Artist CV

Taanishi! Bună ziua! (Hello!)

I'm sharai mustatia, also known as princess shredder.

I live on the ancestral and unceded territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), əl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) peoples, also known as Vancouver, BC. My connection to these lands and my diverse ancestry is a source of strength and inspiration.

My roots trace back to the Red River Métis and Romania, and I was born in Treaty 4 territory, Regina, Saskatchewan. My journey of self-healing and discovery led me to photography—a powerful tool in my recovery from complex PTSD. Through the lens, I’ve transformed isolation into connection, using my art to bridge personal experience with the universal experience.

Photography has also been my medicine as I explore my Métis identity and Romanian ancestral lineage. My work is created with analogue vintage cameras. My main explorations are through in-camera edits. I create layered images of meaning that evoke deep emotion. Through manipulating image layers, distorting time and place, and embedding subtle messages, my work reflects on identity, belonging, and the search for home.

For me, photography isn’t just an art—it’s a lifeline. It allows me to find beauty in chaos, release stress and grief, and move closer to inner peace and joy.

Collaboration is at the heart of my creativity. I love blending ideas and crafting images that resonate with authenticity and pride. Recently, I launched an analogue photography workshop, sharing the art of intentional experimentation—a skill I’ve honed for over a decade. Teaching others the magic of film photography brings me immense joy, and empowering individuals to embrace their creative potential is one of my superpowers.

My journey is one of resilience, self-expression, and an unyielding pursuit of identity and belonging. Through photography, I strive not just to capture fleeting moments but to unravel the complexities of the human experience through visual storytelling.

I invite you to join me on this journey of self-discovery and healing.

Marsee, mulțumesc. (Thank you)
sharai mustatia