Regina Artist Audie Murray Celebrates Indigenous Heritage Through Art

Audie Murray, a Regina-based artist, is making significant strides in the international art scene with her unique blend of traditional and contemporary Indigenous art. Her works have been showcased in exhibitions across Canada, Alaska, New York, and even London, England. This journey is particularly impressive considering she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Regina only in 2017.

Murray’s artistry is deeply rooted in her Indigenous heritage as a member of the Flying Dust First Nation and her connections to the Métis and Cree communities of Lebret and Meadow Lake. “I always pull from my personal experience and background,” she explains. “This is my experience, being Indigenous and growing up that way, so I try not to overthink it.”

Recognition and Impact

Recently, Murray was awarded the ohpinamake Indigenous art prize from the University of Saskatchewan, a prestigious honor that includes a $10,000 prize. This award celebrates Indigenous artists whose work uplifts and empowers communities. “It was super cool,” she remarked about winning the prize. Previous awardees include notable artists like KC Adams and Joi T Arcand, both of whom she admires.

“I think it’s great to receive this marker of appreciation as an artist,” Murray noted. “That’s not something you always get, especially in a monetary way.” The recognition has also provided her with the resources to expand her creative pursuits, including hiring a part-time assistant. “It’s been incredibly helpful in terms of producing work and time management,” she stated. As a mother of a toddler, managing her studio time has become crucial.

Murray is currently working on a groundbreaking art project that reexamines traditional beadwork. This project involves weaving small squares of beads and then breaking them apart to expose the underlying structure. “There’s a lot of people learning about their Indigeneity and picking up beadwork and commercializing it right away,” she observed. Murray aims to resist that trend.

Art as a Reflection of Heritage

Her latest pieces intend to reflect the significance of beading within Indigenous culture, both historically and in contemporary contexts. “I have a lot of family – grandmas and great-grandmas who are beadworkers and seamstresses,” she shared. “I feel very connected to that material, but also protective because of the way it can commercialize Indigenous culture.”

Murray’s work was recently part of the P/Reserve exhibit at the Bockley Gallery in Minnesota, which focuses on showcasing Indigenous artists from across North America. “It’s important for people with lived experience of what it means to be Indigenous to have a space to voice their experiences and work from a place of authenticity,” she emphasized.

Despite her impressive accomplishments, Murray remains humble about her journey. “Sometimes I have doubts about myself – like why am I making this art, it’s so silly,” she admitted. Yet, she recognizes the importance of storytelling through art. “We need people’s stories in the world.”

Murray initially pursued a career in education, inspired by her mother, Lucile Fisher, who was an art student during Murray’s childhood. “I wanted to be an artist, but that shifted as I grew older,” she recalled. After enrolling in the Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program (SUNTEP), she realized her passion lay in art rather than teaching.

Her focus on beading everyday objects not only honed her skills in traditional practices but also enhanced her observatory abilities. “Art is such a marker of time,” she reflected. “It’s a sponge for the context of what’s going on in the world.”

In addition to her artistic endeavors, Murray has advanced her education, earning a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Calgary. She has received multiple awards, including the BMO 1st Art Award and the Salt Spring National Art Prize.

At the heart of Murray’s work is a desire for connection. “I love when you’re drawn to a piece of art and you don’t know why, when it feels like it’s saying something to you,” she noted. Her hope is that audiences, regardless of their backgrounds, can feel a sense of kinship with her creations.

Applications for the ohpinamake Prize for Indigenous Artists opened on September 26, 2023, and will close on December 1, 2023. Only Indigenous candidates will be considered for this award.