Ania Telfer. Creating joy. Cultivating wonder
Welcome to my world of contemporary abstract art, where the spirit meets the canvas. Through bold, colorful and intuitive brushstrokes, I aim to transport viewers to a place of joy, wonder and upliftment. My art is inspired by the world of the spirit and the limitless potential of the human soul.
Each painting is a unique expression of emotion and energy, a visual representation of the unseen forces that shape our world. Through my art, I hope to inspire positive change and uplift the world one painting at a time.
From vibrant bursts of colour, to fluid, sweeping strokes, my paintings are a celebration of the beauty and power of the human spirit. They are an invitation to let go of the mundane and enter a world of wonder and possibility.
Whether you are an art enthusiast or simply looking for a moment of inspiration, my paintings offer a window into the transformative power of creativity. Join me on this journey and experience the joy and upliftment that art can bring to your life.
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I also offer art based mental health therapy for individuals, groups and workshops for children, adults, couples and school programming at Art Can Rescue the World studio.
Ania Telfer, a Baha’i, intuitive, multidisciplinary artist, third-culture kid, second-generation Canadian, of Polish descent, was born in Toronto and currently resides in amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton). She studied painting in Italy, holds a graduate certificate in expressive arts and a minor in photography. Recipient of an individual 2019 grant and a 2023 collective grant from the Edmonton Arts Council, Ania's work is a testament to her dedication to expanding creative horizons while fostering interdisciplinary collaborations. With a background in expressive arts therapy, counseling, and photography, Ania's work transcends traditional boundaries, encompassing paintings, mentorship, dance collaborations, multi-media, installations, eco-art, and interactive experiences. Ania's work as an arts-based mental health therapist informs her belief in the transformative power of creativity, intertwining healing, spirituality, and artistic expression. Through her practice, she aims to invite viewers into realms of wonder and self-discovery, evoking profound moments of joyful possibility and perception. Ania’s dedication to pushing artistic boundaries and nurturing collaborative networks reflects her vision of art as a catalyst for personal and societal transformation.
Education
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Ontario Academic Credit in Art; Sienna, Venice& Florence, Italy
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Nova Scotia College of Art and Design; Halifax, Canada
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Concordia University; Montreal, Canada
BA in Communication, Minor in Photography -
St. Stephen’s College; Edmonton, Canada
Spiritually Focused Expressive Arts Therapy Certificate -
City University of Seattle; Edmonton, Canada
Masters of Counselling (in progress)
ARTIST CV
Artistic and cultural work presented to the public
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2024 Polish Art of Edmonton / Polish Cultural Society of Edmonton / Edmonton AB
2024 Featured at Epcor Qualico Tower and Edmonton City Centre Mall, Edmonton AB
2024 Immortal Realm / Theatrical live painting, Painter / Performer, Dancer, Collaborator / Unveiling Cabaret / Beyond the Frame Collective / Mile Zero Dance / Edmonton AB
2024 Chromatic Conscious / Theatrical live painting, Painter, Performer, Dancer, Collaborator / Unveiling Cabaret / Mile Zero Dance / Outside the Frame Collective / Edmonton AB
2023 If Walls Could Talk, If Floors Had Eyes/ Artist: paintings and ceramics / Stollery Gallery/ Edmonton, AB
2023 Glimpses of the Divine Springtime / Artist: paintings, floral installation / Bleeding Heart Art Space / Edmonton AB
2023 Love / Artist: paintings / NOA Gallery / Edmonton AB
2022 Eternal Summer / Artist: paintings / Multicultural Centre Public Art Gallery / Stony Plain, AB
2022 Opening Exhibition / Artist: paintings / NOA Gallery / Edmonton AB
2022 SkirtsAFire Festival / Artist: Live Painting / Edmonton AB
2022 Isolation Art / Lois Hole Library / Edmonton AB
2021 Smalls / Blue Sky Lofts / Edmonton AB
2021 PandemArtium / Artist: painter / Harcourt House / Edmonton AB
2021 March / Artist: painter / Women Artist Born Global / Online
2021 Social Media Takeover / Artist: painter / Bleeding Heart Art Space / Edmonton AB
2020 Imagine / Artist: painter / Stanley Milner Library / Edmonton AB
2020 Summer / Artist: painter / Women Artist Born Global / Online
2020 Ridvan Festival / Artist: Live Painting / Edmonton AB
2019 A Face in the Crowd / Artist: painter/ Edmonton AB
2019 Metaphor and Art / Artist: painter / Harcourt House / Edmonton AB
2019 YEG Canvas / Artist: painter / Edmonton AB
2019 Ridvan Festival / Artist: Live Painting / Edmonton AB
2019 Heal Me / Artist: painter / Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital / Edmonton AB
2018 Art Mentorship Society of Alberta / Artist: painter / Edmonton AB
2018 C-Tribe Festival / Artist: Live Painting / Edmonton AB
2018 Art From The Unknown/ Artist: painter / Edmonton AB
2018 In Search of the Human Essence / Artist: film / Harcourt House / Edmonton AB
2018 NextFest / Artist: painter / Edmonton, AB
2017 Art Mentorship Society of Alberta / Artist: painter / Edmonton AB
2017 Valleys of Wonder / Self-published board book / Edmonton AB
2016 Art Mentorship Society of Alberta / Artist: painter / Edmonton AB
2016 Homesick / Artist: photography / N. Vancouver Community Arts Council / Vancouver BC
2007 The Valley of Search / Artist: photography / Latitude 53 / Edmonton AB
1999 Women in Photography / Artist: photography / Anna Leonowens Gallery / Halifax NS
Arts and cultural work experience and community collaboration activities
2023/current Building Vibrant Communities; Find Your Bliss / Expressive Arts Workshop / Strathcona Library / Edmonton Public Schools; Bruyer & Mackay LLP / NDT Global / Edmonton, AB; Nisku, AB; Sherwood Park, AB
2023/ current Arts Classes for Children / Art Can Rescue the World / Edmonton, AB
2023/ current Arts Based Mental Health Counselling / Art Can Rescue the World / Edmonton, AB
2014 Truth and Reconciliation Art Project / Baha’i Children’s Class / Collaboration with Bent Arrow Organization / Edmonton AB
2019/ current Team Building Through Expressive Arts / Edmonton AB
2000 – 2014 Photography and Video/ Montreal, QC; Lucknow, India; Edmonton, AB
Teaching and mentorships
2022 Building Vibrant Communities / Junior Youth Empowerment Program / Edmonton AB
2019 Building Vibrant Communities / Alberta Baha'i Winter School / Edmonton AB
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Volunteer and art donations for non-profit
2024 Art for Auction / Mile Zero Dance / Edmonton, AB
2023 Art for Auction / Amy’s House / Edmonton, AB
2022 Art for Auction / Multicultural Centre Public Art Gallery /Stony Plain, AB
2019 Art for Auction / Alberta Baha’i Winter School / Edmonton AB
2007- present Arts Workshop Facilitator / Edmonton Baha'i Community / Adults and children / Edmonton, AB
Residencies
2023 Nina Haggerty Arts Centre/ RBC Emerging Artist Program/ About: mentored artists with disabilities and received mentorship from arts professionals / Edmonton AB
Artist talks, presentations and articles
2023 Where Creativity Meets Divinity / Presentation / Edmonton Baha’i Community/ Edmonton / https://edmontonbahai.org/art-as-connection-with-the-divine-a-bahai-perspective/
2022 Divine Springtime / Artist Talk / Bleeding Heart Art Space / Edmonton AB
2021 Very Much Alive: Stories of Resilience / Selkie Publications
2021 Q&A: Art Life and Creativity / Presentation / Edmonton Public Library, Edmonton AB
Grants
2023 Artist Driven Major Projects / Edmonton Arts Council
2019 Exploration and Experimentation / Edmonton Arts Council
Media coverage
2024 Renew a Tranquil Conscience Within Me / Interview for Edmonton City Centre Mall / Edmonton AB / https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6aMHXKr_vY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
2024 Syrenka Art Exhibition / AR-point99 / interview 2:06-2:35 about: my recent art projects / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7csxeJj2tAE&ab_channel=AR-point99
2020 Podcast Interview / A Baha’i Perspective / About: how the Baha’i Faith and spirituality have shaped my approach to art making / https://www.everand.com/podcast/455575577/A-Baha-i-Perspective-Ania-Telfer-A-Baha-i-Perspective-Ania-Telfer
2021 The Oneness of All Spiritual Life / Contributor to Mediation Project/ Painting / https://www.yogaavecmoi.com/bmpblog/2020/8/11/29365-hidden-word-1-part-i-arabica-k9rch-3yy2c-gbnwl-ggz6j-mmp9n-janlm-nsh2c-ekh4d-emh4d-6bk7k-yc9tj-jart4-d9b2k-r9bze
2019 Educating Children Through Arts / Film Interview / Edmonton Baha’i Community / Edmonton, AB
2019 I Paint the Spiritual World / Sonjel Vreeland / About: the inspiration behind my art / https://www.bahaiblog.net/image/visual-arts/i-paint-the-spiritual-world-the-art-of-ania-telfer/
2019 Emerging Transformed / Monika Blichar / About: the role of intuition in my creative process / https://theartworldexpo.com/2019/04/11/emerging-transformed-ania-telfer-at-awe-edmonton/
Memberships
2023-present Member / CARFAC Alberta
2023-present Painter, Performer, AV, Dancer, Collaborator / Beyond the Frame Collective
2022-present Member / Alberta Society of Artists