Corinna Wollf

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Emerging interdisciplinary artist, Corinna Wollf explores herself and her environment through beadwork, photography, painting, drawing, and installation art. Born to a Red River Métis mother and an ethnic Mennonite (1) father, Corinna spent time with both cultures, but never fully explored her own identity within those cultures until later in life. Corinna was a shy and quiet child, and as a result art became her voice.  In grade three she was assigned a portrait project, which she spent hours on, and this sparked a journey eventually leading to an art career. 

At seventeen when her son was born, she put all art aspirations aside for a practical job to support him. Employed by the University of Saskatchewan as an administrator for the graduate program, she had the opportunity to return to school.  Over seven years she was able to complete her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) with Distinction, graduating in 2014.   She subsequently worked on a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Métis aesthetics and completed it in 2016. Shortly after, she relocated to Pettinego, Italy (2) to live with her partner and their dog Tilly, where she now works as a professional artist. Corinna remains connected personally and professionally to Canada and has plans to return when her partner retires. Her yearly visits allow her to see her son as well as attend exhibition openings of her work. 

Living in Italy provides Corinna with many unique artistic opportunities including access to international shows such as the Venice Biennale. While searching for studio space she came across an abandoned house that belonged, decades ago, to an antiquarian. Its artistic potential made it possible for Corinna to get a Canada Council grant to develop a sixteen-part series called The Antiquarian’s House. The project, originally meant to be a reimagination of the Baroque period, shifted to deeper more personal connections as Corinna lived and worked in the house. Transforming items with such rich history, some with violent pasts, allowed Corinna to explore relationships between materials and the house and produce beautifully crafted art that appears vintage. These pieces, native to the house, were modified with traditional beadwork, resin techniques, oil paints and other materials. Each artwork in The Antiquarian’s House tells a story of past, present, and future.   

As an older artist, Corinna has been able to rediscover herself and her Métis and ethnic Mennonite roots. With her Métis family referring to beads as beautiful connections to shared history, incorporating beadworks into her work gives homage to this history.   As well her ethnic Mennonite heritage informs projects such as Over our Heads.  These works are beaded traditional head coverings such as bonnets, caps, and headpieces that explore the juxtaposition between oppression and empowerment of women. Corinna cherishes having a chance to focus on self-discovery in her artistic practice because she feels she missed that in her teenage years. 

Daily walks with her dog are usually the first stages for her art making. Taking ideas from her surroundings, she reflects on new concepts though observation and critical thinking. Writing has always been an integral part of Corinna’s artistic process. Before beginning a new piece, she explores works of art done by other artists and writes an analysis which then allows her to better understand her own art practice. Sketching is next. Putting ideas on paper allows her to visualize and decide what direction best suits the project. Corinna adapts media to her work, aware that the piece can flow away from her original vison. 

As a Canadian Métis woman working and living in Italy, she offers audiences a unique perspective. Corinna is currently working on a public art piece that will be displayed on the side of the administration building in San Francesco di Pettinengo (3) , Italy. The colourful mural should be completed in August 2023. Her art is exhibited at Art Placement Gallery in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Corinna hopes that her art opens dialogue about identity and how individuals occupy space.  She hopes as well that each person can use her art as a tool in their own self-reflection. With much more to discover, what other thought-provoking art will we see from this Métis artist?

Based on an interview with Ayshani Aurora in 2023