“Coexisting” A Solo Exhibition by Izabella “Izzy” Bandojo Grant

Izabella “Izzy” Bandojo Grant | Fritzi Gallery | OSA

“Coexisting” Solo Exhibition

November 26, 2019 – January 19, 2019

Vernissage: Tuesday November 26, 2019, 6 – 8 p.m.

The Ottawa School of Art is proud to present the work of OSA Diploma Student:

Izabella “Izzy” Bandojo Grant

 Izabella “Izzy” Bandojo Grant is a dancer, teacher and visual artist based in Ottawa.

Izzy has always loved art.  Her earliest memories of creating art, through drawing and painting, were at the early age of three; the same age she was initiated into the world of dance.   Her passion for these mediums led her to train in multiple forms of dance, and in various musical instruments; initiating a teaching career in 2012.  Izzy’s desire to continue on a path of learning brought her to the Ottawa School of Art where she completed the Portfolio Program in 1015 before continuing her studies in the Fine Arts Diploma Program in 2016.  Izzy plans to complete her program in 2020 / 2021.

In this series of artworks Izzy uses abstraction painting as a catalyst to explore and to give a visual voice to the relationship that coexists between chaos in life and purposeful transformation that result in something beautiful, positive and meaningful.

Izzy draws inspiration for her work from artists such as Willem de Kooning, Henri Matisse, Richard Diebenkom and Wassily Kandinsky as well as from the many dancers she’s encountered throughout her life.

Izzy’s work has been published in many issues of PACE Magazine, an independent Ottawa based artist magazine.  She has also exhibited her work in both solo and group exhibitions in Ottawa.

…“Coexisting” explores the relationship between art and chaoticism in life. In this series, I have created these artworks to express my emotions with beauty through abstraction and chaoticism through color, to bring life and joy to disorganization.”

– Izabella “Izzy” Bandojo Grant, Artist

Artist Biography

Izabella “Izzy” Bandojo Grant is a Philippine/Canadian dancer, painter and photographer based in Ottawa.  Since her early childhood, Izabella has been exposed to the world of art.  Dancing since the age of three, she has trained in classical styles from classical Tap, Jazz and Musical Theatre, to street styles such as Waacking and the New York Hustle.  Izabella was also introduced to music at a young age.  At nine years of age until her early teens, Izabella played multiple instruments such as the violin, trombone, clarinet and drums and participated in multiple school bands.  In light of this wide-ranging background, it only seemed natural for Izabella to follow an artistic career path.

Through her paintings and photos, Izabella uses unique movements, choice of colors and vibrancies to portray her personality, creativity, energy and unique outlook on the world around her.  Since early 2016, Izabella has had her work published five issues of PACE Magazine, an independent Ottawa based artist magazine, and has participated in both solo and group exhibitions. With her knowledge and exposure to multiple mediums, Izabella likes to mix her different mediums, giving her constant inspiration. Izabella currently studies Fine Arts at the Ottawa School of Art, is a dance instructor at Sir Guy Secondary School and is a program leader for the City of Ottawa, working with children and youth in low income communities. She uses her passion for the arts and the community to help inspire children and youth to use art as an expressive, positive outlet.

Artist Statement

My series of artworks titled “Coexisting” explores the relationship between art and chaoticism in life. In this series, I have created these artworks to express my emotions with beauty through abstraction and chaoticism through color, to bring life and joy to disorganization.

With chaoticism, it is often seen as disorganized, unbalanced, and hectic. Chaoticism, to me, has always been a burden, pressuring me to be in control of everything that is happening in my life. I grew up having to suppress any negative emotions as it shows as a sign of weakness. In the past and present, I’ve found it difficult to manage and display my feelings, particularly stress, sadness and anger and would use color and positivity to cover up these emotions.

While it may be overwhelming to have chaos in life, I now see chaoticism as a transitioning period; from where you are now to where you will be in the future.

Curriculum Vitae

2015 – Present: Fine Arts Diploma student at the Ottawa School of Art

2017 – Work published in PACE Magazine Issue 2, Issue 3 and Issue 4,

2018 – “Under The Same Cloud”, Group Exhibition, Fritzi Gallery, Ottawa,  January 16 to March 4, 2018, work published in PACE Magazine Issue 5,

2018 – “Ex – Foliate”, Solo Exhibition, Lee Matasi Gallery, Ottawa School of Art, August 29 to September 16, 2018,

2019 – “The BIG art show”, Group Exhibition, Gallery 200, Ottawa School of Dance, work published in PACE Magazine Issue 6.