School of Art News Archive

November 6, 2025 — 
School of Art Alumna Ekene Emeka Maduka carves a personal signature out of broad social themes. Young Winnipeg painters are having an exciting moment. For the past six weeks or so, Dee Barsy’s signature aqua blues have washed over the 300,000 people who daily visit Toronto’s Union Station, which is decorated with a dozen of her bird-themed murals, buoying Toronto Blue Jays fans during the World Series. Last month, artist, curator and writer Chukwudubem Ukaigwe was shortlisted to represent the Prairies region for the Sobey Art Award 2025 — Canada’s largest prize for visual artists, which will be handed out on Saturday. Ukaigwe is perhaps best recognized for his paintings, often colourful to the point of psychedelic while refined in their details and lifelikeness, blending elements of realism, pop art and surrealism. The artist is among a small group of artists around 30 or under, many of whom went to art school together at the University of Manitoba, and who may appear — at least at first glance — to be working in similar directions.

November 6, 2025 — 
Compelled to touch grass — to silence urban and technological distraction to reconnect with the natural world — Ciurysek often heads to the forest, an environment that served as an inspiration for her solo exhibit Through, and through, on view at the Platform Centre for Photographic and Digital Arts (100 Arthur St.) until Nov. 15.

November 6, 2025 — 
The School of Art at the University of Manitoba mourns the passing of artist and alumna Monica Mercedes Martinez (MFA ’12), whose powerful and poetic works explored memory, identity, and belonging.

October 23, 2025 — 
Wally Dion: a thousand tiny prayers opens at the School of Art Gallery

October 17, 2025 — 
Two honorary degree recipients are being recognized by the University of Manitoba at Fall Convocation 2025

October 14, 2025 — 
The School of Art Gallery presents Robert Archambeau: One Leads to the Next, a retrospective exhibition celebrating the life and work of one of Canada’s most influential ceramic artists, on view October 16 – November 14, 2025.

September 29, 2025 — 
The School of Art Gallery (SOAG) invites the UM community and the public to Exchange as a Symmetrical Gesture, an evening that celebrates the culmination of SOAG’s multi-year Visiting Curator Program with a reading, a curatorial panel, and the launch of three new publications.

September 19, 2025 — 
Through the Diversifying the UM Art Collection program, 15 artworks by 11 2SLGBTQIA+ artists were procured during the summer of 2025. Find out more and apply to join the next committee.

September 10, 2025 — 
The Merit Awards recognize excellence in teaching, research, scholarly and creative work, service, and include a special category dedicated to Indigenous Achievement. Congratulations to all the recipients of the 2024 Merit Awards.

September 9, 2025 — 
Nobody told Madison Beale how to find a career in art, so the 25-year-old is figuring it out herself, one podcast episode at a time.