Shantael Sleight – Artist

Shantael Sleight (b. 1975, Edmonton, AB) is a contemporary Canadian painter in Victoria, BC. Since completing her honours BFA in 2002 from the Alberta University of the Arts (PKA Alberta College of Art & Design), she has maintained a studio practice. She has exhibited publicly and privately throughout Canada. Shantael’s artwork focuses on the human experience instantiated in nature, as a way to explore themes of ephemerality, impermanence, abundance, and nuance.

Statement

“I am a painter and explorer of materials, fabric, and clay. Often, I work from imagination; a habit developed through curious observation of everyday life, our inner lives, and the natural world. I find inspiration on my daily walks, wandering in the trees, observing nature’s cycles, and pondering the ordinary things that often go unnoticed. Flower petals scattered on the pavement, the strangling overgrowth of ivy, a mother holding her squirmy toddler. Interpretations of this kind of simple beauty show up in my work, expressing nuanced states of being.

The raw beauty in nature that parallels our humanity and offers a reflection of self is essential to how I work, what I paint, and how I contribute to our collective experience through art.”