If I’m honest, it’s not really about the competition…
For me, this isn’t about a title or a moment.
It’s about creating spaces where people can reconnect with themselves…where creativity becomes something we return to - not something we perform.
It’s about using this moment to hold space for something that matters.
We’re living in a time where funding for the arts is being cut - here in Nova Scotia where I’m from, and beyond. Where creativity is treated like something optional, something extra.
But creativity isn’t a luxury.
It’s a lifeline.
It was mine.
After my brain illness diagnosis and medical release from the Canadian Armed Forces, everything I thought I knew about myself collapsed. I had to unlearn who I was taught to be-including how I believed I had to show up as an artist.
And what I found wasn’t a refined version of myself.
It was something much more raw. Much more honest. I had to let myself be messy. To sit in the grief. To unarmour.
And it was through that process, through reconnecting with my creativity in an authentic way, that I found my way back to myself. That’s why I believe this so deeply
Creativity isn’t reserved for a select few. It is a birthright.
It lives in all of us.
But somewhere along the way, we’re taught to disconnect from it.
We’re told there are right ways and wrong ways.
That staying inside the lines matters more than following what feels true. And that’s where the detachment begins.
Not just from creativity -
but from ourselves.
My work is about creating spaces where people can return to that part of themselves. Spaces where it’s safe to soften. To play. To explore without needing to be “good.”
Because healing begins the moment we believe we’re allowed to access it again.
Colossal is a nationally registered professional fundraiser that inspires people to advocate for themselves and those in need. Through online competitions like The People's Artist, Colossal offers participants the opportunity to make their mark while also making a big impact.
The People's Artist Champion will land an exclusive exhibit at The Art of Elysium's Art Salon in Los Angeles, a space dedicated to fostering community and celebrating creativity. It's a rare opportunity to elevate their work, expand their audience, and engage with influential voices in contemporary art.