ALBERTA – Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Awards

Cree Métis interdisciplinary artist Lara Felsing received the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Award for Emerging Artist for 2026. Her material research and practice merge Indigenous teachings with Western knowledge to explore kinship with the land. Felsing’s stunning material exploration includes stitched circular family portraits paired with long, bundled sweetgrass and hand-woven coiled baskets made with foraged materials. Using natural textiles and earth-toned washes, she depicts wildlife like elk navigating tactile, multi-layered terrains, utilizing upcycled community items and bio- degradable materials to advocate for environmental care, reciprocity and survival. LR