gift for  |  from grand  |  mothers: Vanessa Hyggen & Laelia LeFeuvre

This exhibition by artists Vanessa Hyggen and Laelia LeFeuvre explores the powerful threads of knowledge passed on matrilineally—and those that had to be reclaimed. Inspired by their family stories and the Museum’s collection, the artists reflect on how tradition lives on in memory and in craft.

The exhibition combines historic Ukrainian objects from the Museum’s collection with Indigenous beadwork from Hyggen’s own collection. These pieces are shown alongside new works in beading, spinning, sewing, and weaving. These artworks are conversations across generations—acts of remembering, recovering, and honouring the past.

For both Hyggen and LeFeuvre, craft is more than a skill. It is a way to reconnect with lost knowledge and bring it into their lives today. Through their hands, they honour the women who came before them, and the stories carried in every thread.

This exhibition is made possible with generous support from Saskatchewan Lotteries and SaskCulture, the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan, and the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority.

About the Artist-in-Residence Program

The Ukrainian Museum of Canada’s Artist-in-Residence Program supports local and regional artists in creating new work inspired by the Museum’s permanent collection, which spans over 10,000 artifacts—from textiles and ceramics to folk art and photographs. The program encourages contemporary artistic responses to Ukrainian and Ukrainian Canadian cultural heritage through collaboration, exploration, and inclusivity. The program aims to strengthen connections between traditional knowledge and contemporary practice, fostering meaningful dialogue between artists, community members, and the stories preserved within the Museum’s walls.