Transcendence, Speplól Tanya Zilinski
September 10, 2026
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October 25, 2026
In Transcendence, Speplól Tanya Zilinski uncovers the physical, philosophical, and spiritual dimensions of transcendence through contemporary loom-beaded tapestries. Their process is informed by chaos theory, allowing chance to guide pattern formation while engaging with the logic of fractals found in the natural world. The works incorporate British Melton wool as acts of cultural reclamation and resistance, transcending the viewer to contemplate the ongoing exploitation of Indigenous peoples, lands, waterways, and sovereignty.
Artwork Cover:
Field of Dreams, Speplól Tanya Zilinski
About the Artist
Tanya is a person who is a visual artist, a Halq'eméylem teacher, and is the Matriarch of their family. They are a member of The Red River Nation in Manitoba with maternal family and ancestral ties to Anishinaabe, Cree, Dakota, and Huron Wendat Nations throughout Turtle Island's Plains and Great Lakes regions and is Ukrainian paternally. One of their traditional names is Speplól, which means Little Crow and was a name given to them at the age of fourteen.
They were born and have lived their entire life on the stolen lands of the Chowethel people, Ts'qó:ls, which is the Halq'eméylem name for what is known to settlers today as “Hope, B.C”. Their medium is traditional Indigenous loom beadwork and the retelling of oral stories and teachings through patterns laid out on beadwork tapestries. They were taught to loom bead at 15 years old by a Stó:lō Elder in their community at Chawathil First Nation. Speplól has developed methods and techniques for creating large loom beaded tapestries made from tiny glass seed beads.
Speplól is connected to the Stó:lō community in the Teltíyt Tribe area through unification of the last 32 years, six children, and grandchildren. They have both training and permissions from Elders and community members to teach the language and culture of the Upper River Stó:lō people and is a certified teacher of the BCTF currently teaching the language and culture for School District 78 Fraser Cascade.
Website: indigenousartscollective.org/speplol-tanya-zilinski
Social Media: @tanyazilinski
