Shawna Ariel is a neurodivergent mixed media painter and freelance curator based in Vancouver, BC, on the traditional, unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. As a settler on stolen land and the child of a diasporic parent, she is conscious of her position within these histories. Her work blends fantasy, science fiction, ecology, humor, and storytelling, often using upcycled and donated materials. Ariel explores identity, the ecology of her home, and human connection, transforming discarded objects into artworks that spark conversation and encourage social engagement. She is the founder of The Suitcase Curatorial Collective, a community-driven initiative supporting emerging artists and collectives through exhibitions, opportunities to showcase and sell work, participate in workshops, collaborative projects, and public programming. She actively organizes and participates in charity-focused events, including art raffles and fundraisers, using her curation and artwork to support social causes, such as initiatives that promote equity, community well-being, and access to the arts. Her practice challenges conventional definitions of art, emphasizing empathy, sustainability, and the power of personal and collective stories in a world dominated by commercialism.
Ariel’s work and curatorial projects have been presented at artist-run centers, pop-up exhibitions, and alternative spaces across Vancouver, including James Black Gallery, Langley Arts Council, Access Gallery, Emily Carr University Object Corner and Neighborhood Gallery, Grey Lab, and other underground venues for experimental and interdisciplinary art and music. She currently curates for Champions of Hope, a Vancouver-based fundraising organization, and her work has been featured in publications ranging from Vice to online podcasts and independently run magazines. Ariel is actively involved in artist collectives and supports emerging artists and designers through promotion and collaboration, including her work with Last House Collective and EyeColor Collective. In addition to exhibiting her own art, she aims to elevate others’ projects through performative and collaborative approaches. Currently in her final year of a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Ariel’s integrated practice of painting and curation is driven by the belief that art is transformative, capable of raising awareness, fostering connection, and inspiring meaningful change in communities and individual lives.
