2025 Artasia Team
Our 2025 Team
Each summer, the Artasia Program brings children together, community wide, to discover the transformative power of the arts through the pillars of art education, civic engagement, environmentalism, innovation, and storytelling. Our Artasia team members are key in helping make this happen.
Our Artasia team is comprised of a diverse group of people, each from a wide range of educational backgrounds, brought together through their love of the arts. It is a unique opportunity to both receive mentorship working under other professionals in local arts spaces, as well as return as the role of mentor in the delivery of our programming. The team works hard to plan and test programming activities, as well as travel to each of our 55 neighbourhoods to bring children the opportunity to explore their artistic voices.
Our team carefully documents their experiences at each site so that they can share their experiences with others. If you would like to learn more about our Artasia 2025 team, they are listed below. At the end of the summer, we will share their Digital Documentation, so check back for future updates!
Each team member has a unique way of documenting their experiences, and the moments they share are incredibly impactful.
Ava
She / Her
My name is Ava Aalbers, and I live on a farm about 15 minutes from a small town in the Haldimand-Niagara area. I’m entering my second year of teachers’ college and am excited to continue growing as an educator. This is my second summer with Artasia, and it has been an absolutely amazing experience. My main artistic mediums are sewing/textiles, as well as painting.
“What inspires me most about working with children is their creativity and individuality. I love how they can all be given the same prompt, yet each one interprets it in a completely different way. Their unique perspectives and imaginative ideas never cease to amaze me, and it’s exciting to watch their confidence grow as they express themselves through their own artistic voice.”
Naseem Anvari
Hi! I’m Naseem, a narrative illustrator, art teacher, and lifelong Hamiltonian!
Driven by a strong fascination for ephemera, colour, and emotion, I embed my work with feelings of quaintness and nostalgia and aim to use my art to connect with the people and places around me. I’m also a crafter at heart, and I enjoy the process of pushing and mixing media to create something special.
“For children, there’s no incorrect way to make art. If you put a material in front of them, they will find ways to use it you may not have even thought of. It’s so inspiring to see how they problem solve and experiment, and, while teaching them, you often learn something in return.”
To see more of Naseem’s work, check out naseemanvari.art.
Abby Bothen
She / Her
To see more of Abby’s work, check out her portfolio.
Wren Breeze
She / They
Wren Breeze is a Canadian interdisciplinary artist living and working out of Hamilton/Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee lands. Their practice currently consists of performance, sound, text, painting, drawing, and installation, informed by lived experiences of queer, autistic and disabled identity. Wren uses these influences to create immersive experiences for their viewers, these works also act as vessels for Wren’s own healing and expression.
“I like how emergent their thinking is – children don’t think linearly like adults, and that informs my practise in a really joyful way.”
Noor Butt
She / Her
Kento C
He / Him
Kento is a zinemaker, storyteller, and artist educator based out of Hamilton, Ontario. His illustration work is informed by found textures, silliness, community, and underrepresented voices. As an artist educator, he loves to empower children to harness their voices and draw out loud! He works everywhere from classrooms to galleries to clubs, and deeply believes in the transformative power of accessible art.
“I’m inspired by the way their confidence grows when they realize that they truly do have creative freedom. Their enthusiasm with experimentation and joy in discovery of what we as adults take for granted is my favourite part of the work. “
To see more of Kento’s work, check out his Instagram and website.
Stef C
She / Her
I am a Canadian Artist of South Asian descent. My practice is in Acrylic painting, digital painting and 3D modelling, as well as mixed media. My work is revolved around storytelling and identity, using fantastical symbolism and worldbuilding to express myself
“What inspires me the most is being able to make art accessible to many children across communities. I believe art is a way of expression and change and when children have access to art, they are able to show us the world through their eyes.”
For more of Stef’s work, check out her portfolio.
Emma Daw
She / Her
Hello, I’m Emma and I’m an art student from Montreal. My work is mixed media based and is centred around themes of childhood and nostalgia. I love to work with children to help them find their inner artist!
“I love watching children tap into their creativity, especially those who don’t seem to think they have the ability to at first.”
For more of Emma’s work, check out her Instagram.
Emma Enright
She / Her
Emma Enright is a textile artist and arts educator based in Hamilton, Ontario. Her practice is rooted in traditional weaving techniques through which she explores the materiality of textiles. Emma creates contemporary handwoven artworks for interior spaces from her textile studio at the Cotton Factory in Hamilton, Ontario. She holds a Bachelor of Design in Textiles from Ontario College of Art and Design University. Emma has exhibited her work in numerous group and solo exhibitions in the Hamilton and Toronto area, as has participated in several artist residency in Canada and the U.S.
In addition to her studio practice, Emma has been an active member of the Arts For All team for the past year, delivering inclusive and engaging art education programs throughout the Hamilton community. As an educator, she is passionate about accessibility in the arts and believes in the power of creativity to foster connection and self-expression.
“What inspires me most about working with children is their creativity while working with different materials. Children have a willingness to take creative risks and joy in process over the final product. I enjoy seeing there confidence grow while creating.”
To see more of Emma’s work, check out her Instagram and website.
Sophie Hewitt
She / Her
I’m a multimedia illustrator and arts educator who loves all things fantasy and whimsical. When I’m not drawing or teaching art to kids, I’m probably reading, playing video games, or trying to identify wild plants.
“The imaginations of children knows no boundaries. Getting to help kids explore and express their creativity, and learn to appreciate the arts, is endlessly fulfilling.”
To see more of Sophie’s work, check out her website.
Ace Martin
They / Them
I’m an artist and academic that works primarily with watercolour paint. I find that art is an important tool of community building and connection. I hope that by working with our community I can help inspire future artists to pursue their passions
“I’m inspired by the children’s willingness to try anything once.”
Marjan Nemati
She / Her
Marjan is a visual artist and educator who loves helping children explore the world through art. Her own creative practice includes painting, drawing, and printmaking, and her work has been shown in galleries across Iran, Europe, and North America. She holds a BA in Painting and an MA in Illustration.
As an artist educator, Marjan is passionate about designing open-ended, process-based activities that invite children to explore materials in their own way. She believes creative exploration builds confidence and encourages children to express their individuality with joy and imagination.
With years of experience in both professional art and community-based teaching, Marjan brings care, creativity, and play into every art program. She loves watching young artists light up with new ideas, experiment boldly, and turn simple materials into something magical.
“I see art-making as a way to connect, grow, and celebrate each child’s creative voice.”
To see more of Marjan’s work, check out her Instagram and website.
Narita Sargees
She / Her
I’m an Assyrian illustrator in Hamilton who loves hue, saturation, AND brightness. I’m inspired by toys, simple playful aesthetics, and impressionist paintings.
My main focus is crafty felt collages made with textiles, googly eyes, and found objects, but I also love to do digital work and traditional painting! I graduated from Sheridan College’s Honours Bachelor of Illustration program in 2024.
“I love seeing children’s creativity, they can create really interesting stories out of simple art activities.”
To see more of Narita’s work, check out her Instagram and website.
Tess
She / Her
My name is Tess and I have always been creative as a kid. My grandmother is an artist so some of my favourite memories from childhood are painting and exploring creativity with her. I have always thought there should be more focus on creating art in schools and what not so to be able to bring it to children and give them a outlet to explore materials and ideas was very important to me.
Vania
She / Her
I am a multi-disciplinary creative who values play, spontaneity, and relational art-making. My practice includes photography, digital collage, analog collage, guitar, DJ-ing, print-making, improv dance, and more! I have a bachelors of social psychology and am working towards my masters of social work at Laurier University. I aspire to use art-therapy techniques while working in counselling.