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Nahanni is a Metis artist and photographer based on Treaty 7 Territory. Born and raised in the Banff, her creative practice has focused on National Parks and the human impact on surrounding natural environments as well as the decolonization of land.

Nahanni sees herself as a unique wildlife photographer making sculptures out of skulls and fur she brings 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.
 

Nahanni participated in being the subject of Beyond Begbie, a ski film about mountain names and the responsibility of the outdoor community.

 

When she is not in her studio you can find her in the mountains somewhere.

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CV:

 

Nahanni McKay . She/ Her

07.24.1994 . IG: @nahanster . Banff, AB . www.nahannimckay.com . nahanniphotography@gmail.com

 

E X H I B I T I O N S

 

2023, The Gift Shop, Kelowna Art Gallery, Kelowna BC (upcoming)

 

2023, Florence Biennale, Florence, Italy (upcoming)

2023, Homegrown, Town Hall, Banff, AB

 

2023, The Fence, Exposure Photography Festival, Calgary, AB

 

2022, Coexist, Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival, Banff, AB

 

2022, Coexist, Galleria Exhibition, Edmonton, AB

 

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, The Little Cabin Gallery, Exposure Photography Festival, Banff AB

 

2022, Coexist, Arts Place, Canmore

 

2021, Open Studios, Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity, Banff

 

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, ON

 

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,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

 

2021, Honourable Mention, Landscape Award, Wild Skies Gallery

 

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

 

2023. Coexist Artist Talk, Nahanni McKay & Cecilia Leddy, Coldsmoke Powder Festival, Nelson, BC

 

2022, Panellist, For The Love Of, Revelstoke

 

2022 Panellist, Snow Show Q&A, Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival

 

2022 Panellist, Indigenous Dialogs, Banff Mountain Film Festival

 

2022 Artist Talk, Coexist, Banff Mountain Film Festival

 

2022, Panellist, Indigenous Perspectives in Outdoor Spaces, Coalition Snow

 

2022, Artist Talk: Nahanni McKay, Grand Prairie College

2021, Leighton Studios Project, Consultant

 

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, Buff Blog, Creating Beyond Begbie with Nahanni McKay, Nat Segal

 

2022, Photographic Exhibit Showcases Challenges of Habitat for Both Humans and Wildlife,  Jasper Fitzhugh, Scott Hayes

 

2022, Banff photographer picks up prestigious award, Rocky Mountain Outlook, Craig Baird

 

2022, Emerging artists honoured with Lt.-Gov. Awards, Calgary Herald

 

2022. Personal Structures Catalogue, The European Cultural Centre, Venice, Italy

 

2022, Artist Talk, TREX Exhibition, Virtual

 

2022, Collaboration Exhibition Opens at Arts Place, Evan Buler, Rocky Mountain Outlook

 

2021, Valley of Winchemka, Indigenous Issue, Canadian Geographic

 

2021, Nahanni McKay, SAD Magazine

 

2021, Loop 14, 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

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