Mnaabno Kwe,
Hillary Smith
Cheerful Sunrise Woman
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Mnaabno Kwe, Hillary Smith-Downey Cheerful Sunrise Woman, COMING TO LIGHT, 2025, Mixed media in plexiglass case, 8" x 8" x 10"
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Biography
Hillary Smith is an Anishinaabe visual artist who creates in photography, graphic design, and traditional art forms. Drawing lessons in childhood sparked an interest in art that inspired her to study visual and creative arts at Sheridan College from 2011 to 2013, as well as digital photography at Durham College from 2014 to 2016. She grew up on Beausoleil First Nation and currently resides in Toronto.
Statement
‘Coming to Light’ explores the visibility of Indigenous voices within a dominant cultural narrative. Inspired by the medicine wheel and its teachings of balance and interconnection, this piece juxtaposes a frosted white plexiglass box—symbolizing the prominence of settler culture on Turtle Island—with an underlying, abstract blend of red, yellow, and black, evoking the wheel’s cyclical movement and layered meanings. A concealed light illuminates these layers, symbolizing emerging truths and potential. The switch invites viewers to engage with a call to action, acknowledging that change only comes through intentional effort. This work reflects on visibility, action, and the shifting cultural landscape in Canada.
Gchi miigs,
Hillary Smith-Downey