Paige Sabrina Harris
Driven by a desire to overcome personal challenges and explore identity, I create multi-media works confronting themes of resilience, healing, and the human experience. My artistic journey began with a Bachelor's degree in Fine Art (Majoring in Sculpture) from the Alberta College of Art + Design in 2017. In 2019, I established SunDay Ceramics, a platform for exploring lighter themes of nature and growth alongside my broader artistic practice.
Actively involved in the arts community, I participated in residencies like cSPACE Eau Claire Community Hub in Calgary, assisted with painting murals in the community. I also had the privilege of working under Artists Chris Savage and Mao (Kun) Chen for a year creating pottery products for their ceramic business MAO Projects.
Now residing in Edmonton, AB. Trying to integrate into the arts scene and community of Edmonton. I am currently working as a Partnerships & Development Specialist at Robin Hood Association, a non-profit that supports people with developmental disabilities.
Beyond my artistic practice and work at Robin Hood Association, I'm thrilled to be co-founded Planted Earth Studios in Edmonton, a community-based art studio launching later this year. My focus has always been on the arts and community, driven by the belief in its power to uplift people and bring meaning to their lives.
My art practice delves into the complexities of human experience, particularly the intersection of beauty and suffering. I explore the question: Can we find resilience and strength even in the face of trauma, pain, and injustice? Rather than offering escape, I aim to amplify and cradle these experiences, inviting viewers to contemplate the emotional spectrum we all navigate.
I utilize various techniques and materials to explore the visual language of trauma. Photographs capture raw vulnerability, while my paintings offer a unique perspective. Employing a realistic style, I depict wounds and bruises with saturated colours, often incorporating geometric shapes and patterns against dark undertones. These elements are also utilized in 3D sculptural forms and installations. This approach creates a sense of tension that mirrors the internal turmoil experienced during trauma.
In contrast, my pottery practice, through SunDay Ceramics, explores themes of growth and renewal. Inspired by nature's resilience, I create functional pieces adorned with organic forms like caterpillars, flowers, and woodland creatures. These works offer a tactile and comforting counterpoint to the raw emotions explored in my other work. They symbolize the potential for healing and transformation, much like a seed breaking through the soil.
Beyond my studio practice, I am committed to the transformative power of public art. I actively engage in artist calls and participate in mural painting initiatives to amplify the voices of artists within the community. My ultimate goal is to use art as a tool for exploration and healing, helping individuals discover their identities, fostering meaningful conversations, and ultimately contributing to positive societal change.
The establishment of Planted Earth Studios is a natural extension of this commitment. As a community-based art studio, it will provide a space for individuals to explore their creativity, build connections, and find solace through artistic expression.
Artist Statement
RESIDENCIES
2022 - cSPACE Eau Claire Community Hub -The City of Calgary - Calgary, AB
2017 - Hear/d Residency - Alberta College of Art + Design - Calgary Alberta
PUBLIC ART
2022 - cSPACE Eau Claire Community Hub Signage - The City of Calgary
2022 - Women Empowerment Mural - Mural Assistant - FilipinX Kasaganaan Artist Collective
2022 - Youth Empowerment Mural - Mural Assistant - FilipinX Kasaganaan Artist Collective
2022 - Bow To Bluff Sunnyside Project -Mural Assistant - Dan Bergeron & Gabriel Specter
EXHIBITIONS
2023 - Mush Love - NVRLD Arts Foundation - Calgary, Alberta
2023 - HAS Resilience Art Project - TELUS Convention Centre - Calgary, Alberta
2017 - Grad Show - Illingworth Kerr Gallery - Calgary, Alberta
2017 - Its So beautiful… - Ivan Gallery - Calgary, Alberta
2017 - Wet Cigarettes - Ivan Gallery - Calgary, Alberta - Solo Exhibition
2017 - Waves Through Fog (Residency) - Alberta College of Art + Design - Calgary, Alberta
2017 - Heavyweight and Breathable - Alberta College of Art + Design - Calgary, Alberta
2016 - Trained + Drained - Alberta College of Art + Design - Calgary, Alberta
2016 - MisSALEllaneous - Ivan Gallery - Calgary, Alberta
2015 - Cellar Dwellers - Alberta College of Art + Design - Calgary, Alberta
2015 - Sculpture Group Show - Ivan Gallery - Calgary, Alberta
2015 - Emerging Artists Unleashed - Alberta Society of Artists - Edmonton, Alberta
2014 - 1st Year Art Show - Alberta College of Art + Design - Calgary, Alberta
EDUCATION
2013 - 2017 - Bachelors of Fine Arts - Sculpture Major - Alberta College of Art + Design
AWARDS & GRANTS
2021 - Twitch Pottery Throwdown (Judges choice)
2016 - Wendi Jenkins Memorial Scholarship
PUBLICATIONS
June 17, 2020 - Nathan Kunz - “Meet Artist and Prop Maker Paige Harris” - Avenue Magazine Calgary
April 6, 2019 - Sam Chipera - “How online streaming platform Twitch helps Calgary Artist deal with mental health struggles” - Calgary Journal