“Lara Felsing’s diverse, care-full, and finely crafted multimedia and site-specific artworks are informed by her upbringing and teachings as a Métis-Cree artist from Edson, Alberta. Her art merges Indigenous knowledge with contemporary artistic research practices to create works both about and from the land. Using natural textiles, plants, dyes, and other biodegradable materials, Felsing’s work belies a commitment to excellence in art-making and to demonstrating reciprocity with the land she draws her inspiration from.”
— 2026 Emerging Artist Jury
– Emerging Artist adjudicators
Lara Felsing is an interdisciplinary Cree Métis artist from Northern Alberta, Canada. Lara’s practice explores kinship with the natural world and advocates living in reciprocity with the land and all living beings.
Traditional plant harvesting is at the core of her practice, and Lara gathers roots, leaves, berries, petals, and pine needles to create compostable paintings, weavings, clothing and blankets that speak to the necessity of honouring and showing gratitude for Mother Earth’s gifts. She has exhibited internationally and attended residencies at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, and the Canadian Artist Residency at La Napoule.
Lara’s practice responds to stories on the land where she lives and beyond. Her work addresses climate change, community, and kinship with the land and more-than-humans. Her practice investigates the increasing prevalence of wildfires, and she shares her experiences evacuating twice in 2023. Last June, Lara’s Wildfire Forest Baskets were featured at the 2025 G7 in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada.
With each act of weaving, braiding, drawing, painting and dyeing, Lara Felsing reminds us of our responsibilities, inspiring us to build our own kinship with the land. This work is necessary, vital to our future. But Lara calls us to action with a firm gentleness, leading the way by example.
Emily Baker
Curator, Art Gallery of St. Albert
