Uploaded January 2022 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Inner Space, a new monthly web series co-curated by the Inner Space Youth Advisory and AGO staff, welcomes artists from across Canada as they present personal tours of their studios. Giving a platform to young curators aged 16-25 to work with artists from their communities, Inner Space aims to make visible and celebrate a new generation of Canadian artists. A new video will be released each month.
This month we meet artist Kaya Joan, a multi-disciplinary Afro (Jamaican/ Vincentian)-Indigenous (Kanien’kehá:ka with relations from Kahnawá:ke) artist living in T’karonto (Dish with One Spoon treaty territory).
They were curated by Loïk Raymond (aka Inniminan) of the AGO Youth Advisory. “The reason I chose Kaya is that I believe in lifting up Indigenous and Black Queer creators. They practice what they preach and I truly respect that. Also their art styles are striking and deserves admiration by more people. The celestial aspect that can be found in some of their work reminds me of the connection we all have with each other and the universe. They are an artist that I believe deserves more visibility. Being able to lift someone up from within the Indigenous community fills me with joy."
Artist Bio:
Kaya Joan is a multidisciplinary Afro (Jamaican/ Vincentian)-Indigenous (Kanien’kehá:ka with relations from Kahnawá:ke) artist living in T’karonto (Dish with One Spoon treaty territory). Kaya’s work focuses on placemaking and storytelling. Black and Indigenous futurisms and speculative fiction are also themes present in Kaya’s practice − working through buried truths to explore how creation can connect seven generations into the past and future. Kaya has been working in community arts for six years as a facilitator and artist. To view more of Kaya’s work, visit: kayajoan.com
Curator Bio:
Loïk Raymond, aka Inniminan, is a two-spirit Innu artist from Uashat now living in Treaty 1 (Winnipeg, Manitoba). He makes handmade traditional beadwork with a contemporary twist. Often designs are not planned; he lets the beads guide the way. He uses his art to reconnect with the land, ancestors and tradition. He wants to share his pride as an Innu with the world. He can only create when he is feeling positive thoughts as he believes his energy is transferred into his beadwork. His work has been sent to Spain, Japan and across North America. He has been a beadworker for approximately five years. Tshishpeuatetau Innu-aimun mak Innu-aitun. (Protect Innu language and culture.)
Follow the Series at @AGOYOUTH
bit.ly/3r26ceN
Created and Facilitated by AGO Youth Programs: Sarah Febbraro & Madelyne Beckles
Curated in Collaboration with the Inner Space Youth Advisory.
Generously supported by The Lloyd Carr-Harris Foundation.
Music Via Soundstripe
Holiday
by: Anchor
Youtube License ID: PWMTUXP8RVYASKZV
Fine Dining
by: Dresden, The Flamingo
Youtube License ID: 3YKRICHTL1IDZR6L
New Turf
by: Sam Barsh
Youtube License ID: 331WXD8EG5D2MDY5
Golden Navel
by: Isaac Joel
Youtube License ID: ODMMQNN8QHJWYJND
Pancake Crust
by: Isaac Joel
Youtube License ID: 1BOFZ5HMM4ETQS9X
Pour Pal
by: Isaac Joel
Youtube License ID: ONM2PBMQVYXYKTXR
Silver Leaf
by: Isaac Joel
Youtube License ID: UDDHDOUP1SOGSOJ9
King Bolete
by: Isaac Joel
Youtube License ID: TOROZDHCFLOOPCAD
© The Art Gallery of Ontario 2022
Inner Space, a new monthly web series co-curated by the Inner Space Youth Advisory and AGO staff, welcomes artists from across Canada as they present personal tours of their studios. Giving a platform to young curators aged 16-25 to work with artists from their communities, Inner Space aims to make visible and celebrate a new generation of Canadian artists. A new video will be released each month.
This month we meet artist Kaya Joan, a multi-disciplinary Afro (Jamaican/ Vincentian)-Indigenous (Kanien’kehá:ka with relations from Kahnawá:ke) artist living in T’karonto (Dish with One Spoon treaty territory).
They were curated by Loïk Raymond (aka Inniminan) of the AGO Youth Advisory. “The reason I chose Kaya is that I believe in lifting up Indigenous and Black Queer creators. They practice what they preach and I truly respect that. Also their art styles are striking and deserves admiration by more people. The celestial aspect that can be found in some of their work reminds me of the connection we all have with each other and the universe. They are an artist that I believe deserves more visibility. Being able to lift someone up from within the Indigenous community fills me with joy."
Artist Bio:
Kaya Joan is a multidisciplinary Afro (Jamaican/ Vincentian)-Indigenous (Kanien’kehá:ka with relations from Kahnawá:ke) artist living in T’karonto (Dish with One Spoon treaty territory). Kaya’s work focuses on placemaking and storytelling. Black and Indigenous futurisms and speculative fiction are also themes present in Kaya’s practice − working through buried truths to explore how creation can connect seven generations into the past and future. Kaya has been working in community arts for six years as a facilitator and artist. To view more of Kaya’s work, visit: kayajoan.com
Curator Bio:
Loïk Raymond, aka Inniminan, is a two-spirit Innu artist from Uashat now living in Treaty 1 (Winnipeg, Manitoba). He makes handmade traditional beadwork with a contemporary twist. Often designs are not planned; he lets the beads guide the way. He uses his art to reconnect with the land, ancestors and tradition. He wants to share his pride as an Innu with the world. He can only create when he is feeling positive thoughts as he believes his energy is transferred into his beadwork. His work has been sent to Spain, Japan and across North America. He has been a beadworker for approximately five years. Tshishpeuatetau Innu-aimun mak Innu-aitun. (Protect Innu language and culture.)
Follow the Series at @AGOYOUTH
bit.ly/3r26ceN
Created and Facilitated by AGO Youth Programs: Sarah Febbraro & Madelyne Beckles
Curated in Collaboration with the Inner Space Youth Advisory.
Generously supported by The Lloyd Carr-Harris Foundation.
Music Via Soundstripe
Holiday
by: Anchor
Youtube License ID: PWMTUXP8RVYASKZV
Fine Dining
by: Dresden, The Flamingo
Youtube License ID: 3YKRICHTL1IDZR6L
New Turf
by: Sam Barsh
Youtube License ID: 331WXD8EG5D2MDY5
Golden Navel
by: Isaac Joel
Youtube License ID: ODMMQNN8QHJWYJND
Pancake Crust
by: Isaac Joel
Youtube License ID: 1BOFZ5HMM4ETQS9X
Pour Pal
by: Isaac Joel
Youtube License ID: ONM2PBMQVYXYKTXR
Silver Leaf
by: Isaac Joel
Youtube License ID: UDDHDOUP1SOGSOJ9
King Bolete
by: Isaac Joel
Youtube License ID: TOROZDHCFLOOPCAD
© The Art Gallery of Ontario 2022
