In Conversation with Olivia Martin-Snowsill

We spoke with Olivia Martin-Snowsill, a visual artist whose work is a dialogue with the past. Drawing from archival materials, Olivia’s practice explores Black history, identity, and heritage, transforming research into paintings that honour resilience, power, and the stories often overlooked.

Each piece is both an act of learning and listening — a way to uncover the layers of history that continue to shape who we are today. By bridging the past with the present, Olivia uses art to give voice to ancestors whose experiences deserve to be seen, remembered, and celebrated.

Through this practice, Olivia invites audiences not just to view art, but to engage with it — to reflect on history, identity, and the legacies that inform our shared future. It’s a reminder that art can be both a mirror and a bridge, helping us navigate where we come from and where we are going.