Artist Statement 

Stephanie is an artist, dancer, youth leader, community activator, advocate, craftivist and social change maker living and working in Calgary, Canada.  

Stemming from a young age and her personal experiences, she has always had a deep attraction to nature, plants, animals, rocks and water. She has spent years exploring how mother nature and her medicines have the capability to heal us physically, emotionally and spiritually, how everything is connected and how communication networks extend beyond humans and animals to plants, trees, and fungi. Her painting and drawing work takes on more of a passive and organic nature. She uses vivid colours, textures and organic forms to create scenes of abstract fantasy. Her paintings often have layers and layers of heavy textures, built up mediums and have almost a sculptural aspect as they are reminiscent of ocean and forest floors. Her landscapes are vibrant depictions of her deep love and connection to the land, nature and the Canadian wilderness. Her watercolors tend to be lighter and airier, yet colourful depictions of vegetation, florals and illustrative scenes of daily life. 

Her fiber work is based around activism and she focuses on guerilla style art installations, placemaking and site activations. As an intersectional feminist and an advocate for various issues, she is influenced by early feminist and anti-oppressive movements in history using fiber, embroidery and craft to voice their opinions and make social change in their communities. Her most recent place-making projects are “Village Square Fabric Art Project,” “Soft Voices” and “Calgary Youth Sketchbook Collection.” Village Square Fabric Art Project (current) is breaking down ideas of connection and disconnection and how that relates to ourselves, our communities and our world. Soft Voices encouraged teens to share their voices through a fibre art embroidered installation. CYSC was a community based placemaking project involving 300 youth from all across the city to collaborate while they were still physically distanced. Youth completed and submitted sketchbooks that are now a permanent collection at the Calgary Public Library. She also completed 3 murals summer 2021 that discussed identity, diversity, courage, bravery, advocacy and community change. Stephanie is devoted to making social change in Calgary by fostering community engagement and advocacy in marginalized populations. She is passionate about empowering community members with the opportunity to share their voice and make a difference through visual art, murals, digital art, craftivism and placemaking projects.