Kirra (She/They) has vacillated between art and science since early childhood, and in the last four years, she has finally embraced smashing them together. They have both a Bachelor’s degree (2022) and a Master of Science (2024) from the University of Alberta, as well as a prior diploma of animation from VanArts (2014). Their artistic skills supported their initial admission into university. Despite the outward presentation of a strictly science-focused decade since animation school, illustration has been a key component of her three current scientific publications and a digital anti-arachnophobia book.

In parallel with their academic career, they have used most of their free time to experiment with the limits of fine art materials, intending to work on surfaces or scales not previously in her practice. Recently, Kirra has decided to seriously pursue the arts with more intention as a career element, and was included as a featured artist in the "The Works Festival 2025: Groundworks" with the collection 'Fungus on Flannel'. More solo & group exhibitions are already planned for 2025-2026.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

Hours spent in the quiet backrooms of natural history museums and afternoons flipping logs in the woods have left me attentive to the ignored. My work largely aims to elevate parts of nature that are underrepresented or so ubiquitous as to be unnoticed. I want to highlight these elements as worthy of equal consideration as more conventional subjects of nature-themed art. I find strange organism charming; I paint to make an argument for the reconsideration of what is worthwhile and beautiful. Underrepresented subjects serve as an allegory for the broadly underrepresented perspectives of neurodivergent individuals, whose interests and vision may seem disconnected from others.

I use reclaimed textiles and occasionally, warped wood in place of traditional canvas, allowing me to reduce my contribution to the waste crisis. Whenever appropriate, I use my work as a venue for scientific communication: it is easier to connect with a painting, then a Wikipedia article. Global biodiversity is declining, yet only a fraction of it is seen up close; I intend to capture as much of it as I can on canvas through an emotionally accessible lens.