Yukon Visual Artists

Halin de Repentigny is an acclaimed artist with paintings held in national and international collections. Originally from Montreal, Halin first made his name when he moved to Dawson City, Yukon. He became well known for his depictions of life in Canada?s Klondike, interpreting the beauty and majesty of the remote northern wilderness and capturing it on canvas.

Ann Mackenzie was born and lived in the highlands of Scotland on a sheep farm. Ironically, it was not until she arrived in the Yukon in 1974 and joined the Northern Fibers Guild that she was introduced to spinning, weaving and later on, felting. Felting has been her passion ever since.She is attracted to felting by its simplicity, as an excellent medium for color and freedom of expression. Being as simple or as complicated as you want it to be has allowed her to teach in the schools from kindergarten to grade 12, and to use it as therapy for the mentally and physically challenged.

Monika Steputh loves to create ceramic reflecting the impressions of her journeys. The places that inspired her have been majestic landscapes, like the Yukon; intense experiences like hiking through the wilderness of Siberia or being immersed into the ocean in a sea kayak.An aesthetic of simplicity and tranquility influences her forms and colors, they preserve the spirit that her hands give to the ceramic. Her studio is in Haines Junction.

?I paint real places. I want my paintings to reflect moments when I have stopped and looked and been filled with pleasure at what I see.?

Art has always been a significant part of my life. For me art is a breath, a way of communication and the heart of life. Nature and especially the beautiful landscapes of Canada are a huge source of inspiration for me, and I try to bring through art the peaceful, relaxing and recharging qualities it has. Art is an international language, and no matter which country I was living at, it has always been a great way to express myself, communicate, engage with our communities, inspire and empower.

I am emerging artist working primarily in encaustics, living and working in Whitehorse. I am fascinated by the moments when nature fuses light and air to create works of art. I try to evoke the feelings of wonder inspired by those moments, when the quality of light amplifies the beauty of nature.Encaustic is an unpredictable medium, and so, even when I try to plan, my paintings evolve. As I work with the wax, often an image or a feeling will begin to form, sometimes surprising me. I am drawn to the beauty and richness of the surface and the way the wax reveals and conceals. The movement possible with hot wax and pigment is seductive and satisfying. I often incorporate found objects to create my mixed media pieces. I have an emotional connection to objects that have seen the passage of time. My art reflects places I love, and objects that intrigue me, the search for stillness and balance. I love rich colors, and sculptural textures.

?In my practice I employ a variety of expressive forms often using unorthodox materials, forcing me to adopt non-traditional techniques. I find this results in a more open-ended process, sending me on a journey of inquiry and exploration; to learn, to change, to be surprised, to be moved, and to feel something. This is a way for me to overcome the numbing effects of the depressive state of our world, and the apathy it produces.?

Chantel is a self-taught acrylic artist who has been based in Whitehorse, Yukon since 2016. She grew up in Pinawa, Manitoba and Deep River, Ontario. After attending university in Ottawa and then Vancouver, she moved North after falling in love with a Yukoner. In 2019, her piece ?Walking out of the Library at Night? won a spot on the cover of the Northwestel phone directory. Her artwork has been part of group exhibitions at the Yukon Arts Centre, Arts Underground and at public libraries and she has had solo shows at local spots like Baked Cafe

Tracey Jacobs is enjoying coming up with new idea, creating metal art of all types, focusing on Yukon themed pieces such as moose, bears, foxes, fish and fire weed. These works include functional pieces, like key ring holders, back scratches, flower pot holders as well as actual wall art.Her pieces are designed and cut out of different types of metals. After being painted other concepts are added to create uniqueness.

Daphne lives in the southern Yukon near Carcross. Her inspiration comes from the many diverse and beautiful landscapes that make up the Yukon and Alaska. She has conveyed this love of nature and the wilderness in a number of painting mediums as well as metal, silk, and stone, in some big way. 

Chelsea Ravensdale was born in Whitehorse, Yukon. She has traveled abroad, lived elsewhere, and loves the Yukon as her home. As a very young child, several times she woke her parents early in the morning wailing having cut herself trying to carve the soap! This could now be seen as a premonition of her future as a carver and sculptor.

In her remote studio at the far end of Tagish Lake, Alice creates visual poetry from a multitude of memories and visions of the north. Her paintings are expressions of the seen and unseen in a dreamlike atmosphere. She incorporates an exagerated mood and colour to create rugged and tender scenes of the wilderness.

A multidisciplinary artist who practices her art in a wide range of mediums, C?cile has turned to Doll making with a northern twist. A look at her dolls will tell you that life up here is a call for resilience, constant adjustments and celebration. All dolls are wearing clothes made of reclaimed or used fabric, mainly felt, wool, tweed, leather and fur.  Everyone is unique, never two are the same. These dolls often represent people C?cile Girard has met over the years and they carry her joy of creating.

?The North is my home and the majesty of the Kluane region continues to be the inspiration for most of my work.? Libby has lived in Haines Junction since 1975. The magnificent panoramic view she enjoys from her log home and the ever changing light keep her always inspired. It is her hope that her paintings reflect her passion for the awesome scenery, from mountain and icefield grandeur to lake, forest and wildflower splendour.

Patrick makes functional and sculptural stoneware and raku at his Raven Pottery studio amongst the woods near Whitehorse, Yukon. His handmade lines of pottery are safe for use in a dishwasher, an oven and a microwave. His ?Fireweed? line of stoneware can be found in collection here at Yukon Artists at Work. His work is also found in the Nation Art Bank.

Emma Barr has a main theme to all of her work - colour. All facets of the colour world are explored. Recent works include illumination with light. Trained as a mixed media major, Emma works with 2 and 3d works of art in many mediums including canvas, paint, paper, wood and now electronics.

Her style is realism but in her paintings Heidi ?reinterprets? colors and structures and shapes to create a world where there is beauty and harmony. As Rousseau once said it is the artists job to ?perfect? upon nature. Though she was a water colorist for most of her career her preferred technique is to use fluid acrylics in a fusion of water colorist?s and oil painter?s techniques. She also uses many traditional techniques such as glazing and grisaille.

I have been interested in art for most of my life, but taking courses while living in the northern Yukon was not an option, so I taught myself what I could with the use of art books, videos and on line courses.I am best known for my acrylic airbrushed paintings of Northern Lights and Yukon scenes, and have recently added watercolour florals and hand painted winter scene and fireweed ornaments to my portfolio.My hope is that people enjoy looking at my work as much as I love painting it, and that my images will tell my story.

Joseph Tisiga (b.1984) is Kaska Dene First Nation and of mixed European heritage, currently living in Whitehorse, Yukon. Tisiga's multidisciplinary practice includes performance, photography, sculpture, installation, however painting and drawing are situated at the root. His work examines notions of identity, cultural and social inheritance, the mundane, the metaphysical mythological, etc... which filter through an evolving narrative construct and are unified in his practice.

Stories in What's Up Yukon about Joseph Tisiga

Northern mythology around Raven has always interested me. Raven is a creature that can shape shift between bird and human form. My current work catches Raven in mid change. Raven Ladies, Mervens, Fox Ladies, and Bear Ladies have attitude and real life women?s bodies. Any day you get to see a raven is a lucky day.

Rebekah is a textile and surface designer who strives to produce quality goods that are well thought out in every aspect, from design to application and construction. Her textiles begin with heavy sketchbook work; a combination of sketches, colour palettes, technical notes, mood boards, inspiration and more. Sketchbook work is a foundation and footing to be developed into traditional surface designs (pattern, drawing, illustration, collage, etc.). Her surface designs can either be stand alone works of art or translated into a collection of functional pieces or even screen printed yardage.

Maegan?s art is inspired by the beauty, magic, and transcendence of our ability to perceive light and shadow.

It wasn?t until her late 30?s that a series of transformative events led her back to her genuine self. Job loss, and a diagnosis of incurable, degenerative blindness, helped Maegan rediscover herself as an artist.  Today Maegan lives and paints in the Yukon; a place she has called home for the last 25 years.  Maegan has studied fine art with the Emily Carr School of Art and Design, and with Indonesian artist, Tulus Warsito. Maegan is currently studying art therapy, with the hopes of helping others discover and explore their authentic selves.

As her ability to process images and colour changes, Maegan rejoices in the details of her visual world.Maegan?s art can be seen in various private collections throughout North America.

Most recently, I have found myself painting both the landscape I am in (Yukon Territory) as well as the local creatures I am enamored with (Ravens.)

Richard Shorty was born in 1959 into the Northern Tutchone First Nation. Richard is a self-taught First Nations artist. He originally started painting wildlife at an early age, along with painting his favorite rock star and sports idols in the early 1970?s. He was raised in Whitehorse, Yukon and moved to Vancouver in 1978 where he began his career as a graphic artist.Richard?s unique style combines elements of traditional and contemporary design. He is an extremely versatile artist, having worked on drums, paddles, masks, boxes and rattles as well as his paintings. His pieces are collected nationwide.In the summers Richard can often be found back in the Yukon.

Nathalie?s style is easily recognizable and is collected by people from all over the world. She works both in acrylics and oils and is known for her sensitive representation of the subject in its environment. Her work is sold extensively across Canada and the United States.

Interested in fusing painting and sculpture, Dee has been developing techniques for sculptural painting with oil-based modelling clay since 2013. She aims to refresh landscape and wildlife painting genres.

My Art is a reflection of how I fee lI Denesini gushazi esguzua lete. It is a spiritual connection to my ancestors. I gushazi yeh gucho tsi gute doga.People can see it and feel the energy that I put into each piece. Dene megagunehtani eneta gushazi esdege metsi la nehtset. Dennis Shorty was born under a tree at Pelly Lakes on the headwaters of the Pelly River near Ross River, Yukon.

Jackie lives on a semi-remote acreage on the Magundy River near Faro, Yukon.Her best work is of sky, trees, mountains and water; the landscape that surrounds her. She works in acrylic, watercolor and mixed media. Recent projects completed by Irvine are: 100 Painting in 100 Days and Faro?s Community Mural Project. The use of color, light and texture inspire her and animate her works.

A nomadic life has taken me from the jungles of Borneo to the houseboats of Kashmir and from the Great Barrier Reef to the Beaufort Sea. However it is the Yukon Territory, a place with enough wilderness to find great inspiration and peace, which has been home since 1984

Jeanine Baker has lived at Crag Lake since 1988. She works with glass to create a wide variety of objects or illustrations. Leaded, painted and fused glass is used to create illuminated images. These can be displayed as architectural features, or free hanging panels, shaped into bowls and platters, or even assembled to create window sculpture. Mosaics are made with the beautiful scraps of art glass that are left over.

Jenifer Davidson is a multi-media artist who seeks to combine nature's simple beauty with a human created components. Born and raised under the spell of the Yukon, Jenifer expresses her enchantment with her home soil through visual art, sculpture, jewellery, woodwork, and any other medium that speaks from her soul.

My inspiration comes from the pace of life; the amazing, friendly, diverse, energizing people that visit and live here; the huge inspiring landscape with the midnight sun, and the dark, restful winters; the delicious wild foods ? there is always somewhere new to explore in the North.

?Yukon?s gorgeous nature is my inspiration. Colors and fabrics are my passion.?My love for fabrics and textiles began when I was in kindergarten. By the age of twenty-four, I made my first traditional quilt. More than anything else in my life, I found that I was attracted to visual arts. Over the years I developed my quilting skills whenever I could find a little bit of time.

Chris employs a healthy dose of humor when composing her paintings inspired by stories and photos from her clients. The results are watercolor masterpieces with punch-lines guaranteed to tickle the funny bone of outdoors enthusiasts of all descriptions. Her insights into backcountry adventuring come from nearly a lifetime in the heart of Canada's Yukon Territory. Adoring of all critters great & small, Chris's pet portraits illustrate the character and soul of her subjects.

Apart from an incidental course taken in his lithographic training, Fredrick is largely self-taught. His paintings carry a sense of quiet satisfaction as he strives to depict the beauty and tranquility of the northern country, some of it still unspoiled and hardly touched by man. 

There is a sunny cabin, nestled in the woods near the shore of Shallow Bay.  This is the ideal home and studio for Yukon artist Lara Melnik. Primarily self taught, Lara has been making unique jewellery for many years.  Her obsession with beads has driven her to create her own, using polymer clay and the ancient Italian technique of millefiori canework.  Lara is happy making art that puts a smile on someone?s face. 

Art is a conduit for ideas, encompassing emotions, thoughts, and symbolism, affecting each observer in unique ways. I am aware of the integrated connotations and patterns in shapes and symbols and by using space as subject and element, the ultimate concept of an art piece may be obscure allowing a playfulness of meaning with the observer. I am confident to create artwork that is not only personal to my own experiences but to create visual codes which act as a nod of understanding between art and viewer as there are infinite patterns of connection.

Eugene Alfred is an artist/carver of Northern Tutchone and Tlingit ancestry, who belongs to the Crow Clan of Selkirk First Nation, located in Pelly Crossing, Yukon. Working in the Tlingit style and using Northern Tutchone stories carved in realistic imagery, Eugene carves birch, alder, and cedars, which he carefully harvests and cures. Using an array of over two-hundred hand tools, he carves masks, bowls, rattles, and sculpture panels. He believes that his art defines him and the respect he has for the land.

Artist and graphic designer Cass Collins left the town where she was born and raised, Whitehorse, Yukon, to study illustration and design at Capilano University in North Vancouver, BC.  After receiving her diploma, she returned north and settled on the outskirts of Atlin, BC to pursue a self-sufficient life style.Cass?s paintings have a graphic look and strong design sense. Acrylic paints or watercolour and ink are her primary mediums. Most recently, she has been exploring watercolour techniques for a series of farm-animal illustrations she is working on. Inspiration comes from her animals and garden, neighbouring farms, the land and wildlife surrounding her.In addition to her studio work Cass also teaches art classes. 

Lillian Loponen, born of Canadian Finnish heritage in Northern Ontario, has done art work since a child. Despite completing a number of career options, art has always been a constant factor in her life. She has been living in the Yukon since 1979.

Shelley interprets natural elements in metal to obscure the connection between botanical forms and the body. This work is the product of her study of orchids and other flora, which displays tenacity over urban structures. She challenges herself to represent this relationship in metal. The rendered organic elements fit the lines and shape of the body, while maintaining the strength inherent in metal.

Marie-H?l?ne?s work have been presented in various art shows in the Yukon, North West-Territories, and in Quebec. She is also involved with the International Art Project ?Caravane des dix mots? who brought her to Senegal, Madagascar, and Armenia. Marie-H?l?ne completed a Ph.D. in Art revealing the Yukon French identity by an art project.Marie-H?l?ne?s work varies from installation, printing, and community art work. How ever, she has a preference for painting. It gives her the opportunity to stop and explore her northern identity using shapes and colors. She always carries her sketch book takings notes and drawing her northern surrounding which she uses later in her colorful paintings.

Since the late 1950s, Jim's true passion has been gathering, recording and promoting Yukon history. Put it on paper with words, but above all with pen, ink, colour, adding his very own touch. A real colourful 5 percenter himself now, he was awarded "The Order of Canada" in 2003 for his magnificent contribution to gathering and preserving the Yukon's heritage.

?The creative process continually drives me to make images that range from the expressive spontaneity of painting, be it a tiny detailed rendition of a flower or berry, or a large vibrant landscape, to the technical renderings of graphic mediums,?

Harreson began his study of sculpture at the Ottawa School of Art 33 years ago. In 2000, this vocation became his full-time career. In 2002, Harreson and his wife made Whitehorse their home. In subsequent years he has helped create a cooperative art gallery, a private art gallery and has worked as business manager, curator and participating artist. Harreson works in clay and bronze, primarily producing portraits of historical figures, in the form of masks, and busts.

More stories about Harreson Tanner

Suzanne lives and works in Whitehorse, Yukon. Her primary media are oil painting and sculpture using a variety of materials such as driftwood, clay, wire and paper mache.?Her work is inspired by the human form and by the challenges of expressing the human condition. 

Artist Sandra Grace Storey creates animals and people with clay.  She loves to tell a story through her pieces.   

"Sandra hopes to blur the boundaries of ego and culture in order to celebrate simple feelings, memories and human nature."   Art Adventures On Yukon Time

Nicole Bauberger is a painter, writer and performer living in Whitehorse. She is one of our Original 12 writers and has contributed to What's Up Yukon since our first issue February 9, 2005. Along with her many freelance articles she has had a number of columns. Nicole has been the subject of many of our stories as well. Yu can find those here: https://whatsupyukon.com/tag/nicole-bauberger/

Rosemary Scanlon is an artist living and working in Whitehorse, Yukon.  Working primarily in watercolour, she attempts to locate the tension between fantasy and reality of northern life.Scanlon has exhibited nationally and internationally, including exhibitions in Montreal, San Francisco, Berlin and London. She received her Master?s Degree in Fine Arts from the Glasgow School of Art.

Niki?s artwork mostly represents natural scenes in an almost abstract sense, utilizing silhouettes to create an intense contrast and enhance the bright, vibrant nature of the fluid colours.  She also produces colourful jewelry from the recycled acrylic paint used in her fluid painting process.

From her beginnings in southern Ontario to the Yukon home she chose, Meshell Melvin has been making art. In a professional practice that spans 28 years, her images have been drawn, printed, painted, animated, collaged, and embroidered. Hand in handle with ?The Universal Movement Machine?, a rare industrial chain-stitch embroiderer; Meshell has been embroidering portraits of Yukon citizens. Her images reflect an interest and curiosity in the world around her: the people, the homes they live in, and the surrounding landscape.

The wild life of North, or anything wild for that matter, are of particular interest to Linda Leon. She usually works in two dimensions using oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel and charcoal drawings. Currently she has been exploring relief printmaking and mixed media collage with her eyes on the cosmos. When provoked, Linda Leon indulges in satire. Linda brings an unusual sensibility and humor to her work. Whether this is a result of her misadventures in live theater or whether she is just naturally attracted to the dramatic, is still under debate. She often comments that she is still looking to find her light.