educator
interdisciplinary artist
Julia Rose Sutherland (She/They) is an interdisciplinary artist, educator and Assistant Professor at OCADU in Toronto, Canada. She is of Mi’kmaq (Metepenagiag Nation) and settler descent. Sutherland received her MFA from the University of Buffalo in 2019 and her BFA in Craft and New Media from Alberta University of the Arts in 2013.
She has exhibited at the Biennale d’art Contemporain Autochtone (BACA), The Visual Arts Centre of Clarington, Bemis Center of Contemporary Art, the Mackenzie Art Gallery, K Art Gallery, WAAP Gallery, 59 Rivoli Gallery in Paris, France and The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery. She has been recognized with several awards, including the Canada Council for the Arts Creating Knowing Sharing award and the AFA Indigenous Individual Project grant.
Sutherland’s art celebrates Indigenous brilliance and resilience, rooted in her Mi’kmaq heritage. She fearlessly addresses Indigenous issues, exploring commodification, representation, and identity politics. Using traditional materials and techniques, she highlights loss and identity, sparking dialogue on marginalized communities’ treatment and voice. Her work delves into addiction, mental health, feminism, Indigenous healing, and identity politics. In her performances, she connects with spirituality and the natural landscape, revealing how colonialism and economics affect Mi’kmaq’s well-being, mental health, and health issues. Sutherland’s art is a transformative force that honours tradition while advocating for recognition and respect, shedding light on the enduring strength of Indigenous cultures and inspiring mindful conversations about land-based practices.
Gi’nujing “Pride”
