About the Artist

Artist Biography

Kirra (She/They) has vacillated between art and science since early childhood, and in the last four years, she has finally embraced smashing them together. They have both a Bachelor’s degree (2022) and a Masters of Science (2024) from the University of Alberta. Their artistic skills supported their initial admission into university. Despite the outward presentation of a strictly science-focused decade since animation school, illustration has been a key component of her three current scientific publications and a digital anti-arachnophobia book.

In parallel with their academic career, they have used most of their free time to experiment with the limits of fine art materials, intending to work on surfaces or scales not previously in their practice. This supported a transition into the art world, with a handful of group shows in 2024 and their first solo exhibitions closely following in 2025. Recently, Kirra was a featured artist in “Groundworks – The Works Festival 2025”, with “Fungus on Flannel”. She is excitedly preparing large, wall-consuming paintings for her next exhibition location: The Enbridge Centre in November.

Artist Statement

Hours spent in the quiet backrooms of natural history museums and afternoons flipping logs in the woods have attuned me to the ignored. My work largely aims to elevate underrepresented elements of the natural world like fungi, slugs and so on as worthy of equal consideration as more conventional subjects of nature-themed art. I find strange organisms charming, and my paintings argue for the reconsideration of what is worthwhile and beautiful. Underrepresented subjects serve as an allegory for the perspectives of neurodivergent individuals, whose interests and vision may seem disconnected from others.

I use reclaimed textiles and occasionally, warped wood in place of traditional canvas. This allows me to work with the pre-existing patterns of the material in concert with the subject and reduces my contribution to the waste crisis. Whenever appropriate, I use my work as a vehicle for scientific communication - it is often easier to connect with a painting than a Wikipedia article. Global biodiversity is declining, yet only a fraction is seen up close; I intend to capture as much of it as I can on through an emotionally accessible lens.

Exhibition History

Solo Exhibitions: 
Works Fest "Groundworks" 40th Anniversary , 'Fungus on Flannel', 2025, Stanley A Milner Library
Roots on Whyte " Bark & Beaks", 2025 July-August

Group Exhibitions: 

Gallery 501 "Journeys and Transitions"
Felice Café, 2025 

Night Of Artists, ‘Luminous’, 2024 

Planted Tank, 2024-2025 

Anvil Café, 2024-2025 

Concordia, February 2025 

Bleeding Hearts Gallery, February 2025, 
Night Of Artists, ‘Into the Wild’, 2025 

Collection Contributions:
University of Alberta, E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum, 2023-2025 (2 Pieces in permanent Collection)
Sherwood Park Collection, 2025, (First Time Parents in permanent collection)

Publication History

Illustration/Writing/Revisions

Kent, K., J. Pinzon, & H. Proctor. (2023). A beginner-friendly key to the families of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) known from the Canadian Prairie Provinces

Impact of edge type, and pitfall trap modification on spider diversity retention in central Albertan agroecosystems, K. Kent., B. Mori., J. Pinzon

Illustration/Revisions

Pinzon, J., K. Kent & R. Bennett (2022) First record of Pholcus opilionoides (Schrank, 1781)

Pinzon, J., K. Kent, D. J. Buckle & R. Bennett (2022) Redescription of Robertus arcticus (Chamberlin & Ivie 1947) (Araneae: Theridiidae), with the first description of the female.   

“Lots of Lovely Legs” Illustrated Spider Children’s book, first ed. completed 2015, revising painted illustrations

Presentations & Workshops
Kent. K. 2025. Art & Arachnids: Scientific Illustration & Art For Communication. Invited Speaker series in Camrose
Kent. K. 2024. "Paint and Learn" as part of the Works Festival 40th Anniversary event series
Kent. K. 2023. Improving the retention rate of spiders captured in pitfall traps within agroecosystems.
Kent. K. 2022. Spider Diversity and Dietary choice in Albertan Canola agroecosystems
Kent. K. 2021. Building a Dichotomous Key: Key to the Spiders of the Canadian Prairies
Kent. K. 2020. Lots of Lovely Legs: An Illustrated Spider Diversity Book for Children

Organization and Associations
Exhibiting Member of the Federation of Canadian Artists, 2025
Member of Alberta Entomological Society, 2019 - ongoing
Gallery 501 Member