Winter 2025 Artist Talks

Learning from other artists is a key element in any artist’s training and enlightening for those interested in learning more about the creative process. DVSA’s Artist Talk series is available to students and the general public, providing an excellent opportunity to hear from the artists themselves as they share information on their careers, process, life experiences and the work they produce.

Free. Advance registration required.

Karla Rivera
Friday, January 31, 2025
1:00pm

Born and raised in Mexico City, Karla holds a Bachelor of Craft and Design in Ceramics from Sheridan College. She was acknowledged with the Pottery Supply House Award from Sheridan three years in a row and has been featured in a number of group shows in addition to being exhibited at The Gardiner Museum in Toronto. A resident of Hamilton and an instructor at DVSA, she continues to develop and create her own functional and sculptural work characterized by its restrained colour and a combination of geometry with classic forms.

Karla’s approach explores and captures the different states of mind to which we are exposed in different stages of our life. Although sometimes we do not want to change, there are circumstances that call upon us to do so.

Join us for this engaging talk as Karla shares more about her experiences, artistic process and the inspirations for her ongoing work.

Heejung Shin
Tuesday, February 16, 2025
1:00pm

Heejung is a multidisciplinary artist born and raised in Korea, working primarily in installation, drawing and painting. In this talk, Heejung shares an in-depth exploration of her Hanji collage work, where traditional Korean mulberry paper meets contemporary art. She’ll discuss how the delicate yet resilient nature of Hanji allows her to investigate themes of identity, cultural heritage and emotional depth, creating intricate compositions that reflect both personal and universal narratives.

Heejung graduated from the University of Waterloo with Honours in Fine Arts Studio Practice, Intensive Studio Specialization. She’s received numerous awards for her outstanding work including the Printing Special Award, the Helen L. Cross Memorial Scholarship and the Vern Hacking Award in Fine Arts from the University of Waterloo.

Learn more about Heejung Shin’s practice, work and sources of inspiration in this much anticipated artist talk.