Portia (Po) Chapman

Portia (Po) Chapman (BFAH, BEd) is a local Bay of Quinte based, nature loving, award winning, Canadian multidisciplinary, emerging visual artist and visual storyteller reclaiming her Indigenous heritage by celebrating unity and the colourful, joyous beauty of Creation through her artworks. Her artworks primarily include painted hand drums, digital illustrations, small graphic murals, screen prints, installations, spontaneous pen and ink drawings, and Artist in Community Education.

Po offers completed artworks for sale and invites both personal and corporate commissions.  A visit to her website quickly reveals nature as her inspiration, and her colourful style developed by her family.  As a visual storyteller, Po encourages us to dream hopeful dreams, to never give up seeking a better future, and to share our personal stories.

Po’s development as an artist began along the south shores of Moira Lake and in the forest near Camp Quin-Mo-Lac near Tweed, Ontario.  She received her first arts award at her grade 8 graduation from St. Michael Catholic School in Belleville, Ontario.  While attending Nicholson Catholic College, Portia designed the ALCDSB “Faith in Action Logo” and in 2015, she received the Quinte Arts Council Arts Bursary.  Before attending her BFAH at Queen’s University, she won “Best in Show” at the annual BDIA Juried Student Visual Art Competition.

Po continues to be a positive artistic influence at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.  In 2019, after multiple exhibits and published artworks, Po received the Queen’s Medal in Visual Art for being the top BFAH graduate.  At Queen’s, Po is best known for her digital artwork illustrations commissioned by the Queen’s Office of Indigenous Initiatives.  Her “Truth” image was featured by Queen’s during the week of the first annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.  “Truth,” has been shared across Canada as an awareness focussed piece.  Po’s 2017 cover image, “My Creation,” of the inaugural edition of the Queen’s ASUS Journal of Indigenous Studies was later commissioned as a mural which now adorns Kingston Hall’s Reflection Room.  Currently, Po is completing 7 new digital art illustrations celebrating the Queen’s Faculty of Education’s Indigenous Initiatives to be featured on their website and branding.

Po’s artwork embodies an expression of beauty.  Even her most painful pieces relay a message of hope.  Chapman’s additional current works include a new book cover and illustrations, painted hand drums, art prints, and quilted woollen stars inspired by Indigenous medicine shields.

To learn more about Po and her artwork, as well as to purchase or commission art pieces, invite submissions to your gallery / exhibit, or lead artings and art workshops, please visit her website: www.loveartbypo.ca