Dr. Courtney Chetwynd is an artist-researcher and community organizer whose deep roots in the Eastern and Western Arctic of the Northwest Territories, Canada, stem from being raised in these vibrant and remote regions. She holds a Ph.D. in practice-led research and interdisciplinary studies from the University of Dundee’s Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Scotland. Her artistic and academic work investigates themes of performativity and liminality in Northern cultures through place-based research and interdisciplinary practice.
She applies her trauma-informed approach to community organizing by engaging in initiatives that address health, well-being, climate change, and food security. She also holds a Master of Fine Art from the University of Calgary and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Mount Allison University, both of which have influenced her creative and interdisciplinary work. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including in London, New York City, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Scotland, and across Canada.
She has been recognized through numerous awards and research grants from institutions such as the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Banff Centre for the Arts and Creativity, Canada Council for the Arts, the University of Calgary, the Centre for Research in the Fine Arts, the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Northwest Territories Arts Council. Central to her practice is a poetic and psychologically resonant exploration of the body, space, and relationships, treating place itself as an active metaphysical collaborator. Her work reflects a deep integration of materials and metaphors, creating evocative artistic expressions.