Ava “Artistry” Dedier

Ava Dedier is destined for greatness and excellence as a creative genius whose artistry is on display. She is a seventeen-year-old student who is completing her Grade 12 year at Unionville High School. She is enrolled in a specialized program targeted to students who are talented in: arts, dance, music, and drama. I met Ava at the Jamaican Canadian Association’s Women’s Committee International Women’s Day (IWD) event on Sunday, March 8^th, 2025. Her artistic work was prominently displayed, and it was the centre and focus of attention by many of the attendees. Ava was flanked by her supportive parents: her mother, Toni-Marie Ferreira, a Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) educator and her father, Robert Dedier who serves as her Operations Manager.

Her parents have played a pivotal role in nurturing her natural curiosity and inclinations towards creative endeavours. As an introvert, Ava was drawn to the emotive power of art. She states, “I loved the way art could take emotions and turn them into something real, something others could feel.” In my conversation with Robert, he shared with me her passions for the arts and the meticulous work she has done since 2019 to hone her skills and talents. Robert emailed me photographs of Ava with her work, a detailed descriptive bio and links to articles where she was interviewed.

Ava was naturally drawn to the arts as from her early childhood where she demonstrated sparks of creativity. She would frequently sketch in the margins of her notebooks, dance and write poetry. It was in 2019 when she attended the art camp at Winged Canvas Arts School that the fire of her artistic passions was ignited. Ava states: “That was when I first felt the spark, like I’d found something I was meant to do.”

This pivotal moment was inspirational. For Ava, “Art quickly became more than a passion. It became my way of making sense of the world, sharing my voice, and connecting with others in ways words often couldn’t.”

There is a lot of reflection and imagination that goes into her creative process She notes, “Each piece I create carries a little part of me, whether it’s: a story, an emotion, or just a moment I want to hold on to. I’ve learned that art isn’t just about expressing yourself. It’s about: inspiring others, creating connection, and finding meaning in the moments that matter most.”

Ava has been personally impacted by the invisibility that she sensed and felt when she visited art exhibitions across Canada. She states explicitly, “They also shaped me. They taught me to look deeper, to listen harder, and to notice the stories that often go untold.” For Ava, art has empowered her to tap into her deep creative innate intuition and sixth sense and bring these inspired images, intelligible ideas to life.

In response to the question, “Why does she create art?” She states, “I create art because I believe everyone deserves to feel seen. I want my work to remind people, especially those who’ve ever felt overlooked, that: their stories, their voices, and their dreams matter. Art for me, is about more than creating something beautiful. It’s about: breaking down barriers, building bridges, and showing what’s possible when we celebrate diversity and creativity.”

For Ava, the pursuit of her artistic passions is more than a hobby, or an individual initiative. She is determined to initiate a movement with every stroke of her paint brush. She explains her artistic goals in very specific, clear and direct terms. She elaborates: “I’m committed to being part of a creative movement where art becomes: a guide, a way to lead people to a place of strength, to celebrate their victories, and to express their beauty and colourful experiences.”

There is a great amount of inspiration and imagination that goes into creative strike. She elaborates as “It is an invitation to look deeper, to connect more fully, and to see what’s possible when we embrace creativity. This isn’t just art. It’s a beacon for anyone ready to explore their story and discover the power of imagination.”

Ava has been able to showcase her artistic work at many venues over this year. Most recently, her work was featured along with several Black artists at The Toronto City Hall for Black Mental Health Week. Her five-piece exhibit involved a mixed media collection, which includes acrylic paint with genuine African textiles that showcase visually stunning pieces to highlight African heritage and cultural beauty. This debut collection was titled, “Trendsetters: The Divine Feminine.” The description of this collection states, “This is essentially a spiritual concept/revolving around: empowerment, beauty and resilience among other things. Though these qualities are commonly associated with women, they are present with everybody.”

Ava has big plans and great dreams for the future as she pursues her career in art. She intends to pursue a five-year program at Western University. This program involves a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Honours of Business Administration at the prestigious Ivey Business School.

Anyone interested in seeing more of Ava’s work can check the following:

Website: www.AvaJasmineArtistry.com

Instagram: @AvaJasmineArtistry