2026 Artasia Team
Our 2026 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 neighbourhood to bring children the opportunity to explore their artistic voices.
Each team member has a unique way of documenting their experiences, and the moments they share are incredibly impactful.
Zarnab Ahmadzadah
(she/her)
I am predominantly a visual artist who treats a canvas like a loyal friend that is committed to continuously learning about my ever-evolving self and the world around me. I am currently studying Visual Arts (Studio Art) at Brock University.
Abby Bothen
Hi everyone! My name is Abby Bothen and I am a twenty year old fine artist based in Stoney Creek, ON, who specializes in mixed media collage, drawing, and painting. I am currently in my third year at the University of Waterloo for my arts degree, and after this I hope to attend teachers college and become an art teacher. I have worked with Arts for All for a year now, participating in both Artasia and the Artist in Neighbourhoods program. I have absolutely loved working with this organization, the staff and parter organizations, and the children to bring the arts to all communities.
To see more of Abby’s work, visit @madebyabbyrose on Instagram.
Wren Breeze
(she/they)
Hi, I’m Wren Breeze and I am a Canadian interdisciplinary artist living and working out of Hamilton/Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee lands. my practice currently consists of arts education, drawing, textiles, sound, writing and painting, informed by lived experiences of queer, autistic and disabled identity. I use these as vessels for my own healing, expression and exploration of my own identity.
Stef C
(she/her)
I am an artist based in Mississauga and currently in school for Teachers College. My practice is mostly acrylic painting and digital media. I enjoy storytelling through my artwork, making my artworks based in fantasy to tell a story. I enjoy being able to help bring arts into the community and hope to become an educator that can really advocate for the arts in the future.
To see more of Stef’s work, visit her portfolio.
Emma Daw
(she/her)
I am currently a student in Montreal, studying fine arts, with a special interest in drawing and paper making! I love to explore nostalgia and childlike imagery, my art is a constant exploration of play and craft. I gain so much inspiration from children’s perspectives and creativity!
To see more of Emma’s work, visit @memmamart on Instagram.
Sneha Desai
(she/her)
Hey I’m Sneha! I’m an artist based in Hamilton, Ontario. Right now I am perusing an undergraduate degree in Arts and Science at McMaster University, but I love to express myself creatively in different ways! I express myself through fiber arts, drawing, and music! I love to crochet and knit, as I find it to be such a beautiful form of creation. I also love to draw both digitally and traditionally, with a heavy interest in the drawing of nature and animals! I love love nature and how it intersects with humanity. I have also been a flautist for 5 years, and is probably my most favourite form of expression. This is my first year at Artasia, and I am so incredibly grateful and excited to be part of this wonderful team!
To see more of Sneha’s work, visit @doodlesbysnail on Instagram.
Narita Sargees
(she/her)
I’m an Assyrian illustrator in Hamilton with a main focus of crafty felt collages made with textiles, googly eyes, and recycled materials, but I also love to do digital work and traditional painting!
To see more of Narita’s work, visit her portfolio.
Vania
(she/her)
My name is Vania, I am a multi-disciplinary creator with Italian ancestry based in Hamilton, Ontario. The Haudenosaunee and the Anishinaabee are the original stewards of the land that I work, live, and play on. This land that is covered by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant (1613) and by the Between the Lakes Purchase (Treaty #3 – 1873). To me, it is important to name the history as a way to give thanks to those who have and continue to steward this land for generations. Our Artasia theme is supporting children in developing their civic engagement and knowing our history, grounds me in this mission.
Luciel Zeng
(he/him)
Luciel Zeng is a poly-disciplinary artist that specializes in illustration & game development. He loves incorporating colourful imagery involving birds, plushies, and stars. Informed by his queer, trans, autistic, & Chinese identity, Luciel creates artwork that dreams of a world of solidarity beyond today’s capitalist society. Based in the city of Hamilton, which is situated upon the traditional territories of the Mississaugas, Haudenosaunee, Erie, Neutral, and Huron-Wendat, Luciel recently graduated from McMaster University with a Bachelors in Fine Arts.
To see more of Luciel’s work, visit @bearscannotday on Instagram.