Ava Jasmine Dedier: 17-Year-Old Superstar Artist | Art Nerd Spotlight

Ava Jasmine Dedier's journey from art lessons at Winged Canvas to her latest art exhibitions to celebrate Black History Month and build connections across the BIPOC community.

Her Art Journey Began at Winged Canvas

"The moment that truly changed everything for me came in the summer of 2019 when I attended an art camp at Winged Canvas. That was when I first felt the spark, like I’d found something I was meant to do." - Ava Jasmine Dedier

As a former student at Winged Canvas, Ava attended art camps and was a regular at Fei's Drawing & Painting Mentorship classes.

Ava was "a shy teenager hoping to be seen" but she has grown into a passionate artist who uses art as a form of self-expression and storytelling.

“I’m not always the most vocal person in a room,” Ava said. “But through my art, I feel like I can say everything I need to. It’s my way of connecting with others and showing the world how I see it.”

Ava and Fei show their toothy grins next to her realistic mouth painting at our 2019 Student Art Show

Getting Accepted to Her Dream Art School

To pursue art, Ava knew she wanted to attend the renowned arts program at Unionville High School (UHS) a.k.a. THE art school for young aspiring artists in York Region. UHS offers a specialized Fine Arts program known as Arts Unionville (formerly Arts York) that accepts a limited number of Grade 9 applicants per year.

With the guidance of our art instructors, Ava was able to build a strong portfolio that helped her achieve her goal of getting accepted to her dream art school!

Want to hear from Ava herself? Watch her testimonial video!

💡 Applying to art school can be intimidating and portfolio prep takes a lot of hard work, but you don't have to tackle it alone. Get advice from award-winning professional artists in online art portfolio classes.

Ava's Debut Art Collection

After years of learning and exploration, Ava found her artistic voice and purpose: to celebrate diversity, connect people, and empower those who feel unseen.

ALA

Conquering Chaos

Take Me Deeper

Sacred Duality

Emissary of the Deep

Ava's debut art collection, "Trendsetters: The Divine Feminine," celebrates African heritage and spirituality through acrylic paint portraits with authentic African textiles.

Local news articles featuring Ava

This year, she has made the local news in the Greater Toronto Area! You can find the articles on NewmarketToday.ca and YorkRegion.com

Celebrating Her Work at Local Art Exhibitions

Ava with her family at her art exhibition

Ava debuted her artwork in February 2025 as part of a showcase in the Black History Month art exhibition at the Serpa Gallery in Newmarket, Ontario.

In July 2025, Ava was one of five artists showcasing their artworks at the Bridging Generations Exhibition in Markham, Ontario, alongside Fei Lu. It was an inspiring night dedicated to connecting artists in the BIPOC community through art, storytelling, and cultural celebration!

From left to right: Candice Dixon, Tiffany Joy Villahermosa, Ava Jasmine Dedier, Toni-Marie Ferreira, and Fei Lu

The exhibition was followed by a month-long tour in August 2025, bringing free art workshops to public libraries across Markham and the Greater York Region. What a great way to empower young artists with the tools and spaces needed to create!

Ava continues to inspire not only through her own artwork and journey, but also by helping others through youth-driven initiatives organized by the R.I.S.E Collective Canada Foundation, a nonprofit she founded to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Learn more about Ava and support her work at avajasmineartistry.com