NAHANNI
Nahanni is a Metis-Cree artist and photographer based on Treaty 7 Territory. Born and raised in the Banff, her creative practice has focused on National Parks in Canada and the human impact on surrounding natural environments as well as the decolonization of land.
Nahanni sees herself as a wildlife photographer but the only animals she photographs are ghosts. She uses her photography to bring awareness of the need to coexist with wildlife to prevent further harm to the land we reside on.
Nahanni is a photography graduate from Emily Carr University of Art & Design in Vancouver BC. She completed her Photography Practicum at the Banff Centre and is currently working full time as an artist creating artwork for galleries and publications internationally, including the 2022 European Cultural Centre alongside the Venice Biennial.
While you can find Nahanni creating in the studio, you can also find her exploring in the backcountry or enjoying a nice cold brew by the river. You can check out Nahanni's extensive CV here or contact here.
As Seen In:
CV:
Nahanni McKay . She/ Her
07.24.1994 . IG: @nahanster . Banff, AB . www.nahannimckay.com .
E X H I B I T I O N S
2023, Florence Biennale, Florence, Italy (upcoming)
2022, Coexist, Galleria Exhibition, Edmonton, AB (upcoming)
2022, Dynamic Earth, Jane Kidner Gallery, Toronto, ON
2022, Coexist, Forest Spaces, Contact Photo Festival, Toronto, ON
2022, Personal Structures Exhibition, European Cultural Centre, Venice, Italy
2022, Solo Exhibition, Little Cabin Gallery, Exposure Photography Festival, Banff AB
2022, Coexist, Collaboration, artsPLACE, Canmore AB
2021, Open Studios, Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity, Banff AB
2021, Solo Exhibition, Banff Public Library, Banff, AB
2021, Solo Exhibition, Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre, Revelstoke, BC
2021, Local Artist Gallery, Modern Bakery, Revelstoke, BC
2021, Exposure Exhibition, King Edward Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
2021, InFocus Photo, Wild Skies Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
2021, Local Artist Gallery, Wild Flour Bakery, Banff, Alberta
2020, Loop 14, N3XT CANADA Competition, Arts and Letters Club of Toronto, Toronto
2020, Loop 14, Alberta Foundation for the Arts Travelling Exhibition, multiple locations, curated by Shannon Bingeman
2020, Homegrown Art Show, Banff Town Hall, Banff
2020, Isolation Gallery, Various Location, Banff, Alberta
2020, EXPOSURE Photography Festival Emerging Artist Showcase, Contemporary Calgary, Calgary
2019, Exposure Photography Festival, RITUAL, Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity, Banff
2019, Open Studios, Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity, Banff
2018, Open Studios, Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity, Banff
2018, Mountain Photography Residency, Project Space, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
2017, Open House, Photo Gallery, Emily Carr University of Art & Design, Vancouver
2017, Boobies & Wieners, BC Gallery of Ceramics, Hot Art Wet City, Vancouver
2017,The Show, Emily Carr University of Art & Design, Vancouver
2017, Aboriginal Show; Re-forming, Emily Carr University of Art & Design, Vancouver
2017, Prairie Social, Emily Carr University of Art & Design, Vancouver
2016, Pop Up Exhibition, Mitchell Press Gallery, Vancouver
2013, Foundation Show, Emily Carr University of Art & Design, Vancouver
2011, Through the Lens Photography, Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Banff,
E D U C A T I O N
2019, Photography Practicum, Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity
2017, BFA with Photography, Emily Carr University of Art + Design
G R A N T S & A W A R D S
2022, The Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Award for Emerging Art
2020, N3XT CANADA FINALIST, Art Toronto
2020, EXPOSURE Festival's Emerging Photographers Showcase Award
2020, TREX Emerging Photographers Showcase Award
2017, Aboriginal Art Award, CIBC Foundation
2017, Koh-Verchere Graduation Award for Athletic and Creative Excellence
P A N E L S A N D T A L K S
2022, What Is Mountain Culture? - Nahanni McKay Pt1&2, Big Stick Energy Podcast, Out of Bounds Collective
2022, Nahanni McKay // Beer, Mountains, Wolves, All Humans Outside Podcast
2022, Belonging and Reclaiming, Juicy Bits Podcast
2022, TREX Exhibition Artist Talk,
2022, Artist Talk: Nahanni McKay, Grand Prairie Regional College
2021, Nahanni McKay, Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre
2021, Youth Summit Virtual Campfire, Canadian Rockies Youth Network
2020, Habituate Acclimate, TREX Southwest Exhibition
R E S I D E N C I E S
2021, Akunumusǂitis : Ecological Engagement Through the Seasons, Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity
2020, Isolation Alliance, Murze Magazine, Digital Online Residency
2019, Mountain Photography Residency, The Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity
S E L E C T E D P R E S S
2022. Personal Structures Catalog, The European Cultural Centre, Venice, Italy
2022, Collaborative Exhibition Opens at Arts Place, Evan Bueller, The Rocky Mountain Outlook
2021, Cultivating Joy, SAD Magazine
2021, Indigenous Issue, Canadian Geographic
2021, Indigenous Brilliance, The Room Magazine
2021, Nahanni McKay’s Dream, Katharine Erwin, 51 Degrees North Magazine
2021, Art for everyone: Variety of artists currently at Revelstoke gallery show, Jocelyn Doll, Revelstoke Review
2021, Nahanni McKay, Local Artist Receives Invitation to Venice, 106.5 Mountain FM
2020, Nahanni McKay, Loop 14, Habituate, Acclimate, Alberta Foundation of the Arts Travelling Exhibition Program catalogue
2020, If you don't laugh, you'll cry, A Bad Photo of Moraine Lake, DIY Youth
2020, Isolation Gallery, interview with Chelsea Kemp, Rocky Mountain Outlook
2020, Issue Eleven: Yugen, Murze
2020, Nahanni McKay, interview with Alexis Marie Chute, Artsy Monday Blog
2020, Issue Ten: Wildlife, Murze Magazine
2020, Loop 14, Exposure Photography Festival Grows In 2020, The Gauntlet
2019, Land Acknowledgement, InStudio Magazine, Banff Centre
2018, Back Cover, Indigenous Art, Buffalo Drum Magazine, Banff Centre