Sonny Assu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sonny Assu
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| Born | May 9, 1975 Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
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| Nationality | We Wai Kai First Nation |
| Education | Emily Carr University of Art and Design |
| Known for | painter, printmaker, installation artist, sculptor |
| Movement | Kwakwaka'wakw art |
Sonny Assu was born in 1975 in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. He is a talented Canadian contemporary artist. Sonny Assu creates many types of art, including paintings, sculptures, and prints. He also makes art installations and other creative works.
His art often uses clever humor to talk about important topics. These topics include how we buy things (consumerism), and the history of colonization. He wants his art to make people think and start conversations.
Contents
Sonny Assu's Journey as an Artist
Sonny Assu grew up in a suburban area called North Delta, British Columbia. His grandparents raised him. He did not learn about his Kwakwaka'wakw First Nation heritage until he was eight years old. This discovery later became a big part of his art.
He studied painting at Kwantlen College. Then, he went to the Emily Carr University of Art and Design. There, he mixed his love for pop art with traditional Indigenous art forms. These included making drums and weaving with cedar bark.
Awards and Recognition
Sonny Assu has received several important awards for his art. He was considered for the Sobey Art Award in 2012, 2013, and 2015. This award is one of Canada's biggest art prizes. In 2017, he won a REVEAL Indigenous Art Award. This award comes from the Hnatyshyn Foundation, which supports Indigenous artists.
Storytelling Through Graphic Novels
Sonny Assu is also a writer. He contributed to a graphic novel collection called "This Place: 150 Years Retold." His story in the book is called 'Tilted Ground.' It tells about his great-great-grandfather. The story also explores the history of the Potlatch ban in Canada. The Potlatch ban made it illegal for Indigenous peoples to practice their traditional ceremonies.
Exploring Sonny Assu's Art Style
Sonny Assu's art often looks at how everyday items and pop culture symbols connect to our family history. He explores how these things relate to the idea of totems. Totems are important symbols in many Indigenous cultures.
Famous Art Series
In his "Breakfast series" from 2006, Sonny Assu used the shape of cereal boxes. He changed them to talk about issues important to First Nations. These issues include the environment, treaty rights, and land claims. His "Personal Totem series" and "Urban Totem series" also explore these ideas. They show how modern consumer items can be like personal totems.
Where to See Sonny Assu's Art
Sonny Assu's artwork has been shown in many places. His art is part of important public collections across North America.
Selected Exhibitions
- Ready Player Two: Sonny Assu and Brendan Tang was a traveling exhibition. It started at The Reach Gallery Museum in Abbotsford in 2017. It then toured to many other galleries until 2020.
- We Come to Witness: Sonny Assu in Dialogue with Emily Carr was shown at the Vancouver Art Gallery from 2016 to 2017.
- The Paradise Syndrome was a solo show at Malaspina Printmakers in Vancouver, BC, in 2016.
- Home Coming was another solo show at the Campbell River Art Gallery in Campbell River, BC, in 2016.
- 1UP was a solo exhibition at the Surrey Art Gallery Urban Screen in 2016.
- Continuum was a solo exhibition at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery in Thunder Bay, Ontario, in 2015.
Public Collections
One of Sonny Assu's famous works changes the Coca-Cola logo. It replaces the words with "Enjoy Coast-Salish Territory." This piece is held at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC.
His art can also be found in other major collections. These include the National Gallery of Canada, the Vancouver Art Gallery, and the Seattle Art Museum. You can also see his work at the Audain Art Museum in Whistler, BC, and the Burnaby Art Gallery.
