Darcie Bernhardt
From the Peel to the Arctic Ocean

“From the Peel to the Arctic Ocean is inspired by my travels to Fort McPherson, along the Peel River to the coastline of Tuktoyaktuk. Focusing on the bright evanescent light of peak daylight, to the deep shadows and colours as seen in Jijuu Always Has Good Luck on Sundays (2026). The interior scenes such as Nungki’s Pattern Collection (2026) and snapshots of landscapes have shaped how I use colour and form. The deliberate negative spaces reinforce my belief of how memory is constantly evolving and changing. By using my own photography archives in my practice, I translate these memories through the medium of painting. This exploration documents my celebration and appreciation for the never-ending light in the spring, to the late sunsets in fall. My intention is to create portraits and snapshots of life without the entire figure present, instead focusing on the details of interiors with high contrasting colours and depth. A vital part of my practice is making memories of my family, landmarks, and capturing the beautiful light in the North.”

-Darcie Bernhardt, 2026

About the Artist

Darcie Bernhardt is an Inuvialuk/Gwichin artist from Tuktuyaaqtuuq, NT, alumna of NSCADU in 2019 (BFA). Primarily focused on the narrative of domestic life in the North, Bernhardt’s works are based on memories and photographs from home. Bernhardt’s reimagining of their Northern memories functions as an act of reclamation and preservation, establishing their role as a memory-keeper. Expanses of negative space convey the ephemeral and ever-changing quality of one’s memory, as they transmit from one generation to the next.

They were the Inuit Art Foundation’s highlighted artist at Art Toronto 2019 and is featured in RBC’s Emerging Artist Project. Their work and writing have been included several times in the Inuit Art Quarterly. Bernhardt’s paintings have been exhibited across Canada, from Qaumajuq at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, to the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. Their paintings sit in the permanent collections of the Royal Bank of Canada, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, and the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.