Meet Anna Binta Diallo, 2024 Rh Award Winner in the Creative Activities category

Anna Binta Diallo is an interdisciplinary visual artist and assistant professor in the School of Art. Her work blends collage, sculpture and storytelling to explore memory, identity and place, drawing on her Franco-Manitoban and Senegalese heritage. 

Diallo is the 2024 recipient of the Terry G. Falconer Memorial Rh Institute Foundation Emerging Researcher Award in the Creative Activities category, recognized for her expansive and innovative approach to contemporary art. 

UM Today caught up with Diallo to learn more about her and the research she is undertaking. 

Tell us a bit about yourself and your research. 

My work explores how visual cultures evolve, with themes of memory, nostalgia and otherness shaped by my Franco-Manitoban and Senegalese heritage. I work across media—collage, sculpture, video, installation—and often create projects that examine how identity, history and our connection to the environment intersect. I think of my work as unfolding in chapters, where each project builds on research and experimentation with materials and ideas. 

Why is this research important? 

Research is how my practice evolves. It helps me explore new ideas, make connections and create work that speaks to broader cultural or societal issues. The work itself becomes the outcome of the questions I’m asking. For me, research is also about dialogue—tapping into different ways of knowing, sharing perspectives and contributing to collective conversations in the arts and beyond. 

What does the Rh Award mean to you? 

It’s an honour to be recognized, especially as someone relatively new to the School of Art. This award affirms that the work I’m doing matters—to peers, to the community, to the university. It’s encouraging, not just for what I’ve already done but for what’s ahead. And I appreciate that this recognition includes interdisciplinary artists—it reflects the value of integrating creative work into the larger research landscape. 

What do you hope to achieve in the future? 

I want my work to keep resonating with people—locally and internationally. I’m also focused on sharing knowledge with students and contributing to a strong, supportive arts community. As I continue to take on ambitious projects, I hope to do so at a sustainable pace that allows for deeper exploration and meaningful connection. 

What about you might people find surprising? 

I actually started my undergrad torn between graphic design and visual arts—so I did both. That indecision ended up being a strength. The blend of digital design and analog art has really shaped how I create today.  

Any advice for early-career researchers and students? 

Stay true to what interests you, even if others don’t find it exciting right away. If you’re genuinely curious about something, people will respond to that. And don’t be afraid to ask for support—collaboration and mentorship can make a huge difference. 

Spenser Smith