Sydonne Warren, also known as Syd The Artiste and Mrs. Calgary 2020, is a visual artist who began her self taught journey in 2013. Over the last seven years, Sydonne has developed and honed her skills, evolving into a professional artist, instructor, designer, and a student at the Alberta University of the Arts.

Predominantly working with portraiture, Sydonne has recently begun exploring abstract painting. Her pieces often showcase a combination of high contrasted subjects, bold but straightforward colour palettes, and a mixture of expressive strokes, drips, and rigid lines. Sydonne’s work encompasses themes that are usually a reflection of herself and her desire for people of the African diaspora not only to occupy but impact and own space.

“I’m just starting to put myself out there, and [#YYCBlockParty is] really helpful for getting my name out there and my work out there as well. I think it would be great if there were other opportunities for people like myself who want to be working artists in the city.”

— Sydonne Warren, via CBC

Her love of colour and striking compositions made Sydonne a perfect match for #YYCBlockParty at Destination Deerfoot City. The artist transformed five picnic tables into interactive pieces of art, which can be found at The Food Lodge, and also assisted fellow artist Rhys Farrell with the planning of his street mural.

What about #YYCBlockParty intrigued you as an artist and how did you develop the concept for your pieces?

The potential for interconnectivity in the community through the installations was the most alluring factor. I developed my concept for my piece with the idea of interacting paths and contrasting colour combinations.

What do you hope people feel or think when they encounter one of your artworks?

I would like people to feel like they have an invitation to explore and learn.

For you, what is the hardest or most challenging part of creating new work?

The hardest part of creating new work is the unexpected roadblocks that may come up during the execution, but each one is a learning experience.

Where do you find your inspiration and how is that reflected in your work?

I'm inspired by my background as a former immigrant and my connections to Jamaica and Calgary. My work depicts this as I often create images reflecting aspects of Black culture. I would love to create artwork centered around Jamaican culture and roots that includes a documentary exploring Jamaican residents and former residents' opinions on the current state of the country and it's future.

Photo by Courtney Verbeek, Destination Deerfoot City featuring @aglimpseofmaria and mural by @leechuts

How are you staying creative and inspired during Covid-19?

The pandemic has provided me with more time to focus on my art and has motivated me to elevate my work ethic. I'm currently working on commissions and an inspiring collection/series, which has been keeping me pretty busy.