bailey is a self-taught nehiyaw / michif / ukrainian interdisciplinary artist creating from their home in beautiful Snuneymuxw territory on so-called Vancouver Island.
tanisi! bailey nitsiyihkâson, ekwa snuneymuxw askiy ohci niya. niwahkômâkanak ohci nîpisîhkopâwiyinînâhk. nôhkompan ohci sîsîp-sâhkihkanihk. niya nêhiyaw ayâhkwêw, apihtawikosisan, ekwa opîtatowew. nitsanak isiyihkâsowinak morrissette, gariepy, iyahsoo, pooquasequayp, brabant, starblanket, desmarais, ewka parenteau. ekosi mâka, kinanâskomitinawaw.
Hello! My name is bailey, and I am from Snuneymuxw territory. My relations are from Beardys & Okemasis Cree Nation. My late grandmother was born in Duck Lake, Saskatchewan. I am an agender cree, metis, and ukrainian. My family’s names are Morrissette, Gariepy (often seen as Guardipee, Guardipy, Gardipy), Iyahsoo, Pooquasequayp, Brabant, Starblanket, Desmarais, and Parenteau. That’s it, I am grateful to you all.
bailey is an emerging, self-taught artist, passionate about bright colours, Indigenous sovereignty, and identity; these themes are often at play within their works. they are also a self-proclaimed pop-culture smark.
they are a neurodivergent [diagnosed ADHD / undiagnosed autism] disabled [chronically ill, hypothyroidism, undiagnosed Ehlers Danlos Syndrome / autoimmune issues] queer [bisexual, agender/gendervoid], activist who fights for Indigenous sovereignty, disability rights, and queer/trans rights.
with plenty of experience working in a variety of mediums, they dabble in everything from sculpture and beadwork, illustration and comic arts, to painting and textiles.
a published writer since 2006, bailey has worked for various newspapers and magazines throughout so-called british columbia. their writing has appeared in Off-Centre Magazine, Other:_, Capital News, Kelowna Daily Courier, and alive magazine.
beyond their writing, they’ve created pieces for The Kakichihiwewin Project under Seeding Sovereignty, Vancouver Comic Arts Festival, Together Apart, the Manitoba Harm Reduction Network, Ilona Verley, Blondie’s Beauty Salon, Harper Collins, as well as the podcast Unsettling.
in addition, their work has been displayed at open space gallery in victoria, and they are proud to be the illustrator for an upcoming children’s book written by Willie Poll and published by Medicine Wheel Publishing.
since november 2018, bailey has been an avid beader and their work has been used in several fundraisers and community events. additionally, they run an Indigenous beading circle on Discord.
prior to moving back to Nanaimo, they often volunteered with the 2-Spirit Collective at the Urban Native Youth Association, and dream of engaging with the community in their hometown in similar ways.
when they are not working on commissions and illustrations, they are beading full-time and creating clothing / stickers / accessories for sale on their online shop.
their interests vary greatly from science fiction, horror, and wrestling to language revitalization, Indigenous sovereignty, and land and water protection.
alternately, when they aren’t working on their art or writing, they enjoy playing video games, playing board games, running a Vampire the Masquerade chronicle, baking, watching movies and wrestling, and hanging out with their cats and dog (and husband).
EXPERIENCE
Upcoming Projects
artist, Gutters are Elastic, Nanaimo Art Gallery, Nanaimo BC
artist, untitled sci-fi comic, Augur Magazine, Toronto ON
writer/social media takeover, Science World, Vancouver BC
2023
Illustrator, Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness Society, Victoria BC
Cover Illustrator, Those Pink Mountain Nights, HarperCollins Publishing, New York NY
illustrator, The Anxiety Handbook, The Capilano Review – Bad Feelings, Vancouver BC
Illustrator, The Walrus, Toronto ON
2022
illustrator, kahkisiw, carte blanche, Montreal QC
illustrator, The Discourse, Vancouver BC
Illustrator, Minnow: The girl who became part fish, Medicine Wheel Publishing, Victoria BC
Illustrator, Status Card Study, Union of BC Indian Chiefs, Vancouver BC
Illustrator, Redwashing Extraction, The Yellowhead Institute, Toronto ON Putting Your Art to Work, Cloudscape Comics, Vancouver BC
Illustrator, Manitoba Harm Reduction Network, Winnipeg MB
Illustrator, kakichihiwewin, Seeding Sovereignty, Portland OR
Panelist/Contributor, Vancouver Comic Arts Festival, Vancouver BC
Land Acknowledgment Comic, Vancouver Comic Arts Festival, Vancouver BC
Illustrator, Salmon Run, Vancouver BC
Poetry Reading, On Edge Reading Series, Emily Carr University, Vancouver BC
Illustrator, Black Dog Medicine, Vancouver BC
2021
Illustrator, Unsettling Podcast, Vancouver BC
2020
Illustrator, Together Apart Magazine, Vancouver BC
Illustrator, Blondies Beauty Salon, Oakland Park FL
Contributor, alive magazine, Richmond BC
Other Work Experience
Beader/Interdisciplinary Artist/Writer, Nanaimo BC, 2021-Present
Beader/Interdisciplinary Artist/Writer, Vancouver BC, 2019-2020
Hair Stylist, Vancouver BC, 2010-2020
Writer, Kelowna Daily Courier, Kelowna BC, 2008-2010
Writer, Off-Centre Magazine, Kelowna BC, 2006-2009
Contributor/Editor, Other:__ Magazine, Vernon BC, 2004-2006
Volunteer
Organizer / Coordinator / Instructor, Digital Beading Circle, Online, 2020-Present
Photographer / Coordinator, Urban Native Youth Association, Vancouver BC, 2019-2021
Organizer / Facilitator, Digital Talking Circle, Online, 2020
Education
Media and Cultural Studies, Okanagan University College, Kelowna BC, 2005-2008
Awards and Grants
Geoff McMurchy Artist Development Grant and Mentorship, Kickstart Disability, 2022- Present
Arts Vitality Micro Grant, First People’s Cultural Council, 2022
Fireweed Micro Grant, Nii’kinaaganaa Foundation, 2021
Group Exhibitions
2023
These Gutters Are Elastic, Nanaimo Art Gallery, Nanaimo, BC
2022
Fresh Fiss, open space gallery, Victoria, bc