Emerging First Nations Artist and Freda Diesing Graduate Honoured With Polygon Award in First Nations Art

An emerging First Nations artist and graduate of the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Arts has been honoured with a prestigious award.

Shawna Kiesman, who is of Ts’msyen, Nisga’a and Haida heritage, is among four new recipients of the Polygon Awards in First Nations art.

She took home the Crabtree McLennan Emerging Artists Award for her work as she seeks to put the complexities of her culture on display.

Her work includes digital art, textiles, drawing and painting, and is known for a modernized take on every day items.

Each piece she creates is another means of cultural exploration and identity reclamation which delve further into her cultural heritage.

Permanent displays of her creations can be seen at the Nisga’a Museum and the Coast Mountain College house.

But you can also catch her works at a new exhibit being put on by the BC Achievement Foundation between November 16th and the 22nd.

Hosted in Vancouver, the exhibit will feature the works of numerous award winners, with more information on tickets available at this link.