Portia (Po) Chapman is a Belleville-based Canadian artist and educator. She holds Bachelor of Fine Art and Bachelor of Education degrees from Queen’s University and has won several awards for her artwork. Most of Po’s work explores Indigenous identity and culture, inspired by the reclamation of her Indigenous heritage. Her artistic style is a reflection of growing up along the shores of the Moira Lake in Tweed, ON and immersing herself in the playfulness of nature. Po creates work with the hopeful intention of inspiring viewers to smile and bask in a moment of hope.
Po works in a wide range of mediums, including digital illustration, oil painting, printmaking, quilting, installation sculpture, and traditional Indigenous practices such as drum making (to name a few). One of her most recent works, a mural titled “Warbler Watching,” can be found in the Aviator’s Garden at Base 31 in Picton, ON. Po’s current ongoing project is creating a series of 15 handcrafted drums using traditional methods and raw materials. Po regularly posts about her creative process and the thinking behind her current projects on her website.
Image Source: loveartbypo.wordpress.com
