Indigenous Youth Artist Reimagines Winnipeg Through Lens of Black-and-White Photography in New Exhibition
WINNIPEG, MB — A striking new photography exhibition titled Winnipeg in Black and White is now on view, showcasing the work of emerging Indigenous artist and curator Tony Eetak. Through black-and-white images, Eetak offers a profound and quiet reflection on urban life, revealing the hidden rhythms and emotional textures of the city through the eyes of an Indigenous youth artist.
Originally from Arviat, Nunavut, and now based in Winnipeg, Eetak is a multidisciplinary artist and founding member of the Digital Salvage arts collective. His work spans photography, music, and composition, and he has participated in numerous arts initiatives through the Arviat Film Society, Global Dignity Canada, Inclusion in Northern Research, and Our People, Our Climate: Manitoba. In 2023, he was named a National Role Model by Global Dignity Canada. His creative work has been supported by the Canada Council for the Arts Digital Greenhouse, Manitoba Arts Council Indigenous 360 program, and the OpenAI Researcher Access Program.
“This mentorship was a turning point for me as an artist,” said Tony Eetak. “Thanks to the support of the Manitoba Arts Council and the Indigenous 360 program, I had the time and guidance to grow—not just creatively, but in how I connect with community through my work. We learned a lot this past few months and it’s really helped expand my horizons.”
Far more than a photo essay, Winnipeg in Black and White has been described as “a quiet act of reclamation”—a meditation on connection, memory, and place. The series features visual works such as City Seen, City Felt, Toward the Vault, Art on Campus, Smoke Break, Truth Break, and Centering the Fragments. Through a blend of photography, abstract captions, and poetic reflections, the exhibition invites viewers to encounter familiar spaces with new eyes.
The exhibition is co-curated by Jamie Bell, a Winnipeg-based interdisciplinary artist and strategist. Bell describes the project as “a collaboration in the truest sense—of generations, geographies, and ways of seeing.” The curatorial process emphasized mentorship, creative writing, and attention to the overlooked.
Running from September 2024 through April 2025, Winnipeg in Black and White is part of Project 2024-5782, an arts-based capacity-building initiative supported by the Manitoba Arts Council Indigenous 360 Program. The project is rooted in community resilience, economic reconciliation, and climate justice through cultural and creative sector development.
This exhibition also aligns with the broader mission of artsincubator.ca, an urban and northern arts initiative connecting artists and communities across Manitoba, Northwestern Ontario, and Minnesota. The incubator fosters bold artistic expression, cultural innovation, and mentorship in media and participatory arts.
Winnipeg in Black and White features photography, text, audio, and video, offering a multi-sensory journey through the city as seen by an Indigenous youth artist. It stands as a testament to the transformative power of art in building connection, sparking dialogue, and imagining new futures.