Aiyana Beaulieu

As an Anishinaabe interdisciplinary artist, as well as self proclaimed dreamer and storyteller, I weave deep meanings in my comics and paintings. Often reflecting Indigenous identities and cultures, I seek to authentically represent Native people in spaces where we’ve been historically misrepresented. I see storytelling as a way to heal and come together. I hope to empower and inspire others, especially youth, through my work. And lastly, I hope to make sense of seeming chaos by creating peace where I can and causing just enough disturbance where needed.

“The Trees Reaching up Towards Grandmother Moon,” Gouache. I often find myself gazing at the moon in the different seasons. The inspiration came from an evening where I found myself observing the sky and noticed the silhouette of a tree where it looked like the branches were arms reaching up. I thought about depicting the moon’s relationship with the stars, the sun, or the water, but this moment inspired me to explore the relationship between the moon and the trees. I’ve illustrated this enchanting moment when the moon’s light stretches down and hits the tips of the leaves just so.