Chelsea Layla Steer

Visual Art – Calgary

My name is Chelsea Layla Steer. I am currently enrolled in my final year at the University of Calgary before I receive my BA in Communications and my BFA in Visual Studies. I have a solo show coming up this year in New York, USA and Sao Paulo, Brazil where I will present UNMASKED - The Metaphysics of Masquerade. From a young age I really struggled with the academic system from kindergarten to grade twelve, because I was dealing severe ADHD and mental health issues that went undiagnosed until university. Luckily my mom recognized my need for tough love and stimulation because she is the reason that I ended up in school. I am grateful for her efforts to keep me off the Internet as a child because it seems that these days technology has just caused parents, students and teachers to check-out, which has resulted in a lack of passion and stimulation for kids. The disconnect is a tool used to separate us from ourselves and each other, which is used to make slavery a conducive part of our education system. As a creative and severely ADD person, I didn’t know to appreciate what I had (in terms of art) until I was in my first year of university, because I hadn’t fit into society’s mould. My artistic career is thus dedicated to unmasking our system’s flaws; and continuously turning every argument onto each side and examining it up to the light.