I am a Toronto-born Latvian Canadian photo-based artist. I was raised in the Latvian refugee community in Toronto, and lived in Latvia 2006-2010 in an effort to better understand this foreign place so intrinsic to my identity. Photography played a big role in this reconciliation. I hold an MFA with distinction in Documentary Media from Toronto Metropolitan University and a BA Hon in Visual Studies and French Language & Literature from the University of Toronto.
Past exhibitions include Before the War (2020) at Indras Laimes Muzejs; Latvian Photographers in the Age of Unease (2018) at the LCCC as a part of Contact Photography Festival; Enchanted Forest Presence (2018) and New Works (2018) at Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography; and No One Says Anything, Everyone Remembers Everything at Alliance Francaise (2016) Toronto and Ryerson Artspace (2015) as a Featured Exhibition of Contact Photography Festival.
I compile candid photographs and archives to create documentary work that explores social and political issues while maintaining painterly qualities with strong consideration of colour and composition. My work reveals everyday moments surrounding significant current events; most recently the historically and currently fraught border between Europe and Russia, and the traces left by the traumas of war and occupation layered under the conflict and unease in the region today.
I have participated in organizing cultural programs since 2005’s Latvian cultural season in France Etonnante Lettonie at the Embassy of Latvia in Paris. I was Head of Communications and Design at the Textile Museum of Canada (Toronto) 2016–2021, and currently steer Communications and Design at the Flaherty Film Seminar (NYC). I am on the Board of Directors of Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography (Toronto) and the Programming Committee at Le Labo, Toronto’s Francophone Media Arts Centre.