Art Stories: The Official Podcast

In this episode of the Art Stories Podcast, hosted by Sky Lilah (@skylilah), we sit down with Mys Nyx, the creative force behind Night To Dawn.Mys Nyx paints vibrant, hand-crafted original artworks that masterfully blend rich storytelling with luxurious embellishments—crystals, gold leaf, beads, and precious metals woven into every composition. Her practice spans powerful wildlife portraits, dramatic Canadian Rocky Mountain landscapes, and deeply respectful Indigenous-themed pieces that explore movement, emotion, and cultural beauty. Drawing on her background in psychology and over two decades of professional artistry, Mys Nyx brings profound psychological insight and intentionality to every brushstroke.In our conversation, we explore how her psychology background informs her understanding of human perception, why she's drawn to embellishing her work with precious materials, and how she approaches sensitive cultural narratives with reverence. We also dive into her upcoming Boba Fantasia series—a whimsical transformation of everyday objects into sparkling magical worlds—and what sustains her creative practice after two decades of dedicated artistry.Follow Mys Nyx: https://www.nighttodawn.com/Follow & support: @artvancouver @vvafofficialDon't forget to subscribe and leave a review – we truly appreciate your support!

In this episode of the Art Stories Podcast, hosted by Sky Lilah (@skylilah), we sit down with Ciara Allen, an Emmy-nominated makeup artist, painter, musician, and author who has spent 17 years crafting beauty across film, television, fashion, and commercial work. Originally from Dublin and now based in Vancouver, Ciara brings a distinctly artistic sensibility to everything she touches—whether she's designing a transformative makeup look, writing guides that reshape how beauty professionals think about their practice, or creating visual work across multiple mediums.We explore what it means to hold multiple creative identities at once, how her approach to makeup artistry serves the story being told on screen, and the philosophy behind her bestselling book "How to Succeed in the Beauty Business." Ciara shares candid insights about navigating an evolving industry, the intersection of commerce and artistic integrity, and what calls her to keep creating across disciplines. This is a conversation about the working artist, the power of craft, and why some people simply refuse to choose.Follow Ciara Allen: Www.ciaraallen.netFollow & support: @artvancouver @vvafofficialDon't forget to subscribe and leave a review — we truly appreciate your support!

In this episode of the Art Stories Podcast, hosted by Sky Lilah (@skylilah), we sit down with Ruobing Liao, a Toronto-based oil painter whose work combines vivid color with expressive, deeply emotional figurative forms. Through luminous palettes and fluid compositions, Ruobing creates atmospheric dreamlike scenes where female figures intertwine with organic elements, thorny plants and branching forms—blurring the boundary between inner experience and the natural world. A Sheridan College-trained artist, she has exhibited across Canada and was recognized as Second Place in the Artists to Watch Competition.We explore Ruobing's artistic journey, her distinctive visual language, and what it means to paint emotion into being. We dive into her process—how she conceives of her dreamlike scenes, the role of color and natural imagery, and the conversations she's trying to have with viewers through the human form. We also discuss her relationship with the Toronto art community, the recognition that has shaped her trajectory, and what continues to drive her practice forward.Follow Ruobing Liao: https://www.instagram.com/ruobing_liaoFollow & support: @artvancouver @vvafofficialDon't forget to subscribe and leave a review – we truly appreciate your support!

In this episode of the Art Stories Podcast, hosted by Sky Lilah (@skylilah), we sit down with Crista Cloutier, an American artist, writer, gallerist, and mentor whose career spans continents, disciplines, and decades of shaping how artists think about their practice.From her early years as a dealer and curator to producing award-winning documentary art films and writing for the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Gallimard, Crista has become one of the contemporary art world's most generous teachers. Her groundbreaking online course, The Working Artist, has empowered artists in over eighty countries to build sustainable creative lives. Now based in the South of France, and recently honored with the French Academy's Gold Medal- she continues to mentor creative entrepreneurs and expand what's possible for working artists everywhere.In this conversation, we explore what it means to move fluidly between roles in the art ecosystem, the philosophy behind teaching artists the business of art, and how to sustain a creative practice in an ever-shifting world. We talk about institutional recognition, the demystification of the art market, and what it takes to keep creating when you're giving so much to others.Follow Crista Cloutier: https://www.instagram.com/cristacloutier/Follow & support: @artvancouver @vvafofficialDon't forget to subscribe and leave a review, we truly appreciate your support!

In this episode of the Art Stories Podcast, hosted by Sky Lilah (@skylilah), we sit down with Michael — the self-taught artist-programmer behind Fractalspace — where mathematics becomes immersive visual art.Drawing on two decades of computer programming and a profound fascination with fractal geometry, Michael translates the infinite complexity of Mandelbrot's mathematics into luminous large-format prints and virtual reality experiences that take viewers deep into imagined cosmos. We explore the origins of his self-educated practice, the alchemy between code and color, the frontier of VR as an artistic medium, and what it means to make art from the very edge of mathematical imagination.✨ Follow & support: @artvancouver @vvafofficialDon't forget to subscribe and leave a review — we truly appreciate your support!

In this episode of the Art Stories Podcast, hosted by Sky Lilah (@skylilah), we sit down with Kaeli Yarwood...Kaeli is the gallerist at Steffich Fine Art, a gallery on Salt Spring Island founded in 1992 by her mentor Matt Steffich. Since his passing in 2020, Kaeli has carried the gallery's legacy forward, traveling to fairs like Art Vancouver in search of emerging and seasoned artists whose work is the right fit for representation.We talk about what curators are really looking for when they walk an art fair floor, how artists can set themselves up for gallery representation locally and internationally and why physical galleries and art fairs still matter at every stage of an artist's career.Follow Kaeli: SteffichFineArtFollow & support: @artvancouver @vvafofficialDon't forget to subscribe and leave a review we truly appreciate your support!

In this episode of the Art Stories Podcast, hosted by Sky Lilah (@skylilah), we sit down with Iqra Adam, a Calgary-based mixed-media artist whose work explores the balance between joy, memory, and emotion.Through a combination of bold, vibrant paintings and deeply reflective monotone pieces, Iqra captures both the beauty of everyday moments and the quiet intensity of memory. Her intuitive process, guided by feeling and experimentation, allows each piece to evolve organically — embracing texture, imperfection, and authenticity.Rooted in her philosophy of being “imperfect, yet undeniably perfect in its uniqueness,” Iqra’s work invites viewers into a space where color brings joy and monotone evokes nostalgia, creating a powerful dialogue between different sides of life.In this conversation, we explore creative intuition, emotional storytelling, and how art can transform even the smallest memories into something meaningful.✨ Follow & support:@artvancouver@vvafofficialThank you for listening to the Art Stories Podcast, where we celebrate the stories behind the art.

In this episode of the Art Stories Podcast, hosted by Sky Lilah (@skylilah), we sit down with Adam Silver — photographer, Hollywood location scout, and a man who has spent his life looking at the world with rare intentionality. Largely self-taught, Adam left home as a teenager in a station wagon, honed his eye across the Hawaiian Islands and the Colorado Rockies, and eventually built a career in California scouting locations for some of Hollywood's most celebrated directors, including Quentin Tarantino and Alejandro González Iñárritu.In this conversation, we explore the relationship between scouting and seeing — how a career finding locations for Pulp Fiction, Django Unchained, and The Revenant shaped Adam's approach to large format fine art photography. We dig into what it means to be self-taught, the lessons of his early apprenticeship with Canadian photographer Deborah Samuel, and the philosophy behind transforming a cinematic eye into images that stand alone as art.Follow Adam Silver: adamsilverphotos.com✨ Follow & support: @artvancouver @vvafofficialDon't forget to subscribe and leave a review — we truly appreciate your support!

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!

In this episode of the Art Stories Podcast, hosted by Sky Lilah (@skylilah), we sit down with Lara Shecter — Vancouver-based artist working in acrylic and mixed media, known for her luminous, resin-finished paintings rooted in the landscapes of the Pacific Northwest.Her canvases explore memory, solitude, and the quiet tension of place — capturing Jericho Beach at low tide, the working ships of the harbour, and the mountains and forests that define life in Vancouver. With a background in graphic design and a formative chapter shooting photo essays in Bangkok, Lara brings rare visual intelligence to every surface she works on.In this conversation, we explore how place becomes memory, how memory becomes paint, and what it means to build a practice out of the world right outside your window.Follow Lara:vanwrk.com✨ Follow & support:@artvancouver @vvafofficialDon't forget to subscribe and leave a review — we truly appreciate your support!

In this episode of the Art Stories Podcast, hosted by Sky Lilah (@skylilah), we sit down with Erica Marrello, a Vancouver-based multidisciplinary artist whose work pushes the boundaries between painting, performance, and immersive experience.As the creator of GET MELTED, Erica transforms the human body into a living canvas, creating powerful, real-time works that explore identity, sensuality, vulnerability, and transformation. What began as an intimate photoshoot series has evolved into large-scale live performances that captivate audiences and challenge traditional ideas of art.Through both her canvas work and immersive experiences, Erica creates art that is visceral, bold, and unapologetically expressive — inviting viewers into moments of intensity, connection, and personal reinvention.In this conversation, we explore creative risk, the power of the body as a medium, and what it means to create art that is truly alive.Follow Erica:@[email protected]✨ Follow & support:@artvancouver@vvafofficialDon't forget to subscribe and leave a review — we truly appreciate your support!

In this episode of the Art Stories Podcast, we speak with Jonathan Gomez - Confluent Studios, a contemporary artist whose work transforms inner awareness into visual form. Working with traditional decorative techniques like verre églomisé and raised lacquer, Jonathan and his wife, Tomoki, have spent over 15 years bridging historical craftsmanship with contemporary expression.Jonathan’s art emphasizes presence, material integrity, and contemplative awareness. Each piece is built slowly, layer by layer, inviting both maker and viewer into reflection. We talk about his creative process, philosophy, collaboration, and how these traditional methods can thrive as a living fine art practice today.Follow Jonathan: Instagram✨ Follow & support:@artvancouver@vvafofficial

In this episode of the Art Stories Podcast, hosted by Sky Lilah (@skylilah), we sit down with Sara Margherita (Margh), a multidisciplinary artist based in Toronto whose work explores movement, transformation, and the freedom to create without boundaries.Rooted in the idea of art as therapy, Margh uses creativity as a living language for self-expression, centering emotion as both source and subject. Through layers, color, play, and experimentation, their work captures the complexity of feeling while embracing duality and change.In this conversation, we explore vulnerability, creative freedom, and how art can become a powerful tool for healing and self-discovery. This episode is an invitation to let go of perfection and create from a place of honesty and intuition.Follow Margh:@madebymarghmadebymarg.com✨ Follow & support:@artvancouver@vvafofficialThank you for listening to the Art Stories Podcast, where we celebrate the stories behind the art.

In this episode of the Art Stories Podcast, we sit down with Sarah Jimenez, a videographer and photographer whose work focuses on capturing the authentic essence of the people and stories she encounters.Through both client collaborations and personal projects, Sarah approaches visual storytelling with curiosity, empathy, and an eye for the small moments that reveal who we truly are. Whether working behind the camera on professional projects or documenting life through her own perspective, Sarah’s work reflects a deep passion for showing the world as she sees it.In this conversation, we explore creativity, storytelling, the power of visual narrative, and how photography and film can capture the emotion and humanity within everyday moments.Follow Sarah:@[email protected]✨ Follow & support:@artvancouver@vvafofficialThank you for listening to the Art Stories Podcast, where we celebrate the stories behind the art.

In this episode of the Art Stories Podcast, we sit down with Cathy Key, Ph.D., a British-Canadian contemporary artist known for her large-scale mixed-media portraits that explore nature, the sacred, and our shared humanity.Cathy combines collage, acrylics, inks, and glazes to create richly layered images that feel both intimate and otherworldly. Drawing on her background in Anthropology and over 30 years of experience in embodied practices including yoga and ecstatic dance, her work seeks harmony within contrast and contradiction.We talk about her creative process, the inspiration behind her transformative imagery, and how her art bridges the personal and universal. This episode invites listeners to reflect on the connections between art, body, spirit, and community.Follow Cathy: @cathykeyart✨ Follow & support:@artvancouver@vvafofficial

In this episode of the Art Stories Podcast, hosted by Sky Lilah (@skylilah), we sit down with Lisa Wolfin (@lwolfin), founder of Art Vancouver, for Part 1 of an in-depth conversation exploring her remarkable creative journey.From working with Dior in France to building and running a fashion company across Canada, Lisa’s path has been anything but linear. Her story is one of vision, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to creativity in all its forms.In this episode, we dive into her early experiences in the fashion world, the evolution of her artistic identity, and the beginnings of what would later become Art Vancouver, one of Canada’s leading contemporary art fairs.This conversation offers a rare glimpse into the layers behind a creative leader,  not just as a founder, but as an artist, entrepreneur, and visionary.✨ Follow & support: @artvancouver @vvafofficialThank you for listening to the Art Stories Podcast, where we celebrate the stories behind the art. Please subscribe and leave a review! We appreciate your support.

In this episode of the Art Stories Podcast, we sit down with Jorge Izaza, a Mexican-Canadian wood artist whose work explores the connection between nature, form, and illumination.Inspired by waves, mountains, contemporary architecture, and the organic lines of the human body, Jorge creates asymmetrical wooden sculptures that celebrate the imperfect beauty of nature. In 2018, a pivotal moment in his studio led to the birth of Sculptures with Light, when the addition of illumination transformed his work into glowing, portal-like forms that merge art and function.In this conversation, we explore cultural identity, organic design, the emotional power of light, and how Jorge bridges traditional craftsmanship with contemporary innovation.Follow Jorge:https://www.instagram.com/jorgeizazawood/https://www.jorgeizaza.com/✨ Follow & support:@artvancouver@vvafofficialThank you for listening to the Art Stories Podcast, where we celebrate the stories behind the art.

In this episode of the Art Stories Podcast, we sit down with Kelcy Timmons Chan (they/them), a Cantonese Canadian American queer pop artist and mural painter based in Toronto whose work explores food as a love language.Through their lens as a biracial, gender-fluid immigrant, Kelcy amplifies the stories of immigrant and family-run restaurants, highlighting how cultural foods connect us to history, land, and community. Known for their signature “little purple people,” Kelcy creates intricate, bustling scenes that celebrate the presence of LGBTQIA+ communities everywhere, especially at the intersection of Asian heritage and queer identity.In this conversation, we explore belonging, representation, public art, and how food shapes our understanding of home. This episode is a vibrant reflection on identity, joy, and the power of storytelling through colour and community.Follow Kelcy: @mixt.paints✨ Follow & support:@artvancouver@vvafofficialThank you for listening to the Art Stories Podcast, where we celebrate the stories behind the art.

In this episode of the Art Stories Podcast, we’re joined by Brandy, the artist behind The Gayest Lil’ Gift Shop In All The Land,  a bold, joyful, and unapologetically queer creative universe celebrating LGBTQIA+ representation.Brandy’s work spans over 350 pieces and has appeared in Vogue, Vanity Fair, Art Basel Week, Netflix’s Snowpiercer, and numerous community festivals and exhibitions. We talk about her journey from fashion design and film costuming to building a thriving, community-centered art practice that includes home goods, clothing, children’s books, and more.This conversation is about visibility, humour, queerness, and the power of creating work that reflects lived experience,  loudly, proudly, and with heart.✨ Follow & support: @artvancouver @vvafofficial

In this episode of the Art Stories Podcast, we’re joined by Jeryce Claude Dianingana, a Paris-born artist of Congolese heritage creating Afro-centric 3D art across gaming, fine art, and film.Jeryce shares how his cultural roots influence his visual storytelling, blending African aesthetics with digital tools to amplify African cultural diversity on a global stage. We talk about identity, representation, technology, and the power of 3D art as a medium for narrative and cultural expression.This episode explores how tradition and innovation can coexist, and how artists can use digital platforms to tell meaningful, culturally grounded stories.✨ Follow & support: @artvancouver @vvafofficial@Jeryce

In this episode of the Art Stories Podcast, we sit down with Ray Beldner,  multidisciplinary artist, educator, and co-founder of Startup Art, whose career has never followed a straight line.Ray shares stories from his winding path through printmaking studios in Belgium, construction sites, classrooms at the San Francisco Art Institute, and ultimately founding a platform designed to help artists bypass gatekeepers and build sustainable careers. We talk about education, access, humour, disruption, and what it really takes to survive, and thrive, in the art world.This episode is equal parts insightful and entertaining, offering honest perspective on creativity, community, and making the art world more accessible and a lot more fun.✨ Follow & support: @artvancouver @vvafofficial

In this episode of the Art Stories Podcast, we sit down with Silvina Lanusse,  painter, mixed-media collagist, and storyteller through art, for a gentle, reflective conversation about memory, belonging, and the quiet act of reassembling what has been broken.Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and now living on Vancouver Island, Silvina works with torn paper, vintage letters, sheet music, old maps, and collected fragments of memory to create layered collage landscapes that explore transition, healing, and harmony. Her intuitive process invites viewers to pause, reflect, and find their own stories within the reconstructed worlds she creates.In this episode, we talk about working in the in-between spaces of life, trusting intuition, storytelling without words, and how art can become a way of piecing ourselves back together, one fragment at a time. Silvina also shares insights into her creative process, the role of place and migration in her work, and advice for artists drawn to non-linear, intuitive practices.This conversation is an invitation to slow down, to listen closely, and to reconnect with the beauty of layered stories,  both on the canvas and within ourselves.🔗 Learn more about Silvina and her work:Website: www.silvinalanusseart.caIG: @silvinalanusseartFB: @silvinalanusseartYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@silvinalanusseart✨ Follow and support:Vancouver Visual Art Foundation (VVAF)Art VancouverThank you for listening to the Art Stories Podcast, where we share meaningful conversations with artists whose work tells powerful, quiet stories.

In this episode of the Art Stories Podcast, we sit down with Angie Prime, an abstract painter based on Vancouver Island whose work is driven by an abundance of colour, texture, experimentation, and humour.Working primarily with acrylic paint and textured mediums, Angie embraces abstraction as a space for play, intuition, and curiosity. We talk about trusting the creative process, moving from creation to curation, and allowing joy and experimentation,  including miniature sculptures,  to guide the work. Angie also shares insight into her exhibition Creation to Curation and her upcoming feature in The Great Book of Art Makers.This conversation is a reminder that art doesn’t have to take itself too seriously to be meaningful, sometimes, laughter, colour, and courage are exactly what the studio needs.✨ Follow & support: @artvancouver @vvafofficial

In this episode of the Art Stories Podcast, we sit down with Rosemary, a multidisciplinary African-Canadian artist whose creative expression flows through painting, music, and writing, deeply rooted in her connection to the natural world.Rosemary’s work invites us to slow down, to pause, and to reconnect with the quiet beauty of life. Through sweeping landscapes and thoughtful reflection, she explores emotion, memory, presence, and the inner landscapes that shape our creative lives.Together, we talk about moving between artistic mediums, the importance of stillness in a fast-paced world, identity and creative voice, and the wisdom she’s gathered along her artistic journey. This episode is a gentle, grounding conversation for anyone seeking deeper connection through art.🔗 Learn more about Rosemary and her work: Website: https://www.rosemarykolasa.com/✨ Follow and support: • Vancouver Visual Art Foundation (VVAF) @vvafofficial  • @artvancouverThank you for joining us on the Art Stories Podcast, where we share meaningful conversations with artists who inspire reflection, connection, and creativity.

In this episode of the Art Stories Podcast, we’re joined by internationally recognised artist and presenter Daniel Taylor — known for his powerful, hyper-realistic paintings of critically endangered species and his long-running international TV series, When Paintings Come Alive.Daniel shares his creative journey, the stories behind his work, and how art can be a meaningful force for conservation and connection. We explore the emotional depth of painting wildlife, his experiences working in conservation spaces, and how storytelling, through both paint and film, can inspire awareness, empathy, and action.This conversation offers insight into what it means to create art with purpose, to follow curiosity across mediums, and to use creativity as a bridge between humanity and the natural world.🔗 Learn more about Daniel and his work: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLSA8_y8HWk✨ Follow and support: • Vancouver Visual Art Foundation (VVAF), @vvafofficial • @artvancouverThank you for listening to the Art Stories Podcast, where we celebrate the voices, journeys, and stories behind the art.

Join host Sky Lilah in conversation with Vancouver-based artist Elizabeth Cross, whose fascination with nature, love, and human connection fuels her vibrant, textured botanicals and expressive abstract works. With a background in Bio-Resource Engineering, Elizabeth brings a unique perspective to her art — blending science, emotion, and unconventional materials (plus a touch of sparkle).In this episode, Elizabeth shares how she’s built a sustainable art practice from her Kerrisdale studio, what it takes to grow an authentic brand, and how she balances creativity with business. From process to pricing to personal evolution, this is a candid look at what it means to live and work as a professional artist today.Whether you're a fellow artist, collector, gallerist, or simply art-curious, this episode offers inspiration and insight into the modern art world — one story at a time. For more from the Vancouver Visual Art Foundation, follow @vanvafofficial and @artvancouver for updates on our art fairs, events, and exhibitions — or visit artvancouver.net and vanvaf.com. 

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.

In this episode, host Sky Lilah speaks with Nigerian artist Silas Onoja, whose hyperrealist portraits challenge assumptions and reflect his lived experiences growing up in a society where creative careers were discouraged. From facing cultural and financial resistance to teaching himself how to paint using limited tools, Silas shares how he carved his path as a self-taught artist — and how hyperrealism became both his passion and protest.Together, they discuss what it means to paint truthfully, the discipline behind realism, and the importance of representation in the global art scene. Silas also reflects on how social media helped him bypass traditional gatekeepers and connect directly with audiences around the world.Whether you're a gallerist, collector, or emerging artist, this episode offers a raw and inspiring perspective on talent, perseverance, and the evolving art landscape. For more from the Vancouver Visual Art Foundation, follow @vanvafofficial and @artvancouver for updates on our art fairs, events, and exhibitions — or visit artvancouver.net and vanvaf.com.