Hello!
My name is Samantha Wigglesworth, I am a queer, nonbinary gender-queer contemporary representational artist.
They/She/He
Photo by Dark Ties Media
Bio:
Samantha Wigglesworth is a queer, nonbinary gender-queer artist who works primarily in queer, transgender and gender non-conforming representations through portraiture and abstract figuration. Growing up in conservative northern BC and moving to Abbotsford for their BFA at UFV was an eye-opening time for their artistic journey. While doing their BFA in Abbotsford, Sam had several exhibitions in the area, including a solo exhibition titled Spectrum, which has been shown all across BC.
After Graduation, Sam decided to continue their studies with a Master of Fine Arts at UBCO in Kelowna in September of 2024. Here, they have been working on plans to use their research thesis to further explore contemporary issues around gender expression with the increasingly violent and hostile tide of conservative rhetoric we are experiencing in North America. Through these works, they will advocate for gender expression as a positive and liberatory act. Asking audiences to reexamine their preconceptions of gender and their judgments, challenging them to see how they might contribute to change.
CV
Last updated March 2025
PROFESSIONAL EXHIBITIONS
2024 - Reflections of Societal Expectations, PoMoArts Gallery as a part of the 2024 Kwi Am Choi Exhibition Scholarship Award
2023 - Vulnerably Visible Artist in Residency, Dawson Creek Art Gallery, BC Mentor Cara Guri, Vancouver BC, CARFAC fee
Face-to-Face featuring Spectrum, Island Mountain Arts, Wells, BC, CARFAC fee
HeART Walk, Group Exhibition, Calvin Kruk Art Center, Dawson Creek BC,
2022 - Spectrum, Dawson Creek Art Gallery, Dawson Creek BC
HeART Walk, Group Exhibition, Dawson Creek Mall, Dawson Creek BC,
2021 - Open House, Curator and Exhibitor, Pop-up Gallery Show, Fort St John BC
JURIED EXHIBITIONS
2023 - Recived the Distinguished Reputational Award, for the work Drowning yet Surviving shown at Open Sky Art Exhibition, Arts North East, Chetwynd BC
2022 - Recived the Distinguished Reputational Award, for the work Modest shown at Open Sky Art Exhibition, Arts North East, Tumbler Ridge BC
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2025 - Existance is Resistance, UBC Okanagan Fina Gallery, Kelowna BC
2023 - Interrupting a Portrait, Peace Gallery North, Fort St John BC
2022 - Spectrum, Kiwanis Performing Arts Centre, Dawson Creek BC
2021 - Spectrum, Peace Gallery North, Fort St John BC
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GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025 - Form & Substance - MFA Show, UBC Okanagan Fina Gallery, Kelowna BC
Women in Art, Open Space, Abbotsford Arts Council, BC
The Arty Awards, Open Space, Abbotsford BC
The Gay Agenda, Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art, Kelowna BC
2024 - Artists to Celebrate 56 Years, Langley Arts Council Gallery, Langley BC
Beyond Materials MFA Show, UBC Okanagan Fina Gallery, Kelowna BC
Interpret Festival, UFV School of Creative Arts Grad Show, Abbotsford BC
Women in Art, Kariton Art Gallery, Abbotsford Arts Council, BC
UFV @ the MAC show, Mission Arts Council Gallery, Mission BC
2023 - Spectrum, Kariton Art Gallery, Abbotsford Arts Council BC
Pride Week Art Exhibition, North Peace Pride Society, Fort St John BC
2022 - Members Group Exhibition, Dawson Creek Art Gallery, BC
Multiformity, Peace Gallery North, Fort St John BC
Pride Week Art Exhibition, North Peace Pride Society, Fort St John BC
Open Sky Art Exhibition, Arts North East, Tumbler Ridge BC
CURATORIAL EXHIBITIONS
2022 - Co-Curator, Pride Week Art Exhibition, North Peace Pride Society, Fort St John BC
2021 - Curator, Open House, Pop-up Gallery Show, Fort St John BC
GRANTS
2024 - Individual Arts Grants: Visual Artists, BC Arts Council for the creation Right to Exist artworks
Kwi Am Choi Exhibition Scholarship Award, PoMoArts Gallery
EDUCATION & MENTORSHIPS
Sept 2024 - Current University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna BC, Masters of Fine Arts
Sept 2018 - April 2024 University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford BC, Bachelor of Fine Arts with Graphic Design minor
Feb 2023 - Sept 2023 Artist in Residency, Mentor Cara Guri, Vancouver BC, Portrait Painting Solo Exhibition
Sept 2022 - April 2023 Curatorial Gallery Practicum, Mentor Kit Fast, Dawson Creek BC
AWARDS & HONOURS
2025 - The Arty Award for Visual Art, Abbotsford Arts Council and Kariton Art Gallery, Abbotsford BC
2024 - UBC Okanagan Graduate Research Scholarships
Arts Advocacy Annual Leadership Award, University of the Fraser Valley
British Columbia Arts Council Scholarship, Individual Arts Awards
2023 - British Columbia Arts Council Scholarship, Individual Arts Awards Distinguished
2022 - British Columbia Arts Council Scholarship, Individual Arts Awards
2020 - AB-UFV/Community Ann Bursary
2018 - Royal Canadian Legion Bursary
District Authority Scholarship
Fort St John Community Arts Council Scholarship
Noelle Jellison Performing Arts Bursary
Peace Arts Gallery Society Bursary
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VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES
2022-2023 Run a Community Program once a week, Open Studio, Cultural Center, Fort St John BC
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PUBLICATIONS & ARTICLE INTERVIEWS
Cleugh, Janis. “She Painted Balloons as Mirrors. Her Art Is Now up in Port Moody.” Tri City News, August 7, 2024.
Foster, Shailynn. “Artist Talk, Canvas Building Demo at North Peace Cultural Centre.” Energeticcity.ca, July 19, 2023.
Buck, Todd. “Opening Night a Success for ‘Interrupting a Portrait.’” Alaska Highway News, July 11, 2023.
Hall, Spencer, and Greg Armstrong. “Community Roundup: Peace Gallery North.” Energeticcity.ca, July 6, 2023.
Foster, Shailynn, and Manavpreet Singh. “Local Artist Receives $6K, Selected for Artist-in-Residence.” Energeticcity.ca, January 18, 2023.
Prepost, Matt. “Wigglesworth Named Artist in Residence.” Alaska Highway News, December 19, 2022.
Hall, Spencer. “Two FSJ Artists Win Distinguished Awards at Open Sky Exhibition.” Energeticcity.ca, May 10, 2022.
Preprost, Matt. “Awards Handed out at Open Sky Regional Juried Art Exhibition.” Alaska Highway News, May 8, 2022.
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