SHAWNA ARIEL BECKER 

Vancouver, BC | arielmixedmedia@gmail.com | "https://linktr.ee/arielmixedmedia"arielmixedmedia 

 

 

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY 

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Shawna Ariel is a neurodivergent mixed media painter, installation artist and freelance curator based in Vancouver, BC, on the traditional, unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. As a settler on stolen land and the child of a diasporic parent, she is conscious of her position within these histories. Her work blends fantasy, science fiction, ecology, humor, and storytelling, often using upcycled and thrifted materials. Ariel explores identity, the ecology of her home, and human connection, transforming discarded objects into artworks that spark conversation and encourage social engagement. She is the founder of The Suitcase Curatorial Collective, a community-driven initiative supporting emerging artists and collectives through exhibitions, opportunities to showcase and sell work, participate in workshops, collaborative projects, and public programming. She actively organizes and participates in charity-focused events, including art raffles and fundraisers, using her curation and artwork to support social causes, such as initiatives that promote equity, community well-being, and access to the arts. Her practice challenges conventional definitions of art, emphasizing empathy, sustainability, and the power of personal and collective stories in a world dominated by commercialism. 

Ariel’s work and curatorial projects have been presented at artist-run centers, pop-up exhibitions, and alternative spaces across Vancouver, including James Black Gallery, Langley Arts Council, Access Gallery, Emily Carr University Object Corner and Neighborhood Gallery, Grey Lab, and other underground venues for experimental and interdisciplinary art and music. She currently curates for Champions of Hope, a Vancouver-based fundraising organization, and her work has been featured in publications ranging from Vice to online podcasts and independently run magazines. Ariel is actively involved in artist collectives and supports emerging artists and designers through promotion and collaboration, including her work with Last House Collective and EyeColor Collective. In addition to exhibiting her own art, she aims to elevate others’ projects through performative and collaborative approaches. Currently in her final year of a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Ariel’s integrated practice of painting and curation is driven by the belief that art is transformative, capable of raising awareness, fostering connection, and inspiring meaningful change in communities and individual lives.

 

 

EDUCATION 

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Emily Carr University of Art + Design — Bachelor of Fine Arts, painting, curation 
Vancouver, BC | Jan 2022 – Present 

The Art Institute of Vancouver — Fine Arts Studies, digital design, traditional fine arts techniques 
Vancouver, BC | Jan 2017 – Jan 2021  

Langara College — Fine Arts Certificate, life drawing, painting, sculpture, design 
Vancouver, BC | 2015 – 2017 

 

TECHNICAL + CREATIVE SKILLS 

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• Curation | Art Event Planning | Grant Writing 

• Community Outreach | Public Speaking 

• Mixed media painting | Fine Art and Design techniques | Art material handling | Digital and film photography | Curation | Management | Operational | Logo design and branding | Marketing and business development 

• Canva | Adobe Photoshop | Graphic Design | Adobe Creative Suite | Content creation 

 

EXPERIENCE 

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Curator for Champions of Hope 

Vancouver, BC | Dec. 2025 – Present 

• Founder of Suitcase Curatorial Collective, organizing exhibitions, open calls, and  
  networking events, signed a contract to curate fundraising organization Champions of Hope. 

• Manage artist calls, curation, and gallery communications for artists at each event by-monthly. 

 

Artist + Freelance Curator 

Vancouver, BC | May 2015 – Present 

• Founder of Suitcase Curatorial Collective, organizing exhibitions, open calls, and  
  networking events 

• Manage grants, submissions, and gallery communications for emerging artists 

 

Marketing & Business Development Lead 

Pro Broker Agency (Rob Sutherland) 
Vancouver, BC | Aug 2025 – Present 

• Designed branded marketing materials using Canva 

• Conducted cold outreach to brokers, inspectors, and realtors to generate leads 

 

Student Ambassador & Gallery Monitor 

Emily Carr University of Art + Design 
Vancouver, BC | Sept 2024 – Present 

• Lead tours for prospective students and parents 

• Support ECU Gallery Go by promoting openings and building community connections 

• Liaison between students and faculty for events and exhibitions 

 

Art Collective Leader / Residence Manager 

Vancouver, BC | May 2018 – June 2022 

• Managed a shared living and working art space for 8+ creatives called “Diva Den” 

• Organized community events, exhibitions, and music shows 

• Fostered collaboration and community among emerging artists 

 

Administrative Assistant / Data Entry 

Dexter Associates Realty 
Vancouver, BC | Sept 2012 – 2019 

• Managed phones, appointment booking, and data entry 

• Created marketing materials and maintained office organization 

 

EXHIBITIONS:  

For full exhibition history, visit:  "https://linktr.ee/arielmixedmedia"arielmixedmedia 

 

Solo Exhibitions: 

• 2024 - Portland Craft, “Shawna Ariel Mixed Media, a solo Exhibition,” Vancouver, BC. 

 

Select Group Exhibitions:     

2026 – The byo show, vscreative lab, 1884 Main street, Vancouver BC 

2025 – Last House Collective, “Last House group show”, Vancouver BC  

2025 – Suitcase Collective, “Digital Fantasies” Duel show, Vancouver BC  

2025 - Langley Arts Council, "Beyond Barriers Exhibition", Vancouver, BC.  

2025 - James Black Gallery, "Fashion Show DIAMOTIAS Night of Fashion," Vancouver, BC.  

2025 - The Mezzanine "Champions of Hope Vol. 1 and 2",Vancouver, BC.  

2025 - Goodcowood Eyecolor Collective, "New doors old openings art show," Vancouver, BC.   

2025 - Emily Carr University student exhibitions, The Object Corner, "HANGER ISSUES," Vancouver, BC  

2025 - Emily Carr University Library, "Does the Ocean end?," Vancouver, BC  

2025 - Maniacal Maniacs's Studio, "Maniacal Maniacs Backyard Art show," Vancouver, BC  

2024-2025 - (pop up venues monthly) 648 Kingsway, Grey Lab, "The Last House in Vancouver," Vancouver, BC  

2024-2025 - The Hoxten, "Gastown7," Vancouver, BC  

2024 - Access Gallery "Members show and sale," Vancouver, BC  

2024 - 45 W Hastings St "The Creative Cabaret," Vancouver, BC  

2024 - James Black Gallery, “Beautiful Trash for Beautiful People Gallery,” Vancouver, BC  

2024 - Portland Craft, “Portland Craft Showcase,” Vancouver, BC.  

  

ART MARKETS  

Recent Art Markets & Shows (2025):   

2026 – Champions of Change, fundraiser, Arts Umbrella, Vancouver BC 

 2026 – Champions of Hope series, The Mez, Vancouver BC 

2025 - Visual artist and curator collaborator and promoter for Digital Fantasies at Artworks, Vancouver, BC  

2025 - Visual artist collaborator and install and lead for Last House at Artworks, Vancouver, BC  

2025 - Visual artist collaborator and promoter for Champions of hope at The Mezzanine and Astoria, Vancouver, BC  

2025 - Artist showcases at Little Cow Concerts, Vancouver, BC, Sonic Garden at The Pearl, Vancouver, BC, Physic Geist at The Wise Hall, Vancouver, BC  

2025 - Visual artist collaborator, promoter and live painter for The Lily Dippers at The Beaumont, Green Auto stage 2, Vancouver, BC  

2025 -  Visual artist collaborator, promoter and live painter fawnriot Sonic Garden at The Pearl, Vancouver, BC   

2025 - Visual artist vender, promoter and live painter for The Robson band's shows at Portside and The Roxy, Vancouver, BC  

2025 - Visual artist collaborator, promoter and live painter for Cotton and Stone for Little Cow Concerts at Granville Island, Vancouver, BC  

2025 - Visual artist collaborator and promoter Open Doors Art Show at Goodcowood, Vancouver, BC  

2025 - Visual artist collaborator, promoter and live painter The Plant Show Green Auto, Vancouver, BC  

2025 - Visual artist collaborator, promoter and live painter Spank Williams at the Hollywood Theatre, Vancouver, BC  

2025 - Visual artist vender and   live painter for Faeted Fantasy market and showcase at The Vancouver Club, Vancouver, BC  

2024 - Visual artist vender and live painter for Yeah Man and Yeah Mam shows at Ositos and The Cobalt, Vancouver, BC  

2024 - Vines Art Festival Market at the Russian Hall, Vancouver, BC  

2023 - 648 Art Market at Take your time back & 648, Vancouver, BC  

 

Curated Group Exhibitions and Workshops under Suitcase Collective: 

• 2026 - Suitcase Collective, "Home is when I am with you" group show, Emily Carr University zone 1, Vancouver BC

• 2026 - Suitcase Collective and Confused Colors, "Value me" group show, Take your time Front Vancouver BC

• 2025-present - Artist Curator for Champions of Hope, Monthly shows, Vancouver BC 

• 2025 – Last House Collective, “Last House last show of the year, group show”, Vancouver BC 

• 2025 – Suitcase Collective, “Digital Fantasies” Dual show, Vancouver BC 

• 2025 - Visual artist promoter and model for Emily Carr University student exhibitions, The Object Corner, "HANGER ISSUES," Vancouver, BC 

• 2025 - Artist showcases at Little Cow Concerts, Vancouver, BC, Sonic Garden at The Pearl, Vancouver, BC, Physic Geist at The Wise Hall, Vancouver, BC 

• 2025 - Visual artist promoter for Eyecolor Collective at The Pearl, Vancouver, BC 

• 2025 - Mixed media upcycling and fabric painting workshop with Downtown Eastside Arts & Crafts Society, Vancouver, BC.  

• 2024 - Artist director, vender and live painter for FAUNA SERIES at Industrial 236, Vancouver, BC.  

• 2024 - Assistant for art therapy workshop with Zana Becker Art Therapist, Vancouver, BC.  

 

Additional references are available upon request. 

 

Public Collections: 

 

“Azzucar Morena Radio” Vancouver BC 2025,  

https://playlist.citr.ca/podcasting/xml/azzucar-morena.xml 

 

“Champions of Hope Podcast” Vancouver BC 2025, https://www.youtube.com/@Champions.of.hope.series 

 

 

Publications and Media: 

“Beautiful Trash for Beautiful people” Reconstruction. Volume 7, April 2025. Pages 33-34 

“Beautiful Trash for Beautiful people” Art is dead. Volume 4, Augst 2024. Pages 50-51 

“Vancouver's shrinking nightlife scene is bringing artists closer together” Vice article, April 17th, 2019 

"Gift Baskets for Peace: Rose and Lily" Justice and restorative justice practice conference curated by  Sue Dorey, Administration Staff - Program Manager, Violence Reduction + Incident Response at Emily Carr University. October 2024 

“Conflagration of Mount Con Reid” NFT Bali 2024: The Soul's Palette June, 2024 

"No Frills: a Cityscape"  HUG Visionaries 2024 (Spring/Summer) 

 "My Mind is a Garden" The SDG:3.4 Creative Arts Project, 2024 

"A Surfer's Perspective"  Floor ICONS Series 3, 2024 

 

Member of the Following Organizations: 

Suitcase Curatorial Collective, Created in 2025, Leader  

Champions of Hope, Joined 2025 

Last House Art Collective, Joined 2024 

Eyecolor Collective, Joined 2024 

Diva Den Art Collective, Created 2020-2023, Leader