About Sharifah Marsden

Artist Bio

Sharifah Marsden is a traditionally and classically trained multi-faceted Indigenous artist from the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, now living on Syilx Territory in Keremeos, British Columbia.

Known for her large-scale public murals and mixed media works rooted in Indigenous teachings, Sharifah is a graduate of the University of Victoria Indigenous Fine Arts Program, the Vancouver Metal Arts Goldsmith Program, the Native Education College Jewelry Design Program, the Langara College Fine Arts Program, and the Northwest Coast Jewellery Arts Program under established Haida/Kwakwaka’wakw artist Dan Wallace. Sharifah’s practice bridges traditional and contemporary forms of expression.

In 2010, she worked alongside artists Richard Shorty and Jerry Whitehead to complete Western Canada’s largest mural on the outer wall of the Orwell Hotel in Vancouver. Her paintings reflect her early training in the Woodland style pioneered by Norval Morrisseau. This style, rooted in Anishinaabe spirituality and worldview, is characterized by bright colours and bold black lines representing the connectedness of all life.

Sharifah carries forward a lineage of artistic and cultural knowledge through her work, often telling the stories of women and children. Her art is welcoming and nurturing. Heartberry Gatherers, her reflection on women and children gathering strawberries, is the first image seen at UBC Hospital’s Surgical Wing. Her Beadwork Series is also displayed at Edmonton University Hospital, and her Tipi Painting Project with the Vancouver School District guided over 700 students from 28 schools in a collaborative creation.

Sharifah's traditional knowledge of beadwork and powwow regalia inspires her signature florals and vibrant depictions of community. As a Traditional and Fine Arts Facilitator in schools throughout BC, she upholds and honours her traditions of storytelling and celebration. “I believe it's essential to include images of Indigenous people, women, and children in public art and our modern landscapes to create inclusion and uplift one another.”