2025 Visual Arts Exhibition
The 2025 Visual Arts Exhibition program on display at Town Centre Park Community Centre (1207 Pinetree Way) from September 19, 2025 until March 1, 2026, aims to highlight local artists’ talents. The artists have creatively reflected on how the natural elements shape their world using this year’s theme of Elemental Forces—Exploring the Power of Earth, Water, Fire and Air.
All artists featured in this exhibition have been selected by a jury and are City of Coquitlam residents.
Exhibition Details
Selected two-dimensional works will be displayed at Town Centre Park Community Centre from September 2025 to March 2026.
This opportunity was open to emerging and professional artists aged 16+, residing in the Metro Vancouver area, with preference given to Coquitlam-based artists.
Artist Biography
Ben Yang is a Taiwanese-Canadian multidisciplinary artist. Ben specializes in watercolour paintings, wood and clay sculptures and has explored several types of art mediums and styles in his creative process and artistic practice. Ben is a nature lover, garden enthusiast and a bonsai hobbyist. During Ben’s free time, he enjoys strolling through old streets and alley ways in Taiwan, taking photographs, composing poems, be with the space to be inspired to wander through the ages of time.
Description of Artwork
Canadian Memories, 2024
Print, from original art watercolour on paper
Canadian Memories is part of a small series of scenic photographs reimagined by the artist through sketch and watercolour. This work depicts silhouetted trees along the horizon, framing the expansive Pacific West Coast shoreline. With its soft tones and tranquil atmosphere, it evokes distant memories of walking barefoot on sandy beaches, where forest shadows meet the shore.
Artist Biography
Colinda Parker is a visual artist living in Coquitlam. She studied painting at The Alberta College of Art before moving to the Vancouver area. She created a large painting of our local scenery at Rocky Point Park, which was displayed at Coronation Park Elementary School until the school was closed and torn down, and a large mural, which was displayed inside The Golden Spike Pub in Port Moody. She does oil paintings, colored pencil drawings, photography, sometimes with special effects, and creates stained glass effect butterflies and dragonflies from empty pop bottles.
Description of Artwork
Beautiful Smoke, 2020
Photograph
This work captures a fleeting moment in Coquitlam during the hot, smoky summer of 2020. Taken at dusk, the photograph reveals the patterns formed by smoke and streetlamps just before the trees fade into darkness. Created during a time marked by wildfires and the separation of loved ones in Covid lockdowns, the piece reflects the search for beauty in the everyday — even in difficult and uncertain times, if we choose to look closely.
Artist Biography
Deanna Schmeikal is a self-taught Métis artist based in Coquitlam, B.C. She was born and raised in Manitoba, where she cultivated her passion for art, animals, and nature. While Deanna enjoys exploring a variety of mediums, she is most drawn to oil painting and fibre arts, aiming to create pieces that are both personal and reflective. Her creative process is rooted in curiosity, connection, and a deep appreciation for the natural world.
Description of Artwork
en attendant la pluie, 2025
Oil on canvas
Inspired by John McColgan’s iconic wildfire photograph and the devastating fires that have swept across Canada in recent years, this work channels the intensity of those burning landscapes through bold, fiery colour. At its heart, the piece reflects the artist’s deep connection to Canada’s wildlife and the heartbreaking impact of wildfires on creatures whose voices are quieter than our own.
Artist Biography
Enrique Waizel is a passionate photographer based in Coquitlam, B.C., Canada. Originally from Mexico, his work spans diverse themes such as nature, culture, travel, and human connection. A restless wanderer, his photography is fueled by his love of exploration, capturing moments from both local and international locations. Whether documenting the beauty of the natural world, the richness of cultural diversity, or the intimacy of human stories, he remains ever-curious, always seeking to share new experiences through the lens of his camera.
Description of Artwork
Rain Forest Path, 2018
Digital Print
This work captures the delicate balance between humanity and nature, portraying a solitary figure in the West Coast rainforest against the vast beauty of the natural world. Through this visual narrative, Enrique conveys a central message: the importance of living in harmony with the planet. Inspired by his lifelong admiration of Impressionist painters, he draws on their ability to evoke atmosphere and emotion through color and light. The vibrant fall hues, misty air, and dense vegetation of the forest become key elements in his compositions, reflecting the richness of the natural world. Growing up in Mexico, Enrique developed a love for saturated, vivid colors as a powerful way to symbolize life and vitality. The result is a unique fusion of photography and artistry — where the lens captures reality, but Enrique’s touch infuses it with depth, emotion, and reverence for the environment.
Artist Biography
Kendra Lam is a Coquitlam-based artist who works primarily in acrylic, watercolor, and digital media. Her work is inspired by the natural world and the depth of human emotion, often blending the two to create pieces that evoke reflection and introspection. Kendra is a graduate of the BFA program at Emily Carr University of Art and Design. Following her studies, she worked in graphic design and education in Canada and overseas, during which she paused her artistic practice to focus on work and starting a family. In 2024, she returned to the studio and has since shared her work in group exhibitions at the Coquitlam Public Library, Place des Arts, North Van Arts, The Beaumont Studios’ B1 Gallery, Seymour Art Gallery, and Steveston Museum and Post Office.
Description of Artwork
Held in Red, 2025
Acrylic on canvas
Inspired by the artist’s journey as a mother balancing family and work, this piece explores the tension between passion and constraint. Red embodies inner drive and transformation, while the chain symbolizes the burdens that tether the self. Suspended between rising and falling, the figure reaches toward a glowing light where birds soar free, yet is pulled into a dark, uncertain depth. Open-ended in its meaning, the work invites reflection on the delicate balance between holding on and letting go — and the possibilities that emerge in between.
Artist Biography
Lisa Zizzari is a longtime Coquitlam resident, born in beautiful B.C. Having begun her journey as a self-taught artist in the spring of 2023, this new relaxing hobby quickly developed into a passion for painting, which continues to progress. Working primarily in acrylics, she draws inspiration from the surroundings of nature and the people enjoying it in everyday moments.
Description of Artwork
Family Day at the Lake, 2025
Acrylic
Created to evoke feelings of warmth and connection, this work portrays nature as calm, gentle, and inviting. Colourful trees dance in the distance, their reflections shimmering across the lake’s surface. In the foreground, family moments unfold — a kite drifting in the breeze, a fire being prepared as the sun begins to set, and the anticipation of sharing food together. Inspired by the everyday joys of Lafarge Lake and Town Centre Park, the piece celebrates the simple traditions and cherished experiences that bring people together.
Artist Biography
Min Joyce Abraham was born in Shanghai, China and moved to Canada in 1979 and is now residing in Coquitlam, British Columbia. Her artistic journey includes a love for classical music, dance, writing Chinese poetry and, of course, painting. She studied arts in college in Shanghai, China before coming to Canada. Her paintings aim is to express her intense interest and love for nature, including flowers, birds and landscapes. Her objective is to create and showcase authentic culturally rich Chinese artworks that inspire audiences while attempting to preserve traditional Chinese artistic practices.
Description of Artwork
Quiet Dwelling Deep in the Mountains, 2023
Black ink with coloured water on paper
This work explores elemental forces through the power of earth and water, expressed in bold mountain peaks and a cascading waterfall. The artist outlines each form in black ink before layering translucent washes of colour to bring the scene to life. The painting is then mounted onto rice paper, a process that both flattens the ripples created by the watercolour and lends the piece added strength. Within the frame, a neutral mat surrounds the artwork, offering space that highlights the brushwork and intricate details.
Artist Biography
Rose Kapp (Roszay) is a professionally educated visual artist living in Coquitlam.
Working in hand media as well as digital, she has created work that has included illustrated maps, colouring pages, wonky building paintings and cartoons. She is currently focusing on self-directed artworks in this phase of her career. Rose is a local arts advocate, founding Creative People Talking in 2014, an artist’s community network/salon, and is in a number of arts groups in the area including the Art Shuffle (Port Moody), and ArtsConnect (Tri-City).
Description of Artwork
Sky Land Sea, 2025
Gouache, coloured pencils
Three elements are depicted, while fire emerges as both the spark of life and the act of mark-making. The materials themselves embody the elements—water in the gouache, earth in the pigments, air in the artist’s breath, and fire in creative passion.
Artist Biography
Sharon Leung is an artist, pharmacist, teacher, and mother raised and based in Coquitlam, B.C. Her artwork has been exhibited in both Canada and the United States. Working primarily in acrylic gouache, Sharon specializes in painting scenes that are both playful and reflective. She has participated in live painting competitions and documents her artistic journey on her YouTube channel.
She draws deep inspiration from the nature and the landscapes of the Pacific Northwest, blending realism and whimsy to create narrative-driven artworks that invite curiosity and connection. As a multidisciplinary professional, she brings a unique perspective to her art—balancing science, care, and creativity.
Description of Artwork
Where Earth Meets Sea, 2018
Acrylic on Canvas
Alice stands on a rocky shoreline beneath a lone tree, gazing out at the vast Pacific Ocean. Inspired by the rugged beauty of the Northwest coast, this work captures the meeting of solid earth and ever-changing water, evoking a quiet moment of reflection and discovery. Elemental forces are conveyed through the steadfast presence of land and the rhythmic motion of waves, inviting viewers to consider their own place within nature’s power. Painted in acrylic, the piece balances whimsy and introspection, honoring both the strength and serenity of the natural world.
Artist Biography
Soheila Siari Born in Tehran-Iran. She is a visual artist based in Coquitlam-Vancouver. She has completed the painting certificate program at Emily Carr University in Vancouver in 2025. She works with various mediums, mostly guided by process and deep research into the materials themselves. She creates with the goal of inspiring joy, connection, and self-expression through art. Her work blends color palettes with detailed patterns, often inspired by nature and cultural motifs. She began her creative journey as a painter, besides expanding her design to bring it into textile art and wearable forms in her scarf design. She has a deep passion and curiosity for creating abstract painting on large scale canvases, where color, texture, and movement take center stage through the functional beauty of flow of watery acrylic paint by using watercolor technique on raw canvas. In each work, she leaves some elements bold as an open invitation for viewers to explore their own imagination and find personal meaning.
Description of Artwork
This work invites viewers to respect, explore, and witness the flourishing beauty of nature, even in the aftermath of disaster. It reflects both the resilience and power of the earth, while celebrating the connection between humans and the natural world. The artist emphasizes bold elements within each piece, encouraging viewers to engage with the work and explore their own imagination.
Artist Biography
Although Sophie Chung is just a high school student, the art of photography has been deeply embedded in her heart for as long as she can remember. Her father was her first mentor in photography - for fun, of course. Her path in photography officially started in Gr. 6 when she met her homeroom teacher, who was a professional photographer. Sophie honed the basics she had learned from her teacher and dove deeper into her passion in Gr. 10 by taking Photography 11. Now, in her final year of high school, Sophie wishes to continue sharing her love for nature and those around her through the lens of photography.
Description of Artwork
Just born, and swimming into uncertainty, 2024
Photography
Sophie Chung’s photography is driven by instinct, often focusing on nature and wildlife. This piece carries particular significance, capturing a duckling navigating muddled waters at Lafarge Lake. Despite signs reminding visitors not to feed wildlife, human disregard remains evident. The work reflects both environmental challenges and the responsibility humans have toward the natural world, echoing the City of Coquitlam’s values of equity, diversity, and inclusion as they relate to all living beings.
Artist Biography
Zain Horner, a former Centennial Secondary Student, started taking photos a year ago, under the teachings of Mitch Weisgerber. He enjoys taking adventure-style photos, and camping. At the time of showing, he’s worked with the BC Lions, Crankworx, and RedBull. This coming summer, he will be travelling up to the interior to take photos of B.C.’s wildfires, tagging along with fire line crews. In cooperation with National Geographic, he will be producing a short documentary on the impact of wildfires and indigenous peoples.
Description of Artwork
Elements, 2025
Photography
This work encourages viewers to co-exist with the five elements of nature, drawing on their energy to inspire meaningful chapters in life. It invites taking leaps of faith, embracing creativity, and exploring new possibilities, reminding us to step beyond routine and engage fully with the world around us.