Indigenous Artist in the Park

In February 2022, the Office of Social Innovation launched the Indigenous Artist in the Park residency. This five-month paid residency was created for Indigenous artists to develop work that acknowledges, reflects upon, and responds to the continuous Indigenous presence in the Allan Gardens neighbourhood.

Michel Dumont was named the 2022 Indigenous Artist in the Park. Michel's residency took place in Allan Gardens during the summer of 2022. During his residency, Michel worked on creating the River of Pride, a mosaic piece reflective of his experience in Allan Gardens during the annual Toronto Pride Parade. 

Michel Dumont is a two-spirited Métis artist who enjoys breathing new life into discarded vintage tiles by making mosaic pieces. He is a self-taught artist and occasional teacher whose mediums include fibre arts, ceramics and unconventional materials for wearable art. Working with shattered mirrored tiles is symbolic of Michel’s daily dealings with a shattered back and decades of PTSD, driving him to turn these struggles into something beautiful. As a son of an Indian Day School survivor, Michel also aims to honour his culture through his work. 

Michel is represented by Paul Petro Contemporary Art, Toronto.