Angela Wiggins

Angela Wiggins is a proud Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) artist whose work reflects her heritage’s resilience and cultural richness. A self-taught artist, Angela creates vibrant acrylic paintings, intricate graphite drawings, mixed-media pieces and painted hand drums that explore themes of healing, spirituality, and cultural identity while advocating for truth and reconciliation.

Her art is influenced by her personal journey of reconnecting with her family’s roots, particularly the trauma experienced by her grandfather, a survivor of the Spanish Residential School. She is also deeply inspired by her mother, Mary L. Trudeau. “My mother’s Indigenous blood runs deep in my spirit,” says Angela. “Her heritage calls me to listen – to the old stories, the ancestral wisdom, and the voice of the land itself. I believe that spirit breathes through my brush, and that the canvas is a place where memory and vision meet.”

Angela was one of four artists who were awarded funding from County Arts’ 2024-25 Indigenous Voices Fund, and the grant helped fund the research and creation phases of a major project that’s now coming to fruition. With the grant, she was able to create 30 medium and large scale acrylic and mixed media works for display in her upcoming exhibition, Rise of the Golden Moon, opening this month at Belleville’s John M. Parrott Gallery.

The exhibition is one of several events coming up on Angela’s horizon, including an exhibition at Belleville Frameworks on now, the Art & Acres Festival on October 4th and 5th at Brambleberry Farm in Wooler, and the First Nations Leading the Way Conference in Markham this October, which highlights the challenges and successes of First Nations working to achieve economic and social development goals.

With so much on the go, we were grateful to have the chance to hear more from Angela about where she gains inspiration, how other artists uplift her, and all of the events she has coming up!

Tell us about your upcoming projects:

I will be having 2 solo shows! Opening September 6th, 2025 at The Parrott Gallery in Belleville in Gallery 1, the title of the show is Rise of The Golden Moon. I also have an exhibition at Belleville Frameworks in September, with the opening on August 30th 2025.

I’ve also been creating new inventory for a number of events, and recently I was invited to apply, and then was accepted, into the One of a Kind Show for Christmas. It’s especially meaningful because this year marks the show’s 50th anniversary, so being part of such a milestone feels very exciting. Another highlight for me has been learning to successfully paint hand drums. I approach this process with a deep respect, as the drum skin carries its own spirit and significance, and it’s important to me to honour that in my work.

What is another artist’s work or project that’s made an impact on you?

I recently had the chance to meet artist Michael Dumas and we ended up having a really open, candid conversation. What struck me most was his incredible dedication, not only to his own work, but to supporting the community and other artists. His humility and the way he thinks about the role of art in the world really left a big impact on me. I felt so grateful to have that time with him, to ask questions and hear his perspective on building and nurturing the artist community. He’s such a kind and forward-thinking person, and it was truly inspiring.

Where in the County do you find the most creative inspiration?

I love to walk the the edge of the water to feel the breeze and hear the waves. That freedom allows my mind to wander. Taking the time to walk through many galleries in the County allows me to see the artistic value of the community and see the many perspectives in which the same subject can be portrayed. This allows me to break boundaries in my mind allowing myself the freedom of expression.

Which tools or resources have helped you the most in your career?

The best resource I’ve found, by far, is other artists. No matter how much I read, watch, or am taught, nothing compares to the experience, camaraderie, and knowledge that fellow artists share. That kind of fellowship brings us together and turns us into a real artistic force, offering each other support, lessons, tools, imagination, and, most importantly, friendship. There’s nothing stronger than a positive group of artists lifting each other up.