Euphoria is a celebration of queer identity through visual art and the third installment of our arts season. Featuring the work of Sharp Shoulders, Revel B, Samantha Jean, Vaugh McKay, Nicole Wrishko and Kenzie Fragoso.

Vaughn McKay is a multidisciplinary artist mainly concentrating on mediums in assemblage, acrylic on canvas, and ceramic sculpture. McKay uses these mediums to explore the human design and navigate the world around them, and has showcased their work during the “Art From the Unknown” Rachel Notley art show. McKay aims to unearth deep emotions and connections from the viewers to feel the movement of the texture and colours utilized in these works.

Nicole Oak (they/them) is a contemporary abstract and expressionist artist based in Edmonton, Alberta, working under the moniker Sharp Shoulders. Their current series, “Spectrum”, is focused on portraying queer bodies through a lens of exuberance and pleasure rather than objectification. This work explore themes of gender, sexuality, and self-acceptance, anchored in emotional responses to navigating the world as a queer/lesbian, non-binary artist. Their pieces have been included in community art exhibitions in Edmonton and Vancouver, including the Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts, Kaleido Family Arts Festival, Bleeding Heart Art Space, and Little Mountain Gallery.

Samantha Jean is a visionary of imagination known for her 3D collage art. Her work has been showcased at Capital City Art Strathcona Library and Co*Lab's Queer Joyful Visions art exhibit.
She found art as she overcame homelessness, orphanism, and late adult Intermittent Extrophia (unable to see 3D until the age of 27)
Samantha now wishes to share her wild and child like imagination to all through her art pieces.

Nicole Wrishko is an emerging artist from Edmonton, Alberta whose practice challenges modern-day norms about identity and place from a queer perspective. With primary mediums of painting, printmaking, and illustration, Wrishko utilizes the figure to explore the roles of observation and the sexuality spectrum. Wrishko engages combined use of realism, cartoon, and abstracted forms to juxtapose seriousness with humour while unraveling the complexities of human desire. Alongside receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art & Design from the University of Alberta, Wrishko's devotion to compel audiences through immersive storytelling and expressive application is unwavering.