Meet the 2025 Indigenous Artist in Residence

Morgan Black always knew that she wanted to be an artist. The journey to become one, however, included many places and moments of reflection along the way. 

Cultural Reconnection 

As a member of Ts'kw'aylaxw First Nation, Morgan spent her childhood on the land of her ancestors of the St’át’imc and Secwépemc peoples. From a young age, Morgan had a curious mind. She enjoyed deconstructing and creating things. 

"I was very interested in the natural world around me as I think most children are,” says Morgan. 

When Morgan was 11-years-old, she moved away from their ancestral territory. Before moving to Treaty 7, they also lived in the Yukon and Northern Alberta. Cultural reconnection and Morgan's relationship to her ancestral land has shaped their path as an artist. 

"Even after being moved away from my ancestral territory at a young age, I had a lot of those memories of being a child on the land,” Morgan explains. "A lot of those memories included the language being spoken around me, of drumming and songs being sung around me. I carried this with me for years and years without even really understanding how all of these things connected together culturally for me." 

Ancestor in Training 

Morgan is a graduate from Alberta University of the Arts and has worked with many different artistic mediums including paints, prints, felts, and natural dyes.  

While Morgan's pieces are vast, there are some consistent themes they incorporate. This includes reconnecting to traditional storytelling practices, colonization and decolonization, and taking a critical look at Truth and Reconciliation. Cultural reconnection remains deeply important to Morgan's practice as an artist, with language revitalization at the heart of her work.  

As the Library's Indigenous Artist in Residence, Morgan feels a responsibility to connect with the community and share some of her knowledge — even if they're admittedly learning along the way. 

"I'm far from being a knowledge keeper and I'm far from being an Elder. I jokingly consider myself an ancestor in training,” says Morgan. 

Unmask Your Creative Side 

During office hours at Central Library, Morgan has been connecting with the community while sharing her own experiences and expertise along the way.  

Morgan will also have programs for Library visitors of all ages and artistic abilities. They will take inspiration from ceremonial masks which are deeply powerful objects in many Indigenous cultures.  

"Masks are a metaphor for personas that we take on to shield ourselves, to protect ourselves, or to strengthen ourselves. It can be positive things, as well,” Morgan explains. 

Participants will be drawing inspiration from traditional ceremonial masks to create their own contemporary artworks. Morgan will be teaching the seven principles of Indigenous story work as participants incorporate their persona or experiences into their own mask that they will design.  

Morgan's residency at the Library wraps up at the end of May. She will have a final showcase at Central Library where she looks forward to sharing some artwork and stories with the community. 

Register for the Indigenous Storywork Through Masks program. 

Book office hours with Morgan. 

About the Library Residency Programs    

The Indigenous Artist in Residence is the first of six residencies that take place at Calgary Public Library each year. These short-term community engagement initiatives support individuals and collectives living and working in Calgary and surrounding First Nations communities. Learn more the Indigenous Artist in Residency on our website.