City reveals 2026-2028 Urban Design Roster artists and designers

28 new and returning artists to shape Nanaimo’s public spaces through art and design

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed January 5, 2026 10:00 AM

Summary

The City of Nanaimo is pleased to announce the artists and designers selected for the 2026-2028 Urban Design Roster, a key component of the City’s public art program that supports the thoughtful integration of art, design and placemaking into civic infrastructure and public spaces.

The City of Nanaimo welcomes 28 new and returning artists and designers from across British Columbia to the Urban Design Roster for a two-year term (2026-2028). The roster provides the City with a diverse pool of creative professionals who can be engaged on an ongoing basis to contribute artistic and design expertise to a wide range of civic projects. Artists and designers were selected through an open call and evaluated based on the strength and creativity of their past work, demonstrated relevance to place and community, and their ability to respond to the practical and aesthetic needs of civic urban design projects.

Artists and designers appointed to the Urban Design Roster include: Amy (Yun Ru) Bao; Amy Pye; Anaïs Lera; Angellos Glaros; April Lacheur; Ay Lelum; bailey macabre; Bethany Davis; Chantelle Delage; Chase Gray; David Martinello; Denny Provost; Eliot White-Hill, Kwulasultun; Jesse Gray; Jolene Hassard; Kristen Elkow; Laura Timmermans; Mauro Dalla Costa; Mustaali Raj; Noel Brown; Patrick Belanger; Pellvetica; Sebastian Abboud; Sherri Prevost; Skyler Dietze; Stephanie Teichman; Tarcila Neves; and Yvonne Vander Kooi.

Launched in 2021, the Urban Design Roster has become an essential tool for integrating art and design into everyday public spaces and city infrastructure. Roster artists may be engaged on projects such as murals on civic buildings, artistic surface treatments for play areas and splash pads, creative enhancements to streetscapes, and the design treatment of utility and traffic kiosks. By embedding artists early and often in civic projects, the Urban Design Roster supports the creation of welcoming, inclusive and visually engaging public spaces, while also providing meaningful professional opportunities for artists and designers to contribute to the city’s evolving urban environment.

More about the Urban Design Roster program can be found on the Urban Design Roster page on the City's website.

Link to Strategic Plan: The Urban Design Roster Program aligns with the goals of the City of Nanaimo’s City Plan by facilitating opportunities for the public to encounter art and culture in public spaces throughout the city and as part of their daily experiences.

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