Announcing Brampton’s 2026 Artist in Residence, Shiemara Hogarth

All residents are invited to develop their craft skills while building a community of practice together.

Brampton, ON (May 15, 2026) – Brampton Arts Organization (BAO) and Brampton Library are excited to announce that Shiemara Hogarth is the 2026 Brampton Artist in Residence.

Initiated in 2023, the Brampton Artist in Residence program awards the recipient an $8,000 stipend and free workspace to undertake a community-based artist residency at Brampton Library’s South Fletcher’s branch. This year, the residency runs across the summer from June to September.

Over the course of the residency, community members of all ages and experience levels are invited to engage with Hogarth. This will be possible in multiple ways: through both drop-in office hours and one-on-one mentorship sessions as well as a series of free low-barrier and accessible hands-on workshops exploring hand weaving, coiling, and surface pattern design.

About the Artist

Shiemara Hogarth is a Jamaica-born, Brampton-based textile and craft artist whose practice explores belonging, memory, and storytelling through weaving, embroidery, digital printing, and sculptural forms. Her MFA thesis ‘Personal Geographies’ has been exhibited nationally; her curated exhibition ‘Threading Black’ with the Alberta Craft Council has been shown in Edmonton and Calgary; and her writing has been featured in Studio Magazine.

She organized and hosted the symposium ‘Canadian Women in Craft: A Conversation’. Trained in history, material art and design, and craft media, Hogarth has had her work included in volume 2 of the Jarislowsky Institute for Studies in Canadian Art’s Craft & Craftivism: A Biographical Dictionary of Contemporary Ceramic, Fibre and Class Artists in Canada.

About the Residency

From June 10 to August 26, Hogarth will hold weekly public office hours on Wednesdays from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. except for Canada Day on July 1st. All experienced, aspiring, or curious textile and craft makers are invited to drop in to meet her, check out what she is working on, and talk about craft making.

In addition to her office hours, Hogarth will hold weekly one-on-one mentorship sessions on Sundays from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. from June 14 until August 23, 2026. To schedule a mentorship session, community members are asked to email events@bramptonlibrary.ca with their preferred dates and times and a brief summary of what they would like to discuss or work on during the session. Please note the appointments are 60 minutes each.

Save the Dates

Meet Brampton Artist in Residence Shiemara Hogarth
Meet Shiemara Hogarth and learn about her journey as an artist, her creative practice, and what her residency will offer the community.
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
7:00 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.

Introduction to Hand Weaving
Learn the fundamentals of hand weaving by making a small textile sample.
Free, all ages, no experience needed.
Saturday, June 13, 2026
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Introduction to Coiling by Making Baskets & Rugs
Learn how to make a small, coiled basket or flat rug.
Free, all ages, no experience needed.
Monday, July 20, 2026
7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Introduction to Surface Design Using Repeat Patterns
Learn how to create a small pattern tile that can be used on fabrics, wrapping paper, stationery, and more.
Free, all ages, no experience needed.
Thursday, August 13, 2026
7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Brampton Artist in Residency Showcase
Celebrate the residency with a showcase featuring the artworks created by the program participants and hear about Shiemara’s residency experience.
Saturday, September 19, 2026
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Free / All are welcome

Links

Further information and registration details can be found here.

Photographs of the artist and her work can be found here.

Quotes

It is once again exciting to welcome the Artist in Residence to Brampton Library, allowing our whole community to connect and engage with a local creator at any level, from informal drop-in to workshops. I invite all Bramptonians to experience the wealth of creative talent in our city and deepen their connection to the arts. It’s just one more way the Library is inspiring connections to learning and creativity!

Todd Kyle, Chief Executive Officer, Brampton Library

We’re proud to launch the fourth edition of the Brampton Artist in Residence program in partnership with Brampton Library. Each year, this initiative continues to grow in its impact and reach, and we’re especially excited to welcome talented local artist Shiemara Hogarth for 2026. Her creative vision and deep connection to the community promise to make this year’s program something truly special.

Michael Vickers, Executive Director, Brampton Arts Organization

This residency meets me at a pivotal moment in my practice, where the space to think, make, and connect is essential. It offers me the room to work through ideas, engage with the Brampton community, and facilitate conversations about craft and the meaning of making. Being able to teach and share my process with others while continuing to develop new work is an amazing opportunity.

Shiemara Hogarth, Local Artist; Brampton Artist in Residence

About the Brampton Arts Organization 

The Brampton Arts Organization (BAO) is a registered non-profit that champions Brampton’s diverse arts, culture and creative industries and advocates for the #BramptonArtist. We work to build a thriving, confident, valued, and empowered creative scene by offering a range of programs, services and resources. In this, BAO is a key partner in fulfilling the City of Brampton’s strategic vision and Culture Master Plan. Learn more at bramptonartsorg.ca and connect with us at Instagram, Facebook, X(formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn.

Media inquiries, please contact:

Gardenia Flores, Marketing & Communications Lead
gardenia@bramptonartsorg.ca