Natoya Ellis - Fine Art
"An artist's duty, as far as I'm concerned, is to reflect the times. "
- Nina Simone
I immigrated to Canada at fourteen years old. I turned to art as a way to cope
with what my identity would be in my new country and community. Suffering a
considerable bout of culture shock and a sense of not belonging. I began drawing
and painting self-portraits. My self-portraits later evolved into simple drawn
portraits of the same woman in various forms.
I use a variety of Fine Art techniques to convey my story, but most
specifically sculpture, painting, and photography are the three mediums which are
most fascinating for me. Found object sculpting is of particular interest to me;
manipulating objects that once were made for a specific purpose and repurposing
them to have a completely different meaning and use adds to my excitement.
My two-dimensional works of woman are primarily of black women. These paintings and drawings are in part some aspects of myself infused in my work. My usage of bold colors is a direct correlation between my Caribbean heritage and visual exploration of the story color is able to tell.At times my art has been the thread which helps to weave the story of my life together. Through researching for art pieces, I have unearthed and gathered knowledge of my culture which I would’ve never otherwise known. It is through these practices and techniques that I begin to tell the story of my ancestral past. The research and process of making my body of work have given me a greater appreciation of the black experience in the Americas and beyond. Though visually my work is very afro-centric I try to depict human emotions in every piece created.Putting a human face on the stories being told through my work facilitates the conversations of how far we’ve come as simple humans.
Education
2003 - 2005
Studio Art Diploma, Capilano University
2015 - 2015
The American South: Its Stories Music and Art Certificate - University Of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill
2018 - Present
Bachelor Of Fine Arts, University Of The Fraser Valley - School of Fine Arts
Publications
2020
Vancouver Sun
2020
Paperblanks
2006
Cover Art - We Have A Voice: An Anthology of African and Caribbean Student Writing in British Columbia
2005
Article - Syncopated Soul Review - North Shore News
Exhibitions
Solo (Selected)
2011
2007
2005
New Life Rising - Calabash Bistro - Vancouver
The Untitled Show - Cafe De Soliel - Vancouver
"Never Understood Nothing" The Lotus - Vancouver, Canada
Group (Selected)
Diversion, Mission Arts Council B.C. Canada
2019
2019
Modern Surrealism, Harrison's Hot Spring Arts Council, B.C., Canada
2018
Art at the Authority, Mission B.C., Canada
2018
Water, Mission Arts Council, Mission B.C., Canada
2017
49 to 74, Murbury Gallery, New York City, U.S.A., Canada
2017
Art 4 Life, Port Moody Arts Council, Port Moody B.C., Canada
2016
2016
2005
Anonymous Show - North Vancouver Arts Council, North Vancouver, Canada
Art Of Photography - Harmony Arts Festival -West Vancouver, Canada
Syncopated Soul - District Of North Vancouver, North Vancouver, Canada
Contact Me