Jane Ash Poitras

Jane Ash Poitras, born in 1951 in Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, is a distinguished Cree painter and printmaker who has significantly contributed to Canadian art. After her mother's death from tuberculosis when she was six, Poitras was adopted and raised in Edmonton. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from the University of Alberta before she transitioned to fine arts, earning a BFA in Printmaking from the University of Alberta and an MFA from Columbia University. Her additional credentials include honorary doctorates from the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary.

Poitras's artistic practice combines traditional Indigenous perspectives with contemporary art approaches, creating multi-layered works that incorporate historical photographs, text, and symbolic objects. Her reconnection with her Cree heritage around age 30 was transformative for her artistic direction, leading her to explore themes of cultural identity, Indigenous history, and social issues. Her technique evolved from early etchings influenced by her scientific background to more expressive mixed-media compositions influenced by color theorists like Hans Hofmann and Kandinsky.

In recognition of her contributions to Canadian culture, Poitras was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2017. She has also received the National Aboriginal Achievement Award for Arts and Culture, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, and membership in the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA). Her works are held in major public collections including the National Gallery of Canada, the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the Royal Ontario Museum, and the Brooklyn Museum in New York.

Poitras serves as a sessional instructor at the University of Alberta and travels as a guest lecturer across North America, mentoring emerging Indigenous artists. Through her art and teaching, she continues the storytelling traditions of her ancestors while addressing contemporary issues facing Indigenous communities. Her work has been featured in significant museum exhibitions including "In the Shadow of the Sun" and "Indigena" at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, and "Who Discovered the Americas?" organized by the Thunder Bay Art Gallery.