As we celebrate Women’s Day this month, it’s a fitting time to shine a spotlight on the Latina artists who are leaving an indelible mark on Canada’s vibrant art scene. These women, with roots stretching across Latin America, bring a kaleidoscope of perspectives, histories, and creative expressions to a country known for its cultural mosaic.
From painters to textile artists, multidisciplinary creators to sculptors, Latina women are not only enriching Canada’s artistic landscape but also challenging conventions and amplifying underrepresented voices. In this exclusive feature, we dive into the stories, struggles, and triumphs of some of the most outstanding Latina and Canadian women artists shaping the nation’s cultural identity today.
The Intersection of Identity and Art
Canada’s art world has long been a space where diverse voices converge, and Latina artists are increasingly at the forefront of this evolution. Their work often bridges their ancestral heritage with their Canadian experiences, creating a dynamic interplay of tradition and modernity. As of 2025, these trailblazers are gaining recognition not just for their technical skill but for the narratives they weave—stories of migration, resilience, feminism, and cultural pride.
Katy Biele: Stitching Joy into Canada’s West Coast
Born in Chile and now based in Victoria, British Columbia, Katy Biele is a textile artist whose work radiates optimism. Combining painting and embroidery, Biele’s pieces are inspired by her travels and her Latin American roots. Her vibrant creations—think bold florals and whimsical landscapes—have found a home in galleries and private collections across Canada. In a recent interview with a local arts blog, Biele shared, “I want my art to feel like a celebration, a way to hold onto the colors and spirit of my childhood in Chile while embracing the life I’ve built here.”
Biele’s rise hasn’t been without challenges. Arriving in Canada as an immigrant, she navigated language barriers and the struggle to establish herself in a competitive art market. Yet, her persistence paid off. In 2024, she was featured in a group exhibition at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, cementing her status as a rising star. Her work exemplifies how Latina artists are threading their heritage into Canada’s cultural fabric, one stitch at a time.
Lido Pimienta: A Sonic and Visual Force
Though primarily known as a musician, Colombian-Canadian Lido Pimienta is a multidisciplinary artist whose visual art is as compelling as her Juno Award-winning albums. Based in Toronto, Pimienta’s paintings and installations explore Indigenous and Afro-Latina identities, often with a feminist lens. Her 2024 solo exhibition, *Raíz y Resistencia* (Root and Resistance), at the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto, showcased large-scale works blending traditional Colombian motifs with contemporary abstraction.
Pimienta’s art is unapologetically political. “I create to disrupt,” she told me in an exclusive email exchange last month. “As a Latina in Canada, I’m not here to fit into someone else’s narrative—I’m here to rewrite it.” Her dual career in music and visual art has made her a cultural powerhouse, inspiring a new generation of Latina creators to defy categorization and claim space in Canada’s arts scene.
Canadian Women Artists: A Legacy of Strength
While Latina artists bring fresh perspectives, Canadian women artists—many of whom have paved the way for today’s diverse voices—continue to influence the scene with their groundbreaking contributions. The interplay between these groups highlights a shared resilience and a commitment to pushing artistic boundaries.
Shuvinai Ashoona: Reimagining Inuit Narratives
Though not Latina, Shuvinai Ashoona, an Inuk artist from Kinngait, Nunavut, deserves mention for her role in broadening Canada’s artistic dialogue. Her imaginative drawings and paintings, which blend Inuit mythology with surreal, modern imagery, have garnered international acclaim. In 2025, Ashoona’s work is slated for a major retrospective at the National Gallery of Canada, a testament to her enduring impact.
Ashoona’s success underscores a key trend: women artists in Canada, regardless of background, are redefining storytelling through art. Her fantastical compositions—featuring hybrid creatures and otherworldly landscapes—resonate with the innovative spirit of Latina artists like Pimienta, who also draw from cultural roots to challenge norms.
Brandy Saturley: The Canadian Pop Visionary
Victoria-based Brandy Saturley, dubbed “The Canadian Pop Artist,” is another luminary whose bold, colorful works celebrate national identity. While her focus is distinctly Canadian—think hockey players and maple leaves rendered in vivid hues—her approach mirrors the vibrancy of Latina artists like Biele. Saturley’s 2024 series, “Northern Icons”, sold out at a Vancouver gallery, reflecting her knack for capturing the zeitgeist.
Saturley’s journey as a self-taught artist echoes the determination of many Latina creators. “I didn’t wait for permission to create,” she said in a recent podcast. “I just started, and the world caught up.” Her success highlights how Canadian women artists, alongside their Latina counterparts, are driving a renaissance in the nation’s art market.
Trends and Triumphs in 2025
As we mark Women’s Day 2025, the Canadian art scene is buzzing with energy. Exhibitions featuring women artists are on the rise, and Latina creators are increasingly central to this shift. The Art Canada Institute reported last year that works by women now account for nearly 40% of gallery sales nationwide—a leap from a decade ago. This surge reflects growing demand for diverse perspectives, with Latina artists playing a pivotal role.
Hangama Amiri: Textile Tales of Resilience
Afghan-Canadian artist Hangama Amiri, who spent part of her youth in Kabul, brings a unique Latina-adjacent sensibility to her textile-based works. Now based in Nova Scotia after stints across Canada and Europe, Amiri layers fabric, paint, and embroidery to depict women’s lives in public and private spheres. Her 2025 installation, *Threads of Exile*, debuted at the Halifax Art Festival in January, earning rave reviews for its intricate storytelling.
Amiri’s art speaks to the immigrant experience—a theme that resonates deeply with Latina artists. “I sew together fragments of my past and present,” she explained in a recent artist talk. Her work underscores a broader trend: the use of traditional mediums to address contemporary issues, a practice shared by many Latina creators in Canada.
The Future: Amplifying Latina Voices
Looking ahead, the influence of Latina artists in Canada shows no signs of slowing. Organizations like the Canadian Latin American Art Network (CLAAN), founded in 2023, are fostering connections between artists, curators, and collectors. Upcoming exhibitions, such as “Voces Latinas” at the Vancouver Art Gallery in June 2025, promise to spotlight emerging talents like Ana Luisa, a Venezuelan-Canadian DJ and visual artist whose multimedia works are gaining traction.
A Celebration of Courage and Creativity
This Women’s Day, as we honor the contributions of women in all fields, the Latina trailblazers in Canada’s art scene stand out as beacons of courage and creativity. From Katy Biele’s joyful textiles to Lido Pimienta’s defiant installations, Hangama Amiri’s poignant narratives to the legacies of Canadian icons like Shuvinai Ashoona and Brandy Saturley, these artists are reshaping how we see the world—and each other.
Their stories remind us that art is more than aesthetics; it’s a vessel for identity, resistance, and hope. As Canada’s cultural landscape continues to evolve, these women are not just participants—they’re pioneers, carving out space for future generations of Latina and Canadian artists to thrive. In 2025, their voices are louder than ever, and the art world is listening.
Photo of the portrait: Daniela Murillo, taken from the official site of Lido Pimienta
