Artist Spotlights

Manitoba is filled with talented and diverse artists. Browse our spotlight interviews and prepare to be inspired in your own artistic endeavours.

Have you participated in one of Creative Manitoba's programs, workshops or mentorships? We'd love to highlight you!

Our Artist Spotlights serve to highlight and celebrate the work and successes of creatives who have participated in our programming. From those who attended workshops or Creative Entrepreneurship Day, to those who enrolled in the Art of Managing Your Career, we are excited to see what you’re up to!

If you’re interested in talking about your arts practice and what makes you tick as a creative, please fill out our form. Spotlights are selected based on completeness and those who have made use of Creative Manitoba programming are given preference.

Solange Roy

A recent graduate of our Exchange Arts Incubator program, Solange Roy is a Francophone, Indigenous ceramic artist living and working…

Gayle Halliwell

Lake Winnipeg is Gayle Halliwell’s first love; her watercolours of this freshwater ocean are in collections across North America. As…

Alan Lacovetsky

Alan Lacovetsky has been making functional pottery and sculpture from custom-mixed clays for nearly fifty years. He has worked and…

Amanda Onchulenko

Amanda Onchulenko is a painter, textile artist and author, and the current Artist-In-Residence at the Fairmont Hotel. Her work is…

Lita Fontaine

Lita Fontaine is of Dakota, Anishinaabe, and Metis descent. Fontaine was born in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, and grew up…

Shawna Forester Smith

Shawna Forester Smith is a chronically ill and disabled Ojibwe artist and writer living in a chronic care unit at…

Discover More Manitoban Artists

Gwendolyn Collins

Gwendolyn Collins (she/her) is a theatre and film actor, writer, producer, devised theatre creator and the Co-Artistic Producer of One Trunk Theatre based on Treaty 1 Territory in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She has extensive experience overseeing film and theatrical projects from conception to final presentation. Having co-created many productions with One Trunk Theatre, Theatre Projects Manitoba and Green Kids Inc.
She has performed as an actor professionally for 14 years appearing on stage at Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Prairie Theatre Exchange, Manitoba Theatre for Young People, Winnipeg Jewish Theatre and Theatre by the River. She has toured theatre shows having traveled across the prairies in One Trunk Theatre productions, PTE Munsch shows, for Green Kids Inc, RMTC rural tour and for MTYP. She has taught and facilitated theatre workshops for youth at MTYP, The Winnipeg Storytelling Festival and for Green Kids Inc. She has championed rural collaborations such as Small Town Ghost Stories with artists from Arborg and Talking Roots with artists from Pinawa, Altona, Morden and Neubergthal. Gwen is a graduate of The University of Winnipeg’s BA Honours program in theatre, and has trained with Ghost River Theatre in Calgary.

Alex Plante*

Alex Plante is a multi-disciplinary artist based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. I’ve been painting and illustrating digitally for over 20 years, but I also write/draw comics and paint the occasional mural. I love colours and shapes! You can't beat em!

DeAvian Plummer

Hello! Im DeAvian and im a Northern Artist that practices a variety of art from traditional art to music!. specializing in jewelry making,crochet and paintings.
Making art accessible, one skill at a time

Yvette Cenerini

Yvette Cenerini (née Lagimodière) is a francophone Métis visual artist from Treaty One Territory. Her work in photocollage examines the intricacies of relationships and emotions through a simple aesthetic. Having obtained both a BEd (2001) and a BFA (2010), knowledge-sharing through art in the forms of teaching and community engagement is an important facet of her practice.

Arlea Ashcroft

Arlea Ashcroft is a French Anishinaabe/Saulteaux multi-disciplinary artist from Treaty 1 Territory, with ancestral connections to Minegoziibe Anishinabe (Pine Creek First Nation). Her creations often explore themes of mixed-blood identity, cultural heritage, mental health, and gender dynamics. Her art serves as a platform for storytelling and activism, particularly advocating for Indigenous communities and addressing social issues.
Ashcroft's style is recognized for its punk rock aesthetic and raw, confrontational elements, often challenging Western artistic norms by portraying subjects with sharp, vibrant, and sometimes dissonant visuals. She integrates personal experiences, community narratives, and historical contexts to create works that are both visually striking and emotionally evocative.
Her work has received local, national, and international attention, not only for its artistic quality but also for its role in fostering dialogue around identity and resilience. Ashcroft's impact highlights the transformative power of art as a medium for truth-telling, continuing to channel her raw, rebellious energy into her visual, multimedia, music, and literary works. She is happiest chasing sunsets and camping fireside under the stars.

Tanner Manson

Tanner Manson (he/him) is a queer theatre/dance artist and arts manager based in Winnipeg, MB. He is passionate about nurturing relationships & long term collaboration while creating new & exciting work. Famously, Tanner has commitment issues that transcend both his romantic AND career life. He works as a writer, facilitator, director, teacher, producer, performer, and choreographer. He grew up in rural Manitoba and has spent a good portion of his artistic career thus far dedicated to connecting with other rural Manitobans through workshops, performing for/alongside, and creating work with these communities.

Kamal Chioua

Kamal is a North African performer, creator, and, lover of the arts. He is a graduate of the University of Winnipeg’s, acting program. He also recently completed two wonderful years at The Village Conservatory. When he’s not gracing the stage Kamal enjoys long walks on the beach, candle light dinners, and late night Shawarma.
Recent Performance Credits Include: The Wizard of Oz (Rainbow Stage), The Velveteen Rabbit (MTYP), and, The Spencer Sisters (CTV)

Ella Franklin*

Ella's background in computer science and visual arts has uniquely positioned her to pioneer in the digital arts space. Her interactive installations have been featured in galleries worldwide, offering audiences new ways to engage with digital content and rethink their digital interactions.

Andria Stephens

Andria Stephens is a singer/songwriter and artist administrator from Calgary, Alberta. became a professional singer while studying business administration at Mount Royal University. She performed with Toshi Jackson and the Silhouettes, touring Western Canada and learning the importance of backup singers and live music. Andria has worked with many Motown-era musicians and opened for hip-hop artists like T-Pain and Naughty by Nature. She is also a lyricist and has experience with Digital Audio Workstations.
In 2014, Andria and her partner Don Glenn moved to Thompson and in 2017 they discovered an abandoned Sobeys building on the outskirts of the city and envisioned it as a performance arts center. They created the Mall of The Arts, which includes a family theatre, café, upcycling studio, artist market, and Indigenous learning center. The center aims to connect the community and tourists through the arts, offering workshops in various creative disciplines. The organization has held workshops in drama, dance, puppetry, African drums, fashion shows, and more. The center focuses on youth and underserved peoples programming and encourages a sense of pride and respect through artistic activities.

300-245 McDermot Avenue
Winnipeg, MB
R3B 0S6
info@creativemanitoba.ca
204-927-2787

FUNDING PROVIDED BY:

The Government of Canada

The Government of Manitoba

About

Get in touch

Creative Manitoba is located on Treaty 1 territory, the original lands of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and the National homeland of the Red River Métis. We acknowledge and pay respect to the ancestors and treaties made on these lands, by considering all our cultures, traditions, and the histories of colonialism, dispossession, and resistance as we create and learn together. We would also like to acknowledge that our water is sourced from Shoal Lake 40 First Nation.