Artist Statement
Ordinary objects of significance. By transforming ordinary things into carefully crafted works of art, the cultural and personal significance of the object becomes the message. These items help tell the story of who we are and become touchstones of our history and identity. By choosing to paint objects from her own childhood in the 1990s, Felicia is exploring the power of nostalgia for her white middle class generation. This unique decade was the last time of freedom before screens and endless choices on the internet dominated our lives. As many strive for meaning and direction in their busy lives, it is deeply impactful to remember the times we felt the most calm and joyful, as well as the people who shared those experiences with us. These objects serve as reminders to play, explore, embrace mistakes, make friends and occasionally be bored, bringing a renewed sense of what actually matters in our current lives. Felicia’s art aims to remind people to not lose sight of the kid within themselves.
Bio
Felicia Fraser is a full time artist, living and working in Vancouver BC with her family, including partner, two boys and faithful pup. She trained as a graphic designer and illustrator, graduating from Capilano University’s IDEA program in 2009.
As a child who practically lived in the school library looking at picture books, Felicia understood at a young age that art can be one’s purpose and career in life. Her early art education included every possible extracurricular art class, from watercolour to cartooning to commercial art. During high school she painted her first hyper realistic art – a tube of paint – and was then dubbed the ‘paint tube girl’. Training at Capilano University exposed her to every possible art medium and technique, as well as being trained by incredible working artists.
After working as a successful senior designer at an agency for 12 years (see my work here), while also starting a family, Felicia returned to her original love of painting purely for her own mental health. When the pandemic turned life upside down, changing work and childcare situations, she used it as an opportunity to launch in a new direction. One that has always been her passion. Her first couple years as a professional artist have included a solo gallery exhibition featuring 25 original paintings, over 50 commissioned artworks including several for corporate accounts, and being featured on local news outlets.
Thank you for being here. Felicia would love to hear from you, to connect or collaborate.
Why do I love hotdogs & dinosaurs? I never want to fully grow up. Kids can be fascinated by everything (dinos) and love things with their full selves (hot dogs). While loving who I am now, I am still the same little girl I always was, and I don’t want to lose sight of her. When not at my easel these days, I am found turning cardboard boxes into forts, teaching watercolour to my nieces via Zoom, sewing stuffies and making glitter slime. Now get off your phone and go jump in a mud puddle!
CV
Education
2006 to 2009 - Diploma of Illustration and Design - Capilano University - Vancouver BC
Exhibitions
SOLO
(upcoming) November 2024 - Place des Arts - ‘Make. Believe.’ - Coquitlam BC
(upcoming) May 2024 - THIS Gallery - ‘Make. Believe.’ - Vancouver BC
May 2023 - Slice of Life Gallery - ‘90s Kid’ - Vancouver BC
GROUP
March 2024 - THIS Gallery - ‘SIXBYSIX’ - Vancouver BC
February 2024 - Slice of Life Gallery - Love & Anti Love: Collective Show - Vancouver BC
September 2023 - THIS Gallery - ‘Life = Absurd’ - Vancouver BC
Aug/Sept/Oct 2023 - The Pleasant Community Gallery - Vancouver BC
Media
Art Seen, Issue 10, The Curator’s Salon, Winter 2023
https://www.thecuratorssalon.com/shop-art-seen/p/issue10
‘Tamagotchis, Pogs, and Goosebumps: A Vancouver art show for every '90s Kid'‘, Vancouver is Awesome, May 7, 2023
https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/vancouver-gallery-hosting-a-very-90s-art-show-6965467
‘Vancouver art exhibit is like stepping into a '90s time machine’, Daily Hive, May 19, 2023
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/felicia-fraser-90s-kid-art-exhibit