2025 Art Bus Artists Announced

Dr. Hali Heavy Shield
An accomplished multi-disciplinary artist, author, instructor and mentor, Nato’yi’kina’soyi (Holy Light that Shines Bright), Dr. Hali Heavy Shield (PhD 2024) is the first Blackfoot woman to receive a PhD from Iniskim, University of Lethbridge. A member of the Kainai Nation (Blood Tribe), Hali’s research and art making focuses on the Blackfoot healing ways of storytelling. Her work is influenced by experiences in her home community, including Blackfoot stories, significant sites, family and women as sources of strength and goodness.

La Güita

La Güita
Bringing magic and folklore to life, La Güita (she/her) is a Calgary-based Nicaraguan Canadian artist whose murals and illustrations burst with vivid colour and movement that lean into the sacredness of identity. Her work transforms public spaces into dreamlike landscapes that celebrate ancestry and joy. 

Instagram: @joseelaguita

Mao and Chris

Mao and Chris
Mao (Kun) Chen and Chris Savage, collectively known as Mao and Chris, are artists based in Calgary. Their collaborative work spans ceramics, paintings and public art. Mao and Chris delve into themes of identity, diversity, and societal change, bridging cultural gaps through their art. They merge traditional and pop culture elements to explore personal and cultural narratives, fostering cross-cultural communication and offering rich, layered interpretations that resonate across a wide audience. 

Recognized with several grants and awards from prestigious bodies such as the Canada Council for the Arts and Calgary Arts Development, Mao and Chris have been lauded for their contributions to advancing contemporary ceramic art and fostering meaningful dialogues within the art world. Additionally, both artists have expanded their perspectives and enriched their practice through various international residencies and exchanges, including the Deer Lake Artist Residency in Burnaby, B.C. and the Royal College of Art Exchange in London, U.K. Their work is held in private and public collections across Canada, the U.S. and in Asia. 

https://www.maoandchris.com
Instagram: @mao_and_chris

Moey Blanco

Moey Blanco
My name is Moey Blanco, a full-time artist based in Calgary. As part of the Japanese postmodern art movement known as Superflat — with artistic influences including Takashi Murakami and Yoshitomo Nara — my work blends two-dimensional graphic design, countercultural street art, and the reflective depth of fine art to explore ideas of introspection and community. My love for the simplicity of cartoons has also become influential in my works featuring whimsical characters, striking lines, and bold compositions. 

My current focus is celebrating the diversity of Filipino culture and art through my collective, Indioz Bravoz. Co-founded with Calgary and Vancouver-based artists such as Mar Cortez, Mae Facundo, and Harvey Nichol, our goal is to spotlight our heritage and bring artists together from across the Western diaspora. 

From murals and installations, to apparel and exhibitions, my art has been showcased locally and internationally.  

Instagram: @moeyblanco

Presley Mills

Presley Mills
Since graduating from Alberta University of the Arts, Presley has been working on a variety of projects that include branding, art direction, illustration, advertising and publishing. She currently works as the Creative Services Director at pipikwan pêhtâkwan. Her creative philosophy centres design as visual storytelling; combining arts and research practices. Art is her way of learning and sharing more about the world — specifically, exploring themes of Indigenous identity, decolonization, lessons from the natural world and art as space for both joy and grief.  

Sam Hester

Sam Hester
Sam Hester makes comics that tell real-life stories rooted in Calgary/Moh’kinsstis. Sam uses the medium of autobiographical comics as a tool for community-building: local stories can be great connectors that get people talking about places and their history. You can find Sam’s comics at the Calgary-based local independent journalism outlet The Sprawl. 

Since 2014, Sam has also worked as a graphic recorder, one of only a handful in Canada. Listening deeply, she documents live events, creating “illustrated meeting minutes.”  

Sam’s 2021 TED Talk about Graphic Medicine (using visual storytelling to support health care communication) has had almost two million views. 

Instagram: @calgaryhester

 Sydonne Warren

Sydonne Warren
Sydonne Warren is a muralist, entrepreneur and community builder whose work is all about celebrating culture and making a real impact. Originally from Jamaica and now living in Canada, she’s spent the last four years transforming public spaces with large-scale murals that honour diversity and amplify underrepresented voices. With deep roots in her Caribbean heritage and the stories of Black women, Sydonne’s art is full of vibrant colours, and expressive figures. 
 
Her murals can be seen in Calgary, turning ordinary walls into powerful stories of resilience, empowerment and unity. For Sydonne, art is a tool to unite people and she’s committed to using it to foster connection. Some of her murals are collaborative efforts, created alongside residents and youth, blending her artistic vision with the voices of the community. This approach ensures the art is not only reflective of her style but also inclusive of the people it represents. 
 
Sydonne is passionate about teaching and mentoring through art.  
 
Sydonne continues to inspire and strengthen communities, turning blank walls into symbols of hope and unity. Her goal is always to empower others to see the transformative power of public art, creating something that not only beautifies a space but also leaves a lasting impact.