Kylie Fineday

VIVAS Indigenous Artist-in-Residence May 1 - August 31, 2026

What questions were you carrying with you when you started the residency?

The residency began right as I finished my MFA, so I was carrying many questions with me about what comes next and what my next big art project might be.

Are there particular methodologies, cultural practices, or ways of knowing that have guided your work in the studio?

My work in the studio was largely guided by the beadwork teachings I learned from my grandmother. I
revisited a design that I learned from her, that she learned from her mother, and experimented
with it in different colours and sizes to make wearable accessories like earrings, bolo ties, and medallions.

Indigenous wearable art is experiencing a powerful moment right now. What excites you most about where it is heading?

I’m most excited to see more queer and two-spirit Indigenous artists and designers share their voices and stories through wearable art.

What does creativity look like for you when things are going well? What about when you're feeling stuck?

When things are going well, I feel very locked in and can spend hours without realizing how much time is passing by. When I’m feeling stuck, I tend to let myself get distracted by little things.

Where do you feel your work will explore next when the residency ends?

I’m thinking of building off this experience and focusing on more wearables, both as items to sell to continue to sustain my practice, and to be worn for performance or as display objects.

How has dedicated studio time influenced your practice?

It has been a real gift to have the time and space to get back into my beads! Having a dedicated space really helped me with getting into a routine, getting ready and going to my studio for the day rather than work or school.

About the VIVAS Indigenous Artist Residency

Since September 2022, VIVAS has offered a free, centrally located art studio to local Indigenous artists. Selected artists receive funding and exclusive access to a private studio for 4-month terms.