Brenda Draney facts for kids

Brenda Draney, born in 1976, is a talented contemporary artist. She is a member of the Cree First Nation. Brenda grew up in Slave Lake, Alberta, and now lives in Edmonton. Her paintings often tell stories and share memories from her life.

Brenda Draney's Journey as an Artist

Brenda Draney was born in Edmonton and spent her childhood in Slave Lake, Alberta. She is part of the Sawridge First Nation. Brenda studied at several universities and colleges. She earned degrees from the University of Alberta and Emily Carr University of Art and Design.

She also attended special art programs called "residencies." These programs at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity helped her develop her skills. During these residencies, artists work together and learn from each other.

Public Art and Collections

Brenda Draney's art is recognized across Canada. In 2017, she created a large public art piece. It is displayed in the main hall of the Macewan University Centre for the Arts and Culture.

Many of her paintings are part of important art collections. You can find her work in places like the Art Gallery of Alberta and the National Gallery of Canada. This means her art is seen and appreciated by many people.

What Inspires Brenda Draney's Art?

Brenda Draney creates powerful paintings using stories and memories. She often draws inspiration from her childhood. Many of her artworks are about her hometown, Slave Lake.

Her paintings often look like "cloud-like pictures." They show small, isolated moments. These moments are connected in a way that makes you think.

The Power of Empty Spaces

A unique part of Draney's art is the large empty spaces on her canvases. These blank areas are not mistakes. They show how memory works. We don't remember every single detail. Brenda paints only what she can recall. These are often quick flashes of events or people.

Brenda explains that her art explores how memories change. She also thinks about stories that are not hers to tell. She wants viewers to wonder and think about the meaning. She doesn't want to give all the answers.

Deeper Meanings in Her Work

Even simple subjects in her paintings can have deep meanings. They often hint at bigger themes like loss and change. For example, she references natural disasters in Slave Lake. These include a big flood in 1988 and a wildfire in 2011.

Brenda's art also touches on how laws and historical events affected Indigenous people. These include the Indian Act and residential schools. These topics are important to her life and art.

You might see tents in many of her paintings. Tents can represent temporary homes after disasters. They also symbolize modern movements. These movements involve people gathering to make their voices heard.

Awards and Recognition

Brenda Draney has won several important awards for her art.

• In 2009, she won first place in the Royal Bank of Canada's (RBC) Canadian Painting Competition. Her winning painting was called Aim is Important. She received $25,000, and her painting joined RBC's art collection.
• In 2013, she was considered for the Sobey Art Award. This is one of Canada's biggest art prizes. In 2016, she was a finalist for the award. Her work was shown at the National Gallery of Canada.
• In 2014, she won the Eldon and Anne Foote Visual Arts Prize. This award gave her $10,000 for her painting Suspend.

Major Exhibitions

Brenda Draney's art has been shown in many important exhibitions. Here are some of them:

• Landmark: A New Chapter Acquisition Project, Art Gallery of Alberta, (2019)
• Sobey Art Award, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, (2016/2017)
• Future Station: The 2015 Alberta Biennial of Contemporary Art, Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton (2015)
• Suspend, RBC New Works Gallery, Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta (2013)
• Fiction/Non-Fiction, Esker Foundation, Calgary, Alberta (2013)
• They Made a Day be a Day Here, Art Gallery of Grande Prairie (2013)
• Not Forgetting, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, Ontario (2012)
• Brenda Draney: Hold Still, Latitude 53, Edmonton, Alberta (2010)
• RBC Canadian Painting Competition, The Power Plant, Toronto, Ontario (2009)