Alberta’s Artist in Residence and Arts Ambassador

About the artist

Samantha Williams-Chapelsky has been a professional artist for the last 20 years. In her practice, she has focused on interpreting Alberta’s vast landscapes from a storyteller’s perspective, employing abstraction and using paint to convey emotion, history, and meaning.

Samantha completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Alberta in 2009, with distinction, majoring in painting and art history. She showcases her work in both public and commercial galleries each year and is most known for her abstracted landscape paintings using textured acrylic and oil paints. Samantha is also represented in the provincial art collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. 

Watch: meet Samantha Williams-Chapelsky

About the project

During her residency, Samantha will create a series of 100 plein air paintings at locations throughout the province that offer connections between artist, process, the land, and its inhabitants. Her project will take her across the province, from the Greater Edmonton Area to the Rocky Mountains to the plains of Southern Alberta.

Plein air describes the act of painting outdoors in the open air.

Through this residency, Samantha will offer creative sessions on the importance of plein air painting as well as conversations about being a woman in today’s arts and culture sector. Her completed landscape series will be exhibited at the end of her term and be used as examples during painting sessions to local arts groups. 

Follow the artist’s activities on the Alberta Artist in Residence and Arts Ambassador Instagram page at @ab_artistinresidence.

Artist shortlist

Artists listed below (in alphabetical order by surname) applied to the Artist in Residence/Arts Ambassador program and based on the excellence of their applications, were provided a $1,000 grant to begin their projects or advance their artistic practices and careers.

Michalis Andronikou – Composer, Calgary

Michalis Andronikou is a composer and musicologist currently residing in Calgary, AB. He holds a PhD in composition from the University of Calgary. He received his Bachelor’s and Integrated Master’s degrees in musicology from the Department of Music Studies, University of Athens, Greece. Michalis is an associate composer of the Canadian Music Centre, a member of the Canadian League of Composers, a theory examiner of the Royal Conservatory of Music, a member of the Greek Composers Union, a member of the Center of Cypriot Composers, and an Ambassador of Culture for the Hellenic Institute of Cultural Diplomacy – Cyprus.

Watch: meet Michalis Andronikou.

Sam Hester – Writer/illustrator, animator and graphic recorder, Calgary

Sam Hester is a storyteller who creates art by combining words and pictures. Sam's award-winning comics have been published internationally, while telling real-life stories rooted in Calgary/Moh'kinsstsis. Sam uses the medium of autobiographical comics as a tool for community-building. Since 2014, Sam has supported her family with her freelance practice as a graphic recorder, one of only a handful in Canada. Sam employs deep listening and a perspective of cultural humility to document live events, creating “illustrated meeting minutes.” Sam's 2021 TED Talk about Graphic Medicine (using visual storytelling to support health care) has had almost 2 million views.

Watch: meet Sam Hester.

Morgan Melenka – Visual artist, Calgary

Morgan uses architectural forms and materials to engage with history and place. She holds an MFA from NSCAD University (2019) and a BFA from University of Alberta (2014). Her recent exhibitions include "Nonsuch" at the Leighton Centre, “A provisional vista” at the Esker Foundation’s Project Space, and the group exhibition, “The Mall,” at the Mitchell Art Gallery at MacEwan University. She teaches visual art and is a Scenic Painter for film and TV.

Watch: meet Morgan Melenka.

Carmen Pelletier – Filmmaker, Calgary

Carmen is a 5-time Governor General-nominated multi-media filmmaker and artist, primarily focused on creating rural Alberta history legacy films. Carmen aims to enrich future generations' understanding of their heritage. Deeply connected to the rural Southern Alberta community, she launched Canada's first community online TV channel and the SODA (Speaking Out for Disabled Actively) channel to promote equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Watch: meet Carmen Plletier.

Daniel Pelton – Musician and composer, Calgary

Daniel Pelton is an award-winning saxophonist and composer currently living in Calgary. Pelton is best known for creating the Composer in Residence (now Musical Artist in Residence) position with the Calgary Public Library. He is the current Violins of Hope Artist-in-Residence at the National Music Centre. Pelton's work has been performed live across Canada, from the Yukon to Ontario, and his recordings have been played and awarded internationally.

Watch: meet Daniel Pelton.

Vasudha Tiwari – Visual artist, Edmonton

Vasudha’s journey as an artist began at a young age. She first learned artistic techniques from an eminent artist in India. She then secured top rank at Vikram University as part of her Master of Fine Arts. She continues to polish her technique in drawing, sketching, portraits, and mural painting. Use of vibrant colours makes her work stand apart, reflecting Vasudha’s original style. She organized 3 solo shows in the art galleries of India and participated in group shows locally, including for the Art Gallery of Alberta. Recognized with the 2019 RISE AWARD in the Arts and Culture category by EMCN Edmonton, she is the founder of Expression Art Studio.

Watch: meet Vasuda Tiwari.

Previous artists