Descended of the Ininiwak – mahkêsiw sâkahikan (Fox Lake, Treaty 5) and Francophone settlers, University of Winnipeg alumna Marie-Anne Redhead is the Assistant Curator of Indigenous and Contemporary Art at the Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG).
Her passion for the curatorial arts began at UWinnipeg while taking cultural studies classes and serving as a curatorial intern at Gallery 1C03, under the supervision of Director and Curator Jennifer Gibson.
Learning how to critically engage in cultural analysis, whether it be textual, visual, material – I feel my degree really helped me with this.
Marie-Anne Redhead
Redhead began working for WAG-Qaumajuq in June 2021 on the Artworks Renaming Initiative, where she facilitated the renaming of artworks with offensive or otherwise culturally insensitive titles with Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers. She then joined the WAG-Qaumajuq Advancement Team in early 2022 before landing her current position this past February.
Redhead notes that UWinnipeg helped her build the tool kit she needs to succeed in her role at the WAG.
“Learning how to critically engage in cultural analysis, whether it be textual, visual, material – I feel my degree really helped me with this,” shared Redhead. “There was a practical component to the program as well that introduced me to the more on-the-job elements of curatorial work.”
Redhead points out that she has talented and brilliant family members and friends who she would like to see shared more widely and celebrated.
“Visiting museums growing up was always such an alienating experience because I hardly saw NDN* perspectives represented. It was like our histories and cultures didn’t matter,” said Redhead. She is now going to help create a more inclusive narrative at the WAG.
Redhead worked with UWinnipeg’s Gallery 1C03 as a gallery attendant and youth art educator, and then served as the Gallery’s curatorial assistant intern.
“Gallery 1C03 was also very important for me to get more hands-on experience working in an art gallery, and I thank Jennifer Gibson for her support and encouragement,” said Redhead.
Redhead is embracing her role at the WAG and acknowledges the responsibility and incredible opportunity associated with her role. She follows in the footsteps of fellow UWinnipeg almuna Jaimie Isaac, who was the first to serve in this position.
“Jaimie’s work has greatly impacted the direction of the WAG and I’m honoured to be able to pick up where she left off,” said Redhead. “The WAG having a curatorial position specifically for Indigenous art is so meaningful, and I am hoping that my tenure will result in many Indigenous artists and artistic communities being seen and valued.”
*NDN is shorthand sometimes used by Indigenous peoples in North America to refer to themselves.
