February 2023 marks the beginning of SK Arts' 75th anniversary year. On February 3, 1948, the Saskatchewan Arts Board opened its doors, supporting artists across the province. As we celebrate this milestone, we look to honour the past, the present and the future of the province's vibrant arts community with the We Celebrate You campaign. SK Arts asked 75 established artists to nominate one strong, emerging artist, program or training opportunity that makes the future of Saskatchewan arts exciting.

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Laureen Marchand - Painting of a pink bird with a navy blue background

Photo credit: World Without End – Grackle Gleaming, Laureen Marchand

Laureen Marchand

Laureen Marchand lives in Val Marie, Saskatchewan, just north of the Montana border at the gateway to Grasslands National Park. Inspired by this region's subtlety and remoteness, her paintings reflect on our ideas about and perception of beauty. These artworks invite us to see not just the painted object, but ourselves in it.

Laureen Marchand has exhibited regionally, nationally, and internationally in more than 30 solo and two-person exhibitions as well as over 50 group shows. Her paintings have been recognized by the Saskatchewan Arts Board and the Canada Council and are held in many public and private collections. Laureen Marchand is represented by galleries in Canada and Ireland, with work in public and private collections in Canada and internationally and has been artist in residence at the Leighton Artist Studios/Banff Centre for the Arts, the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Ireland, and the Ragdale Foundation in Illinois, among others. As well as having an active painting career, Laureen mentors other artists, leads workshops and retreats, and is the owner of Grasslands Gallery Online. She is the recipient of numerous grants and other honours.

Yonina Rollack - Drawing of Floating animal that looks like a walrus.

Photo credit: Floating, Yonina Rollack, 2017

Yonina Rollack

Based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Yonina Rollack pays tribute to the earth and its inhabitants, creating playful images that are both drawn from reality and an extension of her own inner world. Yonina holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Saskatchewan with a focus in printmaking.

Laureen Marchand thinks Yonina Rollack is “…a gifted creator…”

Yonina Rollack is a gifted creator whose artwork expresses her earth-centred values with joy and humour, offering viewers the opportunity to consider and appreciate the world we live in. Her gentle, fresh way of seeing is personal and universal at the same time. I believe she will be an important contributor to the art of this province.