The Program
The Northeast Mini Galleries include a series of 10 mini galleries located at community associations across Calgary’s northeast. The mini galleries feature 30 artists throughout the year — each exhibition showcases 10 local artists, selected by a local curator, for a four-month period.
The current Northeast Mini Galleries exhibition, HOME/LAND, was curated by Cobra Collins and explores themes of connection, care and the strength found in everyday relationships. The artworks are on display from November 2025 to February 2026.
Curatorial Statement
As an artist whose practice primarily focuses on the written and spoken word, I found the process of curating the Northeast Mini Galleries both humbling and inspirational. The poignant submissions presented from a diverse and passionate group of artists challenged me to look at the bigger picture of what it means to call a place and a land “home.” It also caused me to look inwards into my place here in Mohkínstsis as an Indigenous person who, through colonialism, has been displaced from my roots.
I hope that this collection of work holds you while asking you to dig deeper:
What does “homeland” mean to you? At what point does a new land become your home? Or perhaps, greater still – how do we reconcile calling a place “home” when we know that the land we live on was taken by force?
Each artwork chosen for this exhibition reflects the artist’s deep connection to the northeast portion of our ever sprawling city, and their clear commitment to supporting and uplifting the communities where so many distinct voices in this city live, work and create. The artworks range from seemingly small moments of joy, like a leisurely bike ride on your favourite path or a shared meal with newcomers in need of a reminder of family meals left behind, to larger conversations about diaspora, reconciliation and identity. The immense efforts these artists have put into not only their work, but also their way of being, shows us that we can carve new paths forward while still honouring our often-complex histories. Viewing these works, one can’t help noticing how individual moments begin to weave themselves together into a larger narrative of the many ways a person can define” Home.”
It would be understatement to say we are in turbulent times, and those in the margins often carry the weight of keeping others afloat, perhaps because survival has become second nature. I wish I never had to use the word resilient again, yet the work submitted by these artists is undoubtedly that. That and so much more — I hope this body of work greets you like a love letter, a light left on, or familiar voice calling as the door creaks open:
Welcome Home.
— Cobra Collins
Artists
The participating artists, artworks and community locations are:
Weather the Storm
2025
Acrylic on canvas
Location: The Livingston Community Association
The connection and resiliency of Calgarians have been incredibly evident in past years, especially during times of extreme weather.
Weather the Storm is a representation of a thunderstorm, much like the one that caused devastating hail damage in August 2024. I wanted to illustrate the beauty of such strong forces of nature, paralleling the beauty of when neighbours come together to help and support each other during devastating events.
Silent Tribute
2023
Photograph
Location: Crossroads Community Association
Amir Salehi (he/him) is an Iranian documentary photographer based in Calgary. With a background in photojournalism, his practice centres on capturing the political and social dimensions of everyday life. He began his professional career in 2013, documenting critical events in Iran with a focus on the intersection of politics, religion, and personal experience. Since immigrating to Canada, Amir has continued his work as a freelance photographer with the Globe and Mail, alongside his independent projects.
Amir’s approach is rooted in observation and an effort to present impartial narratives of events. For him, photography is not only a means of documentation but also a process of reflection. He uses the camera to slow down, to witness, and to preserve what might otherwise be lost.
Silent Tribute is a documentary photo series that captures small animal toys tied to fences across Calgary, quiet memorials placed in honour of children who died in residential schools. The project reflects on memory, absence, and how public spaces can carry the weight of collective grief in subtle and powerful ways.
Instagram: @amirsalehi_88
She Rises Anyway
2023
Linocut print
Location: Beddington Heights Community Association
Bukhtawar Malik is a visual artist working in both digital and traditional media. Her practice includes illustration, murals, and printmaking. Her work explores themes of emotion, nature, and human connection, focusing on how people experience and relate to the natural world. Through storytelling and symbolism, she builds layers of meaning that invite reflection and connection.
Influenced by Art Nouveau, she uses organic lines, intricate patterns, and warm colours to create a strong sense of harmony and flow. The centre of her practice is a dedication to meaningful connection with people, with nature, and with the shared experiences that bring us together.
She Rises Anyway speaks to the strength that comes from being rooted in community. The patterns symbolize people from diverse backgrounds woven together like fabric, while the circular lines echo maps of neighbourhoods, stories, and lives that form part of a larger whole. The central figure carries all of this; she is not alone but supported by the community, memories, and histories around her. Together, they all make her strong.
Website: bukhtawarmalik.com
Instagram: @bukhtawar_malik_
Garden of Eden
2021
Inkjet print
Location: Rundle Community Association
Near or Far is an ongoing portrait series that explores the negotiations of power, trust, and communication in intimate relationships. I work closely with friends from diverse backgrounds, nationalities and sexual identities to create fictional, yet emotionally resonant narratives grounded in real stories. By listening, observing, and co-creating with each subject, I offer space for vulnerability and reflection — both for those I photograph and for those who engage with the work. I see this series not only as a form of introspection but also as a way to consider how our inner landscapes shape our external relationships.
Website: christina-yao.com
Instagram: @cristinadass
All Hands on Deck
2015
Watercolour and collage
Location: Marlborough Park Community Association
All Hands on Deck celebrates the tradition of eating together with our hands, inspired by the South Indian sadya, a meal served on a banana leaf. For me, this practice is about more than food — it’s about closeness, care and community. By highlighting the act of eating without cutlery, a practice often misunderstood or overlooked, this work challenges colonial ideas of etiquette and uplifts traditions rooted in connection, care and community.
Instagram: @dailydoseofciza
On My Desk
2024
Acrylic
Location: Temple Community Association
Justine Pozon is Calgary-based Filipino artist working in a range of traditional and digital mediums. She is currently pursuing a bachelor of illustration and a minor in animation at the Alberta University of the Arts. Justine loves to explore storytelling through fun environments and vibrant colours, pulling the viewer into a fantastical world outside their own. Oil pastel, gouache, acrylic, pencil crayon, marker and mixed media are the mediums they like to work in but are not limited to. She hopes to inspire happiness and joy in those who see her art.
Instagram: @euphatari
“El Derecho de Vivir en Paz: Libertad…?” (The Right to Live in Peace: Freedom…?)
2019
Four colour silkscreen
Location: Falconrdige/Castleridge Community Association
Mariella Villalobos is an award-winning Chilean-Canadian illustrator working in Mohkinstsis and Glasgow, U.K. Born in Calgary, she initially grew up in Santiago, Chile, until her family’s return to Calgary in 1993. She graduated from Alberta College of Art and Design in 2010 with a Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication Design. In 2019 she received her Masters of Design in Visual Communications from the School of Glasgow. Villalobos has worked in everything from editorial illustration to books, albums, printmaking and character design and continues to be an active participant and volunteer in the local arts, film and music communities.
This illustration is one of eight that forms part of a larger body of work created over the span of a decade. The series is based on her father’s recorded personal account of his experiences during the 1973 Chilean military coup. Together, the works comprise screen prints, transparencies and a hand-bound book. The visual is inspired by the Chilean political graphic style that was outlawed by the Pinochet dictatorship and disappeared amid the “national forgetting” perpetuated by later democratic governments.
El Derecho de Vivir en Paz: Libertad…? is the moment of her family’s release from imprisonment in the National Football Stadium into a country ruled by fear; not long after, they sought asylum in Calgary. This experience shaped many Chilean newcomers of the era and continues to echo for the people who frequent the Chilean Canadian Community Association in Westwinds. Ultimately, the work seeks to map where personal identity and national history collide in the lives of everyday citizens, and to shed light on a dark and under-recognized chapter in the geopolitical history of the 20th century.
Website: townofwolves.com
Instagram: @mariellavee
Connection Through the Land
2025
Fibre sculpture
Location: Winston Heights-Mountview Community Association
I was born and raised in northeast Calgary, where I spent time in the parks and green spaces, notably Nose Hill Park. As an adult, when I return to these spaces, I notice the changes — the growth in a tree or a new walking path created by other visitors who, like me, appreciate this space. I have also enjoyed the pathways created by people who walked the land before us. This community is developed over time and is connected through their mutual love of the land. Threads are used to connect things — the land is the thread that connects the communities of northeast Calgary.
Through my artwork, Connection Through the Land, I used threads of many colours, duplicating the colour palette of Nose Hill Park in early spring. The horizon line in this artwork hints at the vegetation seen on Nose Hill and a pathway created by those who have enjoyed this park through the years. The landscape created through threads is also fragile looking, reminding us that we must be responsible stewards of these spaces. The layers of this artwork are reminiscent of sediment layers or tree rings, showing the passage of time. Like a land acknowledgement, a sense of gratitude is expressed for the stewards who have lived, worked and played on this land before us. The opportunity to enjoy spaces like Nose Hill Park exists because of those who lived before us and took care of them.
Website: nardaray.com
Instagram: @nardaray
Let’s Go Biking
2024
Acrylic on canvas
Location: Martindale Community Association
At first, I may appear shy and quiet, but the true me shines through with a delightful and humorous personality. When I paint, I often sing softly to myself, rocking gently as I focus deeply on each brushstroke. My imagination is vast, and my sense of humour finds its way into my art, giving each piece a spark of playfulness and creativity.
My passion for art is woven into the fabric of the community. Northeast Calgary is not only where I live — it is where I give back, grow as an artist, and connect meaningfully with others.
Through my artwork and community involvement, I strive to show how art can be a powerful force for connection. My work reflects the vibrant spirit of northeast Calgary and celebrates belonging, service, and the joy of self-expression.
Mohkinsstsis Porcelain
2025
Linocut and ink
Location: Thorncliffe Greenview Community Association
Calgary-based artist Rachel Hao Ran Li (黎浩然) is a Chinese Canadian artist, educator and musician. Her work explores cultural hybridity and personal mythology. She’s drawn to vibrant colours, playful textures, and storytelling.
As both an artist and educator, Rachel is curious about how the arts shape our everyday lives. Art helps us connect, reflect and imagine. Her practice blends traditional techniques with contemporary ideas. She often encourages viewers to slow down, look closer and rediscover a sense of wonder. She sees artmaking as a way of marking both place and time — it can root us in our surroundings while holding memories that might otherwise fade.
Rachel is especially inspired by Calgary’s Chinatown and local community spaces. These places show how art can bridge generations, cultures, and personal histories. Through her work, she hopes to spark joy, curiosity and connection while honouring the stories that shape people and place.
Instagram: @Lilin.makes