Painting Life’s Layers: Haisha Shahalimi on Art, Motherhood, and the Stories We Carry

In this episode, host Sky Lilah sits down with Vancouver-based portrait artist Haisha Shahalimi, whose work explores themes of identity, memory, and belonging. Working primarily with acrylic on canvas, Haisha uses color, expression, and detail to tell deeply personal stories, capturing not just the face, but the emotional and cultural layers beneath.She opens up about the influences behind her work, her experiences navigating the art world as a woman of color, a mother, and how she connects with her subjects to create portraits that feel alive. Haisha also reflects on the role of art as a mirror for community, healing, and self-understanding.Whether you're an artist, curator, or collector looking to discover powerful narrative portraiture, this conversation offers an honest look at how personal truth becomes universal through paint.For more from the Vancouver Visual Art Foundation, follow @vanvafofficial and @artvancouver — or visit artvancouver.net and vanvaf.net.