Richmond BC, Canada #richmondartgallerybc
Richmond Art Gallery is thrilled to launch a new outdoor initiative, which will present annually a new large-scale banner highlighting the artwork of a local Indigenous artist. Installed on its exterior walls facing the busy Minoru Boulevard, the first banner in this series is by Manuel Axel Strain, a gifted artist of Musqueam, Simpcw, and Syilx descent. The banner displays the words xʷən̓iwən ce:p kʷθəθ nəw̓eyəł, signifying in hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ Remember your teachings. Originally handpainted in vibrant colours by the artist for the title wall of their solo exhibition of the same name at the Gallery in 2025, the banner powerfully asserts the artist’s connection and commitment to their family, the land, and Musqueam knowledge and teachings.
Manuel Axel Strain is of the xʷməθkʷəyəm, Simpcw and Syilx peoples. Although they attended Emily Carr University of Art + Design, they prioritize Indigenous epistemologies through the embodied knowledge of their relatives and ancestors above all. They have contributed work to the Vancouver Art Gallery, Surrey Art Gallery, and the University of British Columbia Okanagan FINA Gallery. They were longlisted for Canada’s prestigious Sobey Art Award in 2022 and 2026 and were a recipient of the 2022 Portfolio Prize.
