Kay Slater, Artist CV

Illustrator, Multidisciplinary Artist, Arts Worker, and Preparator at kayslater dot ca.

Introduction and Format

This CV is written using HTML where headings and semantic tags are used to prioritize screen readers and magnification users to engage with the content without barriers. However, if a PDF or plain text version of this document is more accessible, please contact me at kay at k-d-o-t dot c-a.

This CV also uses italic styles to follow publishing conventions and recognized published content, but I acknowledge that italics create access barriers to many readers. I have created a toggle link option here so you can choose to turn them on and off as you need.

Return to Top, Quick launch menu

Highlights of current and upcoming projects

  • After the Fact** (working title)

    grunt gallery, Summer 2027
    Co-artist curator with Shanna Cheng. Retrospective exhibition of the five-year Accessible Engagement Program at grunt gallery.

  • Project FireFlower, Part II Development

    Vancouver, Summer 2025-2026
    Collaboration with Collin Van Uchelen (blind pyrotechnician). Exhibition production.

  • Blind-Led Tours & Training Prototype

    grunt gallery, June 2025-present
    Program development with Gagan Kaur, creating tactile tour experiences. Interpretive guide training fully funded by DABC in 2026 to train 4-8 guides.

  • AXIS: Art, Access, and AI

    grunt gallery, Summer 2025-Spring 2026
    Research project with community feedback to build a report that goes beyond current discussions around non-disabled ethics, and use of AI in disabled artist life and practice.

  • Accessible Co-Learning Program

    • Non-Verbal Co-Learning Program, grunt gallery, 2023-Present

    • Tactile Co-Learning Program, grunt gallery, 2021-Present

    Founder and facilitator of an ongoing non-studio residency model exploring non-verbal and non-visual tactile artistic practice and access-led collaboration. Currently co-leading facilitation with Shanna Cheng. Previously co-leading with Keimi Nakashima-Ochoa.

  • Low-Sensory and Voice-Off Hosting Program

    grunt gallery, Summer 2022-Present
    Program designer & host. Following year-long prototyping for low-sensory and silent visiting hours, created public training workshop for arts community. Recently made into a zine by students and faculty at Emily Carr University under the CC BY 4.0 license.

Return to Top, Quick launch menu

Selected Artistic Work + Public Projects

Jury selected exhibitions, or residency work.
Note: My art practice spans my career as an arts worker, commercial illustrator, graphic designer, and exhibiting artist and filmmaker. I do not see my work as an arts worker separate from my practice, but this list does not include the 100+ exhibitions I have worked on as a preparator or show designer over the past decade, nor any commissioned logo or commercial illustration work.

  • Radical Silence Project

    February 2022–present
    Ongoing, self-directed durational practice and manifesto exploring non-verbal communication, access, and silence as an intentional mode of engagement. Includes an annual non-verbal period integrated across artistic, institutional, and personal contexts, informing co-learning programs and accessibility frameworks.

  • Zodiac-Crossroads, Tactile Illustration Project with Johnny Tai

    2024-2025
    Production assistant, exhibition designer, and access support. Supporting tactile artist Johnny Tai on exhibition development and material exploration for a Canada Council/BC Arts Council-funded project.
    This work was initially exhibited by the City of Richmond, in the Annex Gallery, in spring 2025, and has since toured across BC. A selection of this work is scheduled to show at Tangled Art in Toronto in 2027.

  • A Rest...in Development.

    Kickstart Disability Arts & Culture, Vancouver 2025.
    Exhibiting artist.
    Event listing

  • FLEET mobile studios residency.

    other sights, Vancouver 2024/Burnaby 2025.
    Residency artist and facilitator.
    Visiting artist and facilitator across multiple sites, developing site-responsive, access-led work. This residency was jury-selected by formed a part of Slater's ongoing self-directed October residency and Radical Silence (February) practice.
    Edmonds Program - Visiting Artist 2025.

    • The Cycling Winds, 2025

      Twine interactive experience written during February 2025 FLEET residency
      Designer, developer, writer.
      Twine Game.

    Granville Island Program - Visiting Artist 2024

    • The Haunted Island, 2024

      Twine interactive experience written during October 2024 FLEET residency
      Designer, developer, writer.
      Twine Game.

  • Lungs of the Earth.

    UBC/LOBE studios, Vancouver, 2024
    Exhibition designer, access consultant, illustrator and preparator. Supporting curator and project/conceptual artist, Alyssa Martens
    Lungs of the Earth Project Listing (UBC website).

  • Creative Access Audio Tour.

    Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery, Vancouver, 2023.
    Author and creative access artist response to Carol Itter solo exhibition, Only when I'm hauling water do I wonder if I'm getting any stronger.
    Audio program.

  • The Papercut Arcade Collective.

    Vancouver 2019-Present.
    Co-founder and Collective Member of the Papercut Arcade Collective Society, a collective of artists focused on interactivity and play.
    Artist page within collective site.

  • rEvolution, Pride in Art Community Exhibition

    Queer Arts Festival, Vancouver, 2019.
    Artist.
    Link to festival programme.

  • Fall Self-Directed Residency

    October 2016–present
    Annual, month-long self-directed residency dedicated to developing new work, research, and writing. This ongoing practice includes both independently produced iterations and invited residencies (see below), forming a sustained, self-initiated framework for artistic development.

    • The Pitch, 2026

      Twine interactive experience to pitch residency at Deer Lake with artist Gagan Kaur
      Designer, developer, writer.
      Twine Game.

    • Shadow Work, 2025

      Twine interactive experience written during October 2025 self-directed home-studio residency
      Designer, developer, writer.
      Twine Game.

  • I chew chew chew you, a pizza art show.

    Hot Art Wet City, Vancouver, 2016.
    Artist.
    CBC Event listing with artists artwork included in article photo.

  • Scores, public artwork

    McLeod Park, Langley, 2016.
    Permanent installation of illustrated work in public space, McLeod athletic park
    Press Coverage.

  • Mad Pride: Mad City

    gallery gachet, Vancouver, 2016.
    Illustration, selected work for Mad Pride group show
    Flickr gallery.

  • WELTWAND Minden

    Art Catcher, Germany 2016.
    Sketches and video for UN Sustainability development project - edited by Katja Rosenberg and presented at a screening in London.
    Project page.

  • GottaConARG (augmented reality game) experience

    Victoria, 2015.
    AR Game experience co-writer and illustrator, Illustrator for convention designs 2014-2015
    Wikipedia page for convention.

  • Sometimes I Think, I Can See You, Vancouver

    PuSh Festival, 2013.
    Participating writer in collaboration with artist Mariano Pensotti'
    Project page with Contemporary Art Gallery.

Return to Top, Quick launch menu

Selected Audio/Visual and Digital Project Work

  • Picky Eater (short), 2020/2024.


    In a creative fusion of play and live-making, artist Kay Slater crafts a poignant narrative through an award-winning short film using game tiles and everyday objects without a predefined script. The film opens in a makeshift kitchenette, where childhood play merges with deeper themes of eating disorders and personal anxieties, articulated through the manipulation of Scrabble tiles in a frying pan. As the story unfolds, the tiles spell out a series of messages that oscillate between whimsy and weighty issues, mirroring the artist's struggles with synesthesia, hearing loss, and mental illness. The accompanying soundtrack, consisting of abrasive frying sounds and diner chatter, intensifies the experience, underscored by harsh colour filters representing the overwhelming sensory input at public eateries. This experimental piece challenges viewers to confront the cacophony of public spaces and the internal dialogues shaped by societal expectations and personal limitations.

    Film and festival listing on filmfreeway website.

  • Ladder, (short), 2021.

    Performance and collaboration with Louise Chow.

    In the experimental short film "Ladder," a cardboard ladder becomes the protagonist within a minimalist gallery diorama, animated by a pair of white hands to pivot, rotate, and explore the space with assisted yet sentient fluidity. The ladder's movements—spreading, lifting, falling, and shuddering—are meticulously choreographed to a dynamic soundtrack composed by Louise Chow, which combines robust ladder-percussion beats with the ethereal tones of an erhu, creating a rhythmic yet contemplative atmosphere. Sculptor and choreographer Kay Slater transforms the ordinary object into a narrative entity, reflecting on themes of ascension, instability, and the interplay between space and form. Created during a self-directed residency in 2021, "Ladder" is a poignant exploration of collaborative art-making, responding to a range of community-generated prompts and merging sculpture with motion to challenge and engage the viewer.

  • Scarcity Sue & Nothing to Do, (audio).

    Scarcity Radio Vancouver, 2016
    Performance and collaboration with Louise Chow.

    Sound work developed as part of an international collaborative broadcast project with artist Sarah Browne in partnership with the Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver, VIVO Media Arts Centre and Slow Boat, Ikon Gallery, Birmingham.

Return to Top, Quick launch menu

Selected Talks, Workshops and Public Engagement

This is certainly not a complete list of all workshops and public engagements I have hosted and facilitated over the past 25 years. This list is primarily focused on my arts-based facilitation. For more information on my facilitation history in best practices in digital marketing, or accessibility, please email me.

  • Pop Pedagogies Lightning Talk.

    UBC iSchool, 2025.
    Presenter, Accessible Arts and Popular Culture: Teaching Art by Touch. Workshop and talk on non-visual and tactile engagement in arts education.
    Project website.

  • Accessible Community Forum: Event Accessibility.

    The Disability Foundation/ConncTra Society, 2025.
    Speaker.
    ConnecTra Event Listing, April 7th.

  • Exhibiting Accessibility.

    BC Museums Association, Online/BC, 2024.
    Speaker.
    BCMA Webinar.

  • The Worst, workshop.

    Kickstart Disability Arts, UBC, ArtStarts in Schools, 2024, 2022, 2019
    Workshop creator & facilitator for professional development series on process and mindful practice.
    PDF handout example from ArtStarts ProD.

  • Saturday Session, artist response.

    Contemporary Art Gallery Vancouver, 2023.
    Kay Slater and Laurie M. Landry on Christine Sun Kim, a performance and public talk in response to exhibition, Oh Me Oh My.
    Event listing.

  • Temporary Tactile.

    City of Vancouver, Placemaking Program, 2023.
    Workshop creator & facilitator co-presented with Keimi Nakashima-Ochoa and Johnny Tai .
    Event and program website.

  • Community Co-Learning Workshops: Building (more) Accessible Arts Presentations.

    Emily Carr University Writing Centre, Emily Carr University of Art and Design, Vancouver, 2023.
    Presenter and Content Creator.
    Event series.

  • Low-Sensory and Voice-Off Hosting Program and Training Workshop.

    Co-presented with grunt gallery, Vancouver, 2022-present.
    Prototype designer and host of Low-Sensory hosting program at grunt gallery. Following a year's prototyping and research, a public workshop was offered to members of the local arts community.
    grunt program listing.

  • Taking Care Webinar.

    Museum of Vancouver, Vancouver, 2022.
    Panelist as part of a community-led discussion on cultural accessibility in the arts.
    Event and recorded talk.

  • Murals without Walls Workshop Series.

    Kickstart Disability Arts, Vancouver, 2021-2022.
    Workshop Creator & Facilitator. All evergreen workshop content was written and narrated by Kay and available online on youTube.
    Event listing.

  • Non-Auditory Access Community Workshop and Mentorship, Captions and Transcriptions.

    Co-presented with grunt gallery, Vancouver, 2020-present.
    Workshop Creator & Facilitator.
    Link to evergreen workshop on vimeo
    Program listing from 2022.

  • Everyone Can Draw, Professional Development Series.

    ArtStarts in Schools Professional Development Facilitator, Vancouver, 2019, 2021, and 2023.
    Workshop Creator & Facilitator.
    Professional development series.

  • Intro to Letterpress - in ASL.

    WePress, Vancouver, 2019.
    Workshop facilitator.
    Event listing.

  • Introduction to Block Printmaking

    WePress, Vancouver, 2018.
    Collaborative workshop with Queer ASL + WePress for the DTES Heart of the City Festival.
    Event listing.

  • ArtStarts Explores (live program) and Our Province at Play Digital Series.

    Presented by ArtStarts in Schools, Vancouver 2017-2022.
    Program creator, online content Producer and weekly host.
    Program and catalogue history.

  • The Elders Say We Don't Visit Anymore, Tea, Bannock and Conversation.

    Gallery Gachet, Vancouver, 2016.
    Community host through August on behalf of artist and gallery, contract exhibition liaise.
    Event page (initial event lead by artist).

Return to Top, Quick launch menu

Publications and Illustration

  • Artists on Access

    Video Media Arts, 2024.
    Contributing author.
    Book listing.

  • Eating Local in the Fraser Valley, Angie Quaale

    Appetite by Random House, 2018.
    Illustrator.
    Book listing, Google Books.

  • Josephine’s Saltine Christopher Alan Slater.

    Salty Stories, 2013
    Illustrator and French voice-over for published children’s game and short story.

  • Epic Canadiana #2 Cover Gallery, Anthology

    Cloudscape Comics, 2014
    Illustrator.

Return to Top, Quick launch menu

Interviews

Return to Top, Quick launch menu

Professional Appointments

  • grunt gallery

    Exhibitions Manager and Creator and Manager of the Accessible Exhibitions, Programs and Events project, Chair Accessibility Committee, Contract part-time, March 2019-Present

  • Queer ASL

    Substitute and social coordinator, August 2017-Present

  • Museum of Vancouver

    Forthcoming exhibition, Taking Care: Disability Activism and Possible Futures in Vancouver, co-curated by Carmen Papalia & Raven John, 2024-Present

  • SFU Galleries

    Access Consultant, Digital Needs Assessment Project, May 2023 - August 2023

  • grunt gallery and VIVO archives

    Access Consultant, CollectiveAccess Project, May 2022 - August 2023

  • Open Access Mapping Foundation

    Advisory Committee, August 2020 - August 2023

  • ArtStarts in Schools

    Preparator & Gallery Coordinator, February 2016 - August 2023

  • DTES Small Arts Grants

    Preparator, 2018 - 2022

  • Richmond Art Gallery

    Preparator, November 2016-2022

  • Roundhouse Community Centre

    HTP (Head Technician Preparator), August 2018-February 2020

  • Gallery Gachet

    Contract-Show Liaise and Preparator, August 2016-August 2020

  • Contemporary Art Gallery

    Preparator + French Tour Guide, November 2011-August 2018

  • Freelance Consultant

    Exhibition Design + Preparation Services, February 2014-Present

Return to Top, Quick launch menu

Mentorship, volunteering & learning Initiatives

Projects and work specifically related to working with youth and mentorship.

  • Artist Mentorship

    Vancouver, 2024–present
    Mentor for Laurie Landry (Kickstart Disability Arts – Geoff McMurchy Artist Development Grant 2026), veto Monteiro (BCAC Professional Development - 2025), Shanna Cheng (BCAC Professional Development - 2024), Peisen Ding (BC Culture Days 2024 exhibition development), and Christina Kim (ECUAD Shumke Centre for Creative Entrepreneurship, 2023).

  • Arts Worker Mentorship

    grunt gallery, 2021–present
    Ongoing mentorship of emerging, Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent artists across institutional and independent contexts, focusing on exhibition development, accessibility, and professional navigation. Designed and facilitated mentorship opportunities for secondary and post-secondary students, including placements through Eric Hamber Secondary, Young Canada Works, Emily Carr University and VCC Deaf student work placement. Have also participated in the UBC Arts Amplifier Job Shadow project (2021-2022).

  • ArtStarts Explores

    ArtStarts in Schools, 2017–2022
    Creator, facilitator, and host of weekly drop-in art program for children and families (ages 3–8). Designed and led process-based workshops focused on experimentation, material exploration, and collaborative learning. Transitioned program to online delivery (2020–2022), producing, filming, and captioning accessible sessions. Worked with Gallery Manager to integrate program into the distance and rural residency program "ArtStarts Ignites" in 2023.

  • Artist in the Classroom Exhibition Support & Tours

    ArtStarts in Schools, 2016–2019
    Co-designed and installed exhibitions of student artwork created through school residencies. Led tours in English and French for children, educators, and families. Supported teachers and artists in translating classroom projects into gallery presentations.

  • Debridement Project

    Vancouver Maritime Museum, 2013
    Contributing artist, workshop facilitator and artist in the classroom - working with Hudson Elementary School + BC Family Day presentation at museum.

  • Girl Guides of Canada

    Youth Member & Leader, 1987–2000
    Completed Canada Cord; early leadership and facilitation experience with youth groups.

Return to Top, Quick launch menu

Education, Certification and Training

  • Interpretive Specialist Certification, 2026. Interpretive Guides Association.
  • Foundations of Conflict Engagement, 2026. Waterline Cooperative.
  • Ethical Practices in the Arts/T.R.A.I.N, 2023. Mass Culture, Training Respectful Adaptive Inclusive Networks in the Arts Program.
  • RHF Accessibility Certification, 2020. Rick Hansen Foundation.
  • Indigenous Relations, 2018. Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.
  • Graphic Facilitation (Speaking with Pictures), 2016. Course work with Stina Brown
  • Fine Arts Certificate, 2010-2012. Emily Carr University of Design
  • IAB Digital Learning Certificate - Search Engine Optimization, 2010. Internet Advertising Bureau of Canada
  • Introduction to Flash, 2008. SFU Summer Publishing Workshops
  • Fire Extinguisher Training, 2007. Langley Township Fire Department
  • English and French Literature, Humanities Program, 1999-2002. University of Victoria
  • Standard First Aid & CPR-C/A, Red Cross. Current
Return to Top, Quick launch menu

Languages and Literacies

  • English, read/written/spoken/sung: fluent.
  • American Sign Language: conversant. More PSL (pidgen than formal) than fluent.
  • French, read/written/spoken/sung: conversant.
  • Silence: fluent.
  • Musical notation, piano: fluent; percussion: rusty.
  • Illustration, visual design and graphic translation: fluent.
Return to Top, Quick launch menu