been a hard-working, inspiring visual artist in the Regina arts community for a number of years and proceeds to share her amazing heart and work. As an artist, Brii makes complex, conceptually compelling pieces that are visually stunning and thoughtful; and is an amazing community member!”
– from Bree Tabin’s nomination statement
Photo courtesy of the artist.
Ty McCaig, artist
Saskatoon
“My goal is not just to share my perspective, but to create a meaningful connection between the subject and the viewer.”
Ty McCaig is a Saskatoon-based multimedia artist working in several mediums of photography, videography and collage. They create hand-developed film images, often experimenting with techniques such as caffeine developing. Recent bodies of work focus on alternative photography, including cyanotypes and anthotypes.
Ty’s exhibit, Hard Edges, was selected for the City of Saskatoon’s University of Saskatchewan Field House program. They have participated in several AKA/PAVED Arts Open Studios and the Bunkhouse Artist Residency. Ty has also served as lead photographer for Nuit Blanche YXE25, self-published several photography books, directed multiple music videos and co-founded Saskatoon’s inaugural two-day music festival, Crate Fest.
What fuels Ty: “What fuels me is the need to express the way I see the world. Through photography, I try to isolate a subject and create a space where the viewer and the image exist in their own world. My goal is not just to share my perspective, but to create a meaningful connection between the subject and the viewer.”
“I’m nominating Ty because their art is honest, thoughtful, and always evolving. They push their creative boundaries while staying true to their voice, and their work adds meaningful perspective to Saskatchewan’s arts community.”
– from Clarke Sopczak’s nomination statement
Photo courtesy of the artist.
Chikako Ogawa, visual artist
Saskatoon
“... my work explores memory and gentle human connection, weaving a home within the heart.”
Chikako Ogawa is a Saskatoon-based visual artist whose work bridges Japanese culture and heartwarming storytelling. Working with ink and paper, she explores themes of home, inner safety and the quiet of space. Rooted in traditional ink painting, her practice combines playful experimentation shaped by her experience as a picture book illustrator. Her work celebrates cultural dialogue and invites viewers into spaces of reflection and warmth.
What fuels Chikako: “Rooted in storytelling and my Japanese heritage, my work explores memory and gentle human connection, weaving a home within the heart.”
“Chikako Ogawa is an incredibly talented artist and in a very short time has become an essential member of the arts community in Saskatoon. Her work navigates ancient, mystical themes and traverses mediums. Her work is playful and impactful; community building and identity celebrating. Well deserved.”
– from Kasey Johnston’s nomination statement
Photo Credit: Edyta Sieminska
Gabriela Sieminska-Hauck, visual artist
Saskatoon
“Art plays a vital part in building community and social connections”
Gabriela Sieminska-Hauck is a Polish-born, Saskatchewan-based multidisciplinary visual artist who explores memory, migration and the body as an archive. She recently completed her MFA at the University of Saskatchewan, where she received the Mina Forsyth Award and was nominated for the Master’s Thesis Award. Her work also earned a double win in the 2025 Images of Research competition and participation in the Banff Artist in Residence program. Gabriela is currently working with Remai Modern, contributing to community-focused arts engagement. Through research, installation, photography and participatory practice, she fosters intergenerational dialogue and meaningful cultural connection.
What fuels Gabriela: “What fuels me as an artist is making art accessible and strengthening its role in the lives of future generations. Art plays a vital part in building community and social connections. I would not be honoured here today without the relationships formed through creative exchange. I believe human beings need connection to thrive, and art is one of the most powerful ways we create it.”
“Gabriela is an outstanding emerging artist who just finished her M.A. at the University of Saskatchewan.
She is devoted to pursuing her art ideas much further. By recommending her, I believe her creative efforts will flourish as it is visible by looking at the history of her pursuits.”
– from Viola Woodhouse’s nomination statement
Photo courtesy of the artist.
Mackenzy Vida, visual artist
Regina
“Art provides windows and doors for new experiences.”
Mackenzy Vida is a multidisciplinary artist with a focus on illustration, painting and printmaking. Art therapy in early childhood sparked her passion for creativity. Her love for accessible art shines in workshops and leading community art projects. Through expressive lines, Vida explores her practice as an emerging francophone artist on the prairies.
Mackenzy works in arts education, holds a bilingual position at the MacKenzie Art Gallery, has a Bachelor of Visual Arts from the University of Regina, a certificate in entrepreneurship from la Comité FrancoQueer de l'Ouest and is a member of SK Printmakers and Sask Queer Entrepreneurs + Professionals.
What fuels Mackenzy: "Art provides windows and doors for new experiences. Without patient teachers, access to free programming and support from Creative Kids, I wouldn't be the artist I am today."
“Mackenzy Vida is a bilingual & queer visual artist who shows nothing but passion in all she does. Mackenzy works guiding tours and teaching art workshops at the local art gallery to all ages, but her favourite to teach is children. She loves to help bring a child’s idea into a physical work of art.”
– from Nicolai Antosh’s nomination statement
Photo Credit: David Stobbe
Hailey Weber, painter
Saskatoon
“Saskatchewan’s dedicated and mighty arts community is a steady light that brightens my heart ...”
Living on Treaty 6 Territory her entire life, Hailey Weber has deeply rooted her practice in the Saskatoon community she calls home. Her work investigates wildfire, ecological regeneration and responsible interdependence through painting, quilting and field research–based methodologies. Grounded in collaboration and material inquiry, her practice explores how land, community and collective care shape one another. Through large-scale paintings, she creates spaces that foreground connection, resilience and shared responsibility.
What fuels Hailey: “Saskatchewan’s dedicated and mighty arts community is a steady light that brightens my heart, deepens meaningful connections, and inspires me to dream beyond what feels possible.”
“Hailey's artistic journey deserves celebration for her prairie-rooted practice, her recent residency at Columbia University, her leadership of The Quilt Project that united women from SK and Afghanistan that fostered community through art, all reflects her dedication to the arts in Saskatchewan.”
– from Rowen Dinsmore’s nomination statement
Established Artists and Arts Leaders
Photo Credit: Alia Youssef
Stephanie Bellefleur, visual artist, niche public art muralist
Peepeekisis Cree Nation
“I’m fueled by the idea that colour can carry stories.”
Stephanie Bellefleur is a Venezuelan-born contemporary visual artist based in Peepeekisis Cree Nation, Saskatchewan. Working primarily in large-scale murals, her practice explores colour, ecology, cultural dialogue, and community connection. With over a decade of experience in the public art sector, she has created murals across Canada, ranging from grassroots community projects to works over 20 storeys high. Her work often includes mentorship and collaborative art-making with youth and community members. In 2024, she was recognized by the Saskatchewan Endowment for the Arts through the Jane Turnbull Award for Female Visual Artists.
What fuels Stephanie: “I’m fueled by the idea that colour can carry stories—transforming walls into places where community, resilience and imagination live together.”
“Her work goes beyond creating visual arts – she creates spaces of healing, belonging and unity. Her kindness and passion for uplifting others make her a force whose impact goes far beyond the canvas. The genuine impact she has on every community she enters is one that strengthens relationships.”
– from Christina Cook’s nomination statement
Photo Credit: Gwen Jones
Rigmor Clarke, visual artist
Shell Lake
“My reason for painting is to express my deep love for the untamed land ...”
Rigmor Clarke’s family moved to British Columbia from Sweden in 1949. She later moved to Saskatchewan at 21. Rigmor is passionate about painting the untamed landscape of northern Saskatchewan. Her first experiences of the North came from a canoe trip on the Churchill River and from plein-air painting. Rigmor has also explored Lac la Ronge and the Cub Hills on extended solo trips. At 90 years old, Clarke travels less and explores different media in her practice, including screen printing and encaustic painting.
What fuels Rigmor: “My reason for painting is to express my deep love for the untamed land. The forest and hills greet me every time I return. The familiar shores are where I slip my canoe into the still water, to paddle quietly along a forested edge. To see the morning forest outlined in the mist or the dark evening forest against the setting sun. The wind in the trees, all the smells, sounds and colours, all the mystic strength and beauty of a land where time disappears and I become one with the surroundings."
“In 1975 at age 40, Rigmor Clarke arranged a loan to build a studio in Northern Saskatchewan and since then she has produced over a thousand paintings inspired by the landscape she loves; she earned a Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 2020 and has mentored many artists including IRIS, our art group.”
– from Beverley Brenna’s nomination statement
Tarralik Duffy, Klik, 2023, leather and thread. Photo Credit: Daisy Wu, courtesy of WAG-Qaumajuq.
Tarralik Duffy, writer, multidisciplinary artist
Saskatoon
“I like to honour the ideas that present themselves to me.”
Tarralik Duffy is a writer, multidisciplinary artist and designer from Salliq (Coral Harbour), NU, whose work centres on contemporary Inuit culture and her experiences as an Inuk living between her arctic island home and city life in the South. She works across media, regularly incorporating drawing, photography, sculpture, textiles, printmaking and digital mediums into her practice.
What fuels Tarralik: “I like to honour the ideas that present themselves to me. When I first started, I was driven by an urgency to stop wasting so much of what has been given to me. I often think to myself what would my predecessors do with all that we have available to us, whether it is tools, time or a vision of something that wants to come to life, I try to always follow the inspirations that come to me.”
“Tarralik Duffy is a leading Inuit multidisciplinary artist based in Saskatchewan whose work connects lived experience in Nunavut and the Prairies. Her first SK solo at Remai Modern and 2025 Sobey Art Award shortlist mark her national significance.”
– from Tarah Hogue’s nomination statement
Photo Credit: Carey Shaw Photography
Michelle Jacques, Director of Exhibitions & Collections/Chief Curator, Remai Modern
Saskatoon
“I’m fueled by the flow and friction between here and elsewhere.”
Michelle Jacques is Director of Exhibitions and Collections and Chief Curator at Remai Modern in Saskatoon. Her curatorial practice is shaped by sustained engagement with artists whose work addresses history, memory and the ongoing structures of colonialism. Previously, she was Chief Curator at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and held curatorial roles in the contemporary and Canadian departments at the Art Gallery of Ontario. She is committed to exhibitions grounded in research, collaboration and careful attention to context. Jacques has also worked in artist-run culture and taught writing, art history and curatorial studies at universities across Canada.
What fuels Michelle: "I’m fueled by the flow and friction between here and elsewhere. Supporting regional artists means recognizing that the local is never isolated—it’s a living, relational space shaped by movement, memory, and global entanglement."
“Michelle Jacques is a leading curator and cultural leader whose exhibitions foreground Saskatchewan artists within national and international dialogues. As Chief Curator at Remai Modern, she has stewarded major acquisitions and leads with clarity, generosity and care.”
– from Sally Frater’s nomination statement
Photo Credit: Carly Jaye
Carly Jaye, mural and visual Artist
Moose Jaw
““I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious” – Albert Einstein”
Carly Jaye is a mural artist based in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, known for creating vibrant, large-scale public art that celebrates and engages the community. She has received a local business award recognizing her community involvement, as well as the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for her artistic contributions to Saskatchewan. Her work is present in communities ranging from Moose Jaw to Toronto and Raleigh, North Carolina. Carly is passionate about encouraging children to “exercise their imaginations” and the importance of the arts in our world.
What fuels Carly Jaye: "To summarize what fuels me I’ve shared this quote many times as my mantra, “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious” – Albert Einstein "
“She produces fantastic murals for public appreciation, enough local projects within Moose Jaw to change the landscape of the city. Goes out of her way to involve the children within the community.”
– from Andrew Smith’s nomination statement
Photo Credit: Shannon Brunner Photography
Marie Lannoo, professional artist
Saskatoon
“My fuel is showing up and working every day in the studio.”
Marie Lannoo is a Canadian artist. She studied at York University and the University of Saskatchewan with a BA in French Literature and Fine Arts. She attended workshops at the Banff School of Fine Arts and Emma Lake. Her work has been exhibited across Canada at Remai Modern, Contemporary Calgary, Wil Aballe/Addition, Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Maclaren Art Centre and internationally at The Lightbox, The Hong Kong Arts Centre and Tao Hua Tang. Lannoo appears in Rold Nasgaard’s Abstract Painting in Canada and in In Extremis by Wayne Bearwaldt, and owns the exhibition space, 330gProjects, in Saskatoon.
What fuels Marie: “My fuel is showing up and working every day in the studio.”
“Marie deserves to be celebrated for her decades-long visual arts practice, as well as her unceasing experimentation into the potential of light and colour. Her artistic output continues to astound the Saskatchewan arts community.”
– from Simon Garez’s nomination statement
Photo Credit: Trent Watts
Sandra Ledingham, ceramic artist
Saskatoon
“As workers in clay we should be proud, we come from a fierce and pivotal material.”
Sandra Ledingham’s formal studies include a BA in Sociology, Fine Arts and Ceramic Studies with Marilyn Levine at the University of Regina. Her informal education has been shaped by living in France and Mexico, and by pivotal international travels. She taught ceramics and design at Concordia University, the University of Saskatchewan, and the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science & Technology. Past residencies include Greece, France, New Zealand and Mexico.
Sandra’s work has been included in the Latvia International Ceramic Biennale (2023), Korean International Ceramic Biennale (2021), the 2020 Taiwan International Ceramic Biennale (2020) and Vera Pezer’s book, Saskatchewan Superwomen (2025).
What fuels Sandra: “As workers in clay we should be proud, we come from a fierce and pivotal material.”
“Sandra Ledingham is an internationally recognized ceramic artist, educator, and designer who primarily works from her Saskatoon studio. She also travels the world to create and showcase her ceramic sculptures. Sandra is actively preparing for an upcoming exhibition at the Glenbow Museum in Calgary.”
– from Charley Farrero’s nomination statement
Photo courtesy of the artist.
Roberto López López, artist
Regina
“I don’t paint what I see. I paint what I feel.”
Roberto López López is a Regina-based Mexican Canadian painter and muralist with over twenty years of creative practice. Raised in a small mountain community in Mexico, he is a self-taught artist whose work reflects ancestral influences rooted in Mayan and Aztec visual language. His paintings are driven by emotion, movement and energy rather than literal representation. Roberto describes himself as a “flow surfer,” creating intuitively through meditation and music. For him, art is both personal healing and public connection. Through murals, exhibitions and community engagement, he contributes to Regina’s cultural landscape while inspiring others to express their own stories.
What fuels Roberto: “I don’t paint what I see. I paint what I feel. My work is about energy, healing, and giving movement to what lives inside.”
“López López began painting after immigrating to Canada in 2000. Many of his pieces appear across Regina via murals and his latest show, ‘RetrospectiveRenewed,’ highlights his artistic past and future. Roberto is a known & respected artist in the community and is deserving of this recognition. Renewed highlights his artistic past and future. Roberto is a known & respected artist in the community and is deserving of this recognition.”
– from Cathy Uhersky’s nomination statement
Melvyn Malkin, Untitled (Raku fired ceramic plate), no date. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Melvyn Malkin, architect, artist
Saskatoon
“I want it [my work] to be spontaneous and felt.”
Melvyn Malkin is an architect and artist and practiced both professions. His education in the arts began at the University of Manitoba (BArch) and included the University of Pennsylvania (Post Grad) and the University of Saskatchewan (BFA). He also attended numerous workshops in painting and ceramics across the prairies. Mel started working in raku-fired ceramics for 12 years. His first one-man drawing show was in Regina in 1962. There have been many paintings, drawings and ceramics over the decades. His work has been exhibited in 25 galleries from Montreal to Victoria and continues to be exhibited across Canada.
What fuels Melvyn: “I work very hard to not intellectualize my work. I want it to be spontaneous and felt. Each new mark or color is a response to the previous one. The prairie light and space inspires me.”
“Melvyn's multi-decade practice is defined by a sophisticated understanding of color and space, defining him as a master of spontaneous abstraction.”
– from Simon Garez’s nomination statement
Laureen Marchand, How to Watch for the Sunrise, 2025. Photo couretesy of the artist.
Laureen Marchand, artist, arts leader
Val Marie
“ … without an essential understanding of our own beauty and the beauty of our experience, we can’t appreciate the value of what we encounter.”
Laureen Marchand’s career spans 40 years, with more than 30 solo and two-person exhibitions as well as over 50 group shows, regionally, nationally and internationally. Her current project, Rewilding Imagination, visually integrates dailiness and wildness as well as the interruptive elements of pure abstraction, exploring domestic beauty in a harmonious relationship to both natural and human-made beauty. Laureen has also contributed widely to Saskatchewan’s artistic community through writing, teaching and organizational work. Most recently, these include Grasslands Gallery Online, Saskatchewan’s only online professional commercial art gallery, and the Tailgate Art Fair, Saskatchewan’s first outdoor vehicle-based art/craft market.
What fuels Laureen: “I believe that without an essential understanding of our own beauty and the beauty of our experience, we can’t appreciate the value of what we encounter. Encouraging other artists so they can feel the confidence of their beauty has brought me joy every step of the way.”
“Laureen has created the Grasslands Gallery Online, Saskatchewan’s only online professional commercial art gallery, and Tailgate Art Fair, Saskatchewan’s first outdoor vehicle-based art/craft market. This is as well as an exemplary 40-year exhibition history and extensive teaching and curating.”
– from Linda Duvall’s nomination statement
Photo courtesy of YWCA Regina.
Melanie Monique Rose, visual artist, curator, arts educator
Regina
“ … arts, culture and collaboration that inspires my young daughter (and all the kids) to dream big ...”
Melanie Monique Rose is a Métis/Ukrainian visual artist, curator, and arts educator from Regina, Saskatchewan Treaty 4 Territory, a citizen of the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan and a long-time contributing member of Sâkêwêwak Artists’ Collective Inc. and board member. Rose’s work centres on kinship and relationships between the land, ourselves and each other. Through plants and flowers Rose invites transmissions of ancestral knowledge and teachings while also imagining and creating a decolonial future through the lens of Métis worldviews.
What fuels Melanie: "I am motivated by the hope of my parents and ancestors to have it better than the previous generation. I want to create a community through arts, culture and collaboration that inspires my young daughter (and all the kids) to dream big, abundantly, full of hope with the potential and wonderment for a free, just world."
“Melanie is a steadfast, passionate advocate for Métis artists. Her artistic and curatorial practices uphold community engaged approaches to art making and a commitment to justice. We admire her creative output, her curatorial eye, and her collaborative pursuits with The Cattail Collective.”
– from Terri Fidelak’s nomination statement
Photo couresty of the artist.
Ernie Scoles, Sole Proprietor, Scoles Fine Arts & Framing
Saskatoon
“When I am painting, I have a great feeling of peace and harmony with nature ...”
Ernie Scoles is a member of the Barren Lands First Nation and was born in Cumberland House, SK, in 1962. He was raised in northern Manitoba. There, he developed a deep feeling for nature and wildlife, taking advantage of every opportunity to explore the woods, lakes and streams. Ernie’s work in Woodland Imagery reflects his Cree heritage and is found in collections throughout Canada and the world. In 1992, Ernie was awarded the Governor General’s Canada 125 Medal (1992) he received the Queen Elizabeth Golden Jubilee Medal (2002) for his contributions to his community.
What fuels Ernie: “When I am painting, I have a great feeling of peace and harmony with nature, and I feel a powerful connection between our creator and all living things. In my work I try to capture the spiritual interaction of all life with the earth, sun, wind and sky. I always hope that at least one person will like the image I paint.”
“Ernie deserves to be celebrated because of his long-standing artistic practice that celebrates the beauty of nature. His work vibrates with a sacred stillness, capturing the spiritual harmony around us.”
– from Simon Garez’s nomination statement
Organizations, Festivals and Collectives
Photo: Entrance of the Art Gallery of Regina during exhibition, How the Sky Carries the Sun by Katherine Boyer.
The Art Gallery of Regina
Art Gallery
Regina
“Art is not a luxury—it is a catalyst for empathy, connection and transformation.”
Founded in 1974 to support artists excluded from mainstream galleries, the Art Gallery of Regina (AGR) is a free-admission contemporary art gallery that connects the community and prompts reflection on our shared experiences of Saskatchewan through accessible, inclusive and welcoming exhibitions and public programs.
What fuels AGR: "The AGR believes that building relationships with and through art is essential to the work of a contemporary art gallery. Art is not a luxury—it is a catalyst for empathy, connection and transformation."
“A white cube that exceeds it bounds through innovative programming, the AGR builds awareness and discourse rooted in community need and a belief in the power of art to create a better world. The AGR should be celebrated by SK Arts for its commitment to inspiring programming for all visitors.”
– from Risa Horowitz’s nomination statement
Photo Credit: Jillian Ross Print
Jillian Ross Print
Print Studio
Saskatoon
“Working in collaboration, we enable artists to turn their visions into artworks, telling their story through the medium of printmaking.”
Jillian Ross is a collaborative master printer based in Saskatoon, Canada. Ross ran the David Krut Workshop (South Africa) from 2003 to 2020, collaborating with over 100 local and international artists. During that time, Ross became one of William Kentridge’s primary print collaborators, completing over 200 prints to date. Ross holds a BFA from the University of Saskatchewan. Ross and partner, Brendan Copestake, founded Jillian Ross Print (JRP) in 2021. JRP is a collaborative print studio and publisher working primarily with South African and Canadian artists, studios, institutions and galleries to develop print projects, exhibitions, art workshops and talks.
What fuels JRP: “Collaboration fuels our studio. Working in collaboration, we enable artists to turn their visions into artworks, telling their story through the medium of printmaking. Through the power of repetition and the power of the editioned image, these voices can be heard widely.”
“Jillian Ross Print (JRP) is a collaborative print studio working with Canadian and South African artists, studios, institutions and galleries to develop print projects, exhibitions, art workshops, talks and print publishing. JRP is owned and operated by Jillian Ross and Brendan Copestake.”
– from Roberta Ross’ nomination statement