VMF 2020 Artist Curators
Meet our 2020 Artist Curators! We’re so excited to have this team of four incredibly talented artists all from unique and exceptional backgrounds. They have absolutely crushed their massive task of bringing a sweep of murals across Vancouver for this year’s festival. We’re talking 60+ murals around 9 neighbourhoods in Vancouver...like woah.
Drew Young
VMF Lead Curator
Drew studied at the Victoria College of Art and received his diploma in Illustration and Applied Arts (IDEA) at Capilano University. He has exhibited internationally with shows in LA (Thinkspace Gallery), San Francisco (Gauntlet Gallery), Tokyo (Amp), London (Rook and Raven), NYC (Re:Form Projects), Bogota (Come Together) and has featured in publications including Juxtapoz, Hi-Fructose, Booooooom.com, Supersonicelectronic and BlueCanvas.
Drew is the youngest instructor for the Federation of Canadian Artists and also teaches Commercial Illustration at Langara College. He’s the Visual Arts curator for TedX Vancouver as well as curator/coordinator for Snag — a weekly live-painting exhibition focused on illuminating Vancouver’s alternative arts culture.
Scott Sueme & Layout Art Studio
VMF Graffiti Curator
Scott is a Canadian artist raised and currently living in Vancouver, B.C. Since attending Emily Carr University in 2006, Sueme has been working as a painter and graphic artist. With his beginnings in graffiti subculture, Sueme has since ventured into design, painting and installation. In recent works, Scott Sueme explores a fundamental study in form, shape, and interactions of colour.
Sueme has been commissioned to work with collaborators such as The City of Vancouver, The NBA, and Nike. Recently, he has completed large-scale mural projects with The City of Edmonton for the new Abbottsfield Recreation Centre (2014), locally with Hootsuite and The City of Vancouver (2016), and The Burrard Arts Foundation (2016).
Krystal Paraboo
Guest Curator
Krystal Paraboo is an all-encompassing creative. An Art Historian, Curator, Writer, and Community Builder, she places tremendous value on artistic expression and cultural development based on the foundation of fostering authentic human connection and inclusive practices. She graduated with a Bachelor of Honour’s Degree from Queen’s University in 2013, with a double major in Art History & History. She also attended the Bader International Study Centre in the United Kingdom, with extensive study in Art History and Curatorial Studies on-site at the Courtauld Institute, National Gallery London, and the British Museum.
Krystal has an extensive footprint in Vancouver's art community. She has curated numerous art exhibitions including "The Great Big Vancouver Paradox" in 2018 for Capture Photography Festival, and has written reviews for various publications. Her work has spanned within both public and private art institutions including the Vancouver Art Gallery, working directly with both established and emerging artists. Krystal specializes in: curatorial projects, public programming, art education, research, policy, events, communications, community building, art consulting, and non-profit management.
Sierra Baker
Guest Curator
Sierra is an award winning Squamish Nation public artist, consultant, storyteller and designer. She is also of Musqueam, Kwakwaka’wakw, Tlingit and Hungarian descent. Sierra has her Masters in Sustainable Urbanism from the Bartlett School of Planning from University College London in London, England, as well as her Bachelor in Environmental Design from the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture from UBC.
Sierra grew up in her family’s public art business, Sky Spirit Studio, learning from her father, Wade Baker (master carver, oral historian and storyteller) and mother Mary Tasi. Sierra has been creating murals and public artworks with her family since 2008. Sierra often incorporates the concept of “Two-Eyed seeing” into her work. Having one foot strongly rooted in her ancestral heritage and one foot in the Western world.
Sierra was the Creative Director of the City of North Vancouver’s “Studio in the City” program, teaching youth public art from 2016-2017. She now teaches “Decolonizing Design” through her company Sky Spirit Consulting whilst also advising on developing a uniquely Coast Salish approach to design, urban planning and community engagement.
