AJA Louden is a Jamaican-Canadian artist living and working out of amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada).
Through rigorous mark making, constructions and installations, Louden builds stories and worlds that are firmly rooted in both galleries and public spaces, infused by his experience of growing up Black in the prairies. His current work focuses on the cyclical nature of power, inspired by science-fiction and historical paintings. Louden’s recent use of textiles considers the roles of craft in Black communities, and the history of craft in rural Alberta in particular.
Louden’s work has been shown in public spaces and institutions across Alberta, including the 2022 retrospective exhibition Black Every Day at the Art Gallery of Alberta that featured his large-scale, site specific installation Constellation. In 2022, he was awarded the Edmonton Artists’ Trust Fund, and he was selected by Faye HeavyShield, Lieutenant Governor 2021 Distinguished Artist, for a unique award from the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Awards Foundation. Louden’s work is in the collections of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts and the Misericordia Community Hospital.
Selected CV
Solo Exhibitions
2024 Prairie Star Deck, Alberta Craft Council, Edmonton, AB, Canada
2022 Like Me, Galerie Cité, Edmonton, AB, Canada
2021 _____ POWER, The Aviary, Edmonton, AB, Canada
2019 Like Me, The Aviary, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Group Exhibitions
2023 Here & Now, Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton, AB, Canada
2022 Black Every Day, Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
2021 Amplify, Gallery 501, Sherwood Park, AB, Canada
2021 ...bring a folding chair, Gallery 501, Sherwood Park, AB, Canada
2020 Like Me, Art From Here with Latitude 53, SNAP, the Mitchell Art Gallery and Ociciwan, Edmonton, AB, Canada (digital)
2018 5 Artists, 1 Love, Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
2018 For Position Only, Mitchell Art Gallery, Edmonton, AB, Canada
2017 5 Artists, 1 Love, Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
2013 5 Artists, 1 Love, Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
2013 Graff Show, Sun & Moon Gallery, Edmonton, AB, Canada
2013 Hip Hop Appreciation Week, Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
2012 5 Artists, 1 Love, Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
2011 5 Artists, 1 Love, Tu Gallery, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Awards
2023 Distinguished Alumni Award, MacEwan University
2022 Edmonton Artists’ Trust Fund, Edmonton Arts Council and Edmonton Community Foundation
2022 Selected by Faye HeavyShield, Lieutenant Governor 2021 Distinguished Artist for unique award
Residencies
2022 Artist in Residence, Fern's School of Craft, Edmonton, AB, Canada
2021 Artist in Residence, Westlawn School, Edmonton, AB, Canada
2018-19 Artist in Residence, Hillcrest School, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Publications
2022 Wa’gwan? Skoden! The Invitations, Offerings, and Demands of Decolonizing Literacies, University of Calgary
2022 John Humphrey Centre's Community Legacy Book featuring Paint the Rails project
Collections
Alberta Foundation for the Arts, AB, Canada
Misericordia Community Hospital, Edmonton, AB, Canada
