Left to Right: Work by Takashi Iwasaki and Netsanet Shawl
School of Art Students Takashi Iwasaki and Netsanet Shawl Selected for Prestigious ICAF Next Generation X RBC Emerging Artists Project
On May 13, 2024, the ICAF Next Generation X RBC Emerging Artists Project officially announced the selection of emerging artists for the ICAF Next Generation feature. This project aims to highlight the next generation of ceramic artists in Canada. With support from the RBC Emerging Artists Project, these artists are being showcased virtually, offering a glimpse into the innovative work emerging from post-secondary ceramics programs across the country. Among the distinguished artists are Takashi Iwasaki and Netsanet Shawl, both MFA students from the School of Art. Their exceptional work and dedication have earned them a place in this esteemed project, highlighting the bright future of contemporary art.
University of Manitoba Selections:
Takashi Iwasaki
Born in Japan in 1982, Takashi Iwasaki has been a resident of Winnipeg for the past two decades. His artistic practice encompasses painting, embroidery, woodworking, and large-scale public artworks. During his time in the Master of Fine Arts program at the University of Manitoba, he discovered a new passion for clay. The unique malleability and materiality of clay have opened up new avenues for Takashi to express his artistic vision and capture pleasurable moments.
Takashi Iwasaki’s MFA Thesis Exhibition is opening May 17-June 21, 2024, at the School of Art Gallery, University of Manitoba.
- Instagram: @takashi.iwasaki.art
- Website: takashiiwasaki.info
Netsanet Shawl
Originally from Ethiopia and now based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Netsanet Shawl is an interdisciplinary artist whose work addresses environmental issues, memory, place, nature, and culture. She primarily works with ceramics, painting, and textiles. Netsanet graduated with Honours from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2022 and is currently pursuing her Master of Fine Arts degree at the same institution. Balancing her artistic passion with her roles as a wife and mother of two, Netsanet finds depth and inspiration in her creative journey.
- Instagram: @netsanet4784
The School of Art and University of Manitoba extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the talented individuals chosen for this prestigious opportunity.