Nishina Shapwaykeesic-Loft

The DMG is excited to be working with Nishina Shapwaykeesic-Loft as the 2021/2022 Indigenous Youth Artist-in-Residence. Now in its fourth year, the program aims to support and deepen the practice of a young Indigenous artist, help with building relationships within the art community, and open up possibilities around post-secondary education.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Nishina Shapwaykeesic-Loft is a Kanien’kehá:ka woman from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. She is a multi-disciplinary artist in a wide spectrum of mediums. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours from York University in Theatre Production and Design.

She works within the theatre industry with a specialization in costuming. Her past works include the Costume Designer/Coordinator for The Way of The World, An Octaroon, Phyllis Wheatley Creation,The Marriage of Figaro, African Cargo and Olaudah Equiano Creation.

She is a mural artist working within the city as a member of the RUN Collective. An installation piece was just installed at Queen St. for the “High Praises” Project which features the Kanien’kehá:ka language. She worked with StART as a project coordinator for multiple projects and as an artist for the Richmond Street Cycle Track Barrier Project. She currently works at imagineNATIVE Media + Arts Festival in Operations. She continues to grow within her field and explore new opportunities.

ABOUT THE RESIDENCY

The Indigenous Youth Artist-in-Residence Program is a collaboration between the Doris McCarthy Gallery, 7th Generation Image Makers (a program of Native Child and Family Services of Toronto), and the University of Toronto Scarborough Department of Arts, Culture and Media. The program offers paid studio time, professional development opportunities, and artist mentorship, as well as the opportunity to audit a course at the University of Toronto Scarborough and access other University resources (facilities, events, staff & faculty), and culminates with a presentation of the completed work.