Highlighting Canada’s Talented Refugee Artists
In celebration of the wide variety of refugee artists living across Canada, our Creator Series profiles the individuals, their work, and their inspiration in creating unique artistic products. From authors and painters, designers and singers, these profiles examine how their lived refugee experiences have informed their practice and where (or how) you can further support their work.
Andrii Pesochnyi, founder of the Sand Animation Studio, is an artist passionate about storytelling through sand animation. This artform uses sand to create beautiful and intricate paintings. From October 2010 to February 2022, Andrii created over 2000 original artworks, specializing in sand animation storytelling for a diverse audience. Collaborating with more than 100 artists worldwide, he worked closely with clients to achieve their desired final product.
Andrii has done numerous shows in Canada and Ukraine for children and seniors to spread happiness and improve their well-being. Since October 2023, he had a few shows in Calgary for birthdays and worked at Trico LivingWell, a retirement community center based in Calgary. He also regularly participates in art shows at the Tchaikovsky Academy and the Exhibition Center in Calgary.
Being a refugee artist has definitely impacted Andrii, and for a while, he refrained from creating sand animations altogether. However, Andrii shared “I’ve come to realize that my animation has become more emotionally charged and detailed, reflecting the transformative nature of my experiences.”
When asked how Andrii maintains his cultural identity, he explained, “I actively seek like-minded individuals, artists, and event organizers for my Sand Animation shows. Daily, I continue the journey of learning the language, searching for stable employment, making new friends, and exploring ways to showcase my work.”
Andrii happily shared his reception from Canadians: “(they’ve been) incredibly welcoming and supportive, both emotionally and morally.”
It is important to remember that it is through communal support and encouragement that refugee artists feel welcomed and empowered.
To learn more about Andrii or purchase his artwork, please visit his website: Пісочне шоу Андрія Пісочного | Sand show | Sand art (pesochnyi.com)
Stay tuned for more Creator Series highlights to come!