Tamara Lee-Anne Cardinal (she/they) is a mixed-media, large-scale installation artist and a community activist. Born in Treaty 6 Territory, her ancestral roots are of Nêhiyaw (Cree), Austrian, Ukrainian and Deutsch (German) descent. She has been a visitor to Otôskwanihk (Calgary, AB) since 2009. Graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture from the Alberta University of the Arts in 2015, Cardinal has been a recipient of the National BMO 1st Art! Award, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts Young Artist Award, the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artist Award, and more recently the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal. Cardinal has been an active member in the urban Indigenous community in Treaty 7 Territory activating many social service positions throughout the years. Cardinal is a full-time student attending Mount Royal University’s Psychology program, and has been a Public Art Project Lead through Calgary Arts Development since January 2024. Cardinal’s artistic practice continues to be a reflection of the teachings she receives along her journey; it is an invitation for others to become a part of the process, to partake in its making.
Image credit: Jiaqi Su (Sukie)