Visual Arts Mississauga is pleased to announce the 2023-2024 VCR Cohort. Mississauga remains an innovative and creative hub for artists and entrepreneurs. Back for its sixth year, the residency invites artists 18-29 years old, living in or attending an academic institution in Mississauga to share their talents with the community.

VAM’s Creative Residency (VCR) is an opportunity for emerging youth artists in Mississauga to participate in an 8-month production, exhibition and mentorship program with a focus on collaboration, education and professional development. 

Beginning this September, Residents will be invited to access VAM’s art centre to develop their skills in exhibition, education and engagement. This program will invite established arts industry mentors to provide a network and constructive feedback on the residents’ artistic practices and goals. 

In addition to mentorship opportunities, residents are invited to teach workshops at VAM and participate in field trips to local cultural venues across the GTA. VAM’s Creative Residency is proudly supported by the Community Foundation of Mississauga.



Maddy Barnes
My name is Maddy Barnes, also known as Meraki Being. I’m a self-taught multi-disciplinary creator from Mississauga, exploring art that connects body, mind, and spirit. I am driven by themes of conscious expansion, reciprocity, and love, aiming to create art that resonates deeply and inspires introspection.


Natasha C. Beaudoin
Natasha is a recent graduate from Queens University, with a focus on painting and print. Her work can be described as an embarkment on exploring portraiture in an unconventional fashion. Natasha infuses vibrancy and playfulness through her illustrations to capture these interpersonal moments.


Treasure Fatile
Treasure Fatile is a Nigerian, Mississauga-based visual artist currently enrolled in the Art & Art History and Criminology programs at the University of Toronto Mississauga. She works mainly with traditional and digital painting mediums, exploring themes of identity, introspection, and the self in relation to environments.


Sierra Peca
Sierra Peca is a second-generation Maltese/Italian Canadian painter. She graduated from University of Toronto’s Art & Art History program. Sierra has worked as a painting assistant for Tony Scherman and an assistant for Sheridan College’s Painting 1 class. She is the recipient of the UofT Excellence in Painting 3 Award and the Dr. Annie Smith Travel Scholarship. 
Check out what this year’s Creative Residents are up to by following them online