Where Roots Take Color: Tessa Haywood on Travel, Heritage, and the Art of Beginning Again

In this episode of the Art Stories Podcast, hosted by Sky Lilah (@skylilah), we sit down with Tessa Haywood, a New Zealand-born, Port Coquitlam-based artist whose vibrant, slightly surreal paintings carry the memory of 22 countries and the intuitive spirit of a practice in constant evolution. Trained in Digital Media and shaped by studies at OCAD University in Toronto and the University of Leeds in the UK, Tessa works in acrylic, oil, and oil pastel — creating layered, textural works that bridge natural forms, cultural exchange, and personal identity.In this conversation, we explore the experience of building a creative life across continents, the meditative act of painting over and recycling her own canvases, and the deeply personal journey of reconnecting with her Māori heritage. Tessa opens up about how travel, junk journaling, embroidery, and photography all find their way into her paintings — and what it means to let older work evolve rather than disappear.✨ Follow & support: @artvancouver @vvafofficialDon't forget to subscribe and leave a review — we truly appreciate your support!