
Ania Telfer. Creating joy. Cultivating wonder
I often say that “I paint the spiritual world”. Inspired by the Baha’i Faith, which teaches that all art is worship and uplifts our world, I paint in a state of meditation, intuition, and sacred intention. My art is focused on healing and inspiring; the bold, and colourful pieces direct the viewer to experience a feeling of wonder and serve as a glimpse of the vibrant and powerful spiritual world which exists interwoven within our material one. I have a certificate in art therapy and know well the science of art inspiring positive feelings. Often, it is too easy to feel the weight of the difficulties that our world is facing. I hope my art inspires viewers to connect more deeply with their heart’s calling, experience a feeling of uplifting joy and thereby feel invited to express more fully their life’s purpose and feel better able to contribute to the positivity of our world.
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.
Bio
Ania Telfer is a Baha'i, multidisciplinary artist with roots in Poland, born in Toronto and living in ᐊᒥᐢᑲᐧᒋᕀ / amiskwaciy / Edmonton. . She is passionate about the intersection between creativity, healing and spirituality .
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
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BA in Communication, Minor in Photography (2001)
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St. Stephen’s College; Edmonton, Canada
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Spiritually Focused Expressive Arts Therapy Certificate (2022)
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City University of Seattle; Edmonton, Canada
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Masters of Counselling (in progress)

ARTIST CV
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
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BA in Communication, Minor in Photography (2001)
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St. Stephen’s College; Edmonton, Canada
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Spiritually Focused Expressive Arts Therapy Certificate (2022)
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City University of Seattle; Edmonton, Canada
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Masters of Counselling second year
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Selected shows
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Night of Artists Art Walk and Gala, Group Show, Edmonton, AB, March 2023
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Night of Artists, LOVE Exhibit, Group Show, Edmonton AB, February 2023
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Eternal Summer, Group Show, Multicultural Heritage Centre, Stony Plain, AB, December 2022
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Night of Artists, Opening Exhibit, Edmonton AB, December 2022
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Nowadays Group Show, Florence Contemporary Gallery, December 2022
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Colours of the Soul Group Show, New Art Project, December 2022
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SkirtsAFire Festival; Live Painting, Edmonton AB; March 2022
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Lois Hole Library; “Isolation Art”; Solo Show; Edmonton AB; January 2022
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Lois Hole Library; “Art Can Rescue the World”; Solo Show; Edmonton AB; December 2021
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Blue Sky Lofts, “Smalls” Group Show; Edmonton AB, November 202
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Body Beautiful, Group Show, Multicultural Heritage Centre, Stony Plain, AB, 2021
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Remedy Cafe, “One Fire”, Solo Show; Edmonton AB; October 2021
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Whyte Ave Art Walk, Group Show; Edmonton AB; July 2021
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Harcourt House, Group Show; “PandemArtium”; Edmonton AB; June 2021
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Women Artists Born Global, March Exhibition, Group Show; Online Gallery March 2021
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Bleeding Heart Art Space Social Media Takeover. Solo Show; Edmonton AB; February 2021
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Edmonton Public Library “IMAGINE”, Group Show; Edmonton, AB; September 2020
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Women Artists Born Global, Summer 2020 Exhibition, Group Show; Online Gallery June 2020
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Ridvan Festival; Live Painting; Edmonton, AB; May 2020
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Roots on Whyte -Solo Show; Edmonton, AB; January 2020
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“A Face in the Crowd” Group Show, Edmonton AB; October 2019
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“Whyte Ave Art Walk”, Group Show; Edmonton, AB; July 2019
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Harcourt House, Group Show: “Metaphor and Art”; Edmonton, AB; June 2019
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“YEG Canvas” Group Show; Edmonton, AB; June 2019
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Art Mentorship Society of Alberta Group Show “Art Market”; Edmonton, AB; June 2019
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Ridvan Festival; Live Painting; Edmonton, AB; May 2019
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Art World Expo, Group Show; Edmonton, AB; April 2019
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Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Solo Show, “Heal Me”; Edmonton, AB; March 2019
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Remedy Cafe, Solo Show, “Intuit”; Edmonton, AB; March 2019
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Alberta Baha’i Winter School, Art for Auction; Edmonton, AB; February 2019
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Bleeding Heart Art Space, Group Show “Open Walls”; Edmonton, AB; December 2018
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Art Mentorship Society of Alberta Group Show “Hark! An Exhibition of Angels”; Edmonton, AB; December 2018
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C-Tribe Festival; Live Painting, Edmonton, AB; November 2018
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Birthday Gala Art Mentorship Society of Alberta, Group Show; Edmonton, AB; November 2018
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Art From the Unknown, Group Show; Edmonton AB; October 2018
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Art Mentorship Society of Alberta, Group Show; Edmonton, AB; September 2018
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Harcourt House, Group Show “In Search of the Human Essence”; Edmonton, AB; July 2018
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Art Mentorship Society of Alberta, Group Show; Edmonton, AB; November 2017
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Art Mentorship Society of Alberta, Group Show; Edmonton, AB; September 2016
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North Vancouver Community Arts Council, Group Show “Homesick”; Vancouver, BC; May 2016
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Art Gallery of Alberta, Group Show, “Showcase”; Edmonton, Alberta; May 2016
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Latitude 53, Solo Show, “The Valley of Search”; Edmonton, Alberta; July 2007
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Art Gallery of Alberta, Group Show; Edmonton, Alberta; May 2007
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Anna Leonowans, Group Show, “Women in Photography”; Halifax, Nova Scotia; November 1999
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Group Show, “Advanced Colour Photo”; Halifax, Nova Scotia; November 1999
Grants Awarded
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Edmonton Arts Council Small Project Grant; January 2019
Press
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Very Much Alive: Stories of Resilience, Anthology February 2021
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Edmonton Public Library Q&A: Art, Life and Creativity, January 2021
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Podcast Interview on A Baha'i Perspective March 2020
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“Children’s Classes and Arts”, Baha’i Community of Edmonton, film interview October 2019
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“I Paint the Spiritual World”, Sonjel Vreeland; www.bahaiblog.net August 2019
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AR Productions -Edmonton Whyte Ave Art Walk 2019 - The Art of Ania Telfer – July 2019
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“Emerging Transformed: Ania Telfer at AWE – Edmonton”, Monika Blichar; May 2019; www.artworldexpo.com
Other Arts Experience and Projects
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Featured on Abstract Arts Mag, New_And_Modern and, Studio View Daily
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Workshop Facilitator: Creating Community through the Arts; 2019
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Weekly Volunteer Arts Based Programming Teacher for children; January 2007 – present
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Self-published Board Book, “Valleys of Wonder: Selections from the Writings of Baha’u’llah”; 2017
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Collaborative Art Project with my volunteer children’s class for Bent Arrow Organization for Reconciliation; 2014