Kenzie Fragoso is a 19 year old artist born in Spruce Grove, Alberta, and is currently finishing her second year at MacEwan University in Edmonton. Having an artist as a mother, Kenzie developed a passion for art at an early age. Through a variety of mediums she explores ideas of social justice and advocacy, whilst also maintaining an inclusive perspective for her viewers.

In eleventh grade, Kenzie was able to participate in an art show in her hometown. She ended up winning first place for her grade and had the opportunity to study under Red Deer College’s instructors and professionals for a week. In 2019, she had the honour of presenting her work at MacEwan’s Ending Sexual Violence student forum alongside peer and collaborator, Rebecca Klotz.

When Kenzie isn't studying, she is exploring other forms of creative expression through means of music and fashion. The motivation behind her art is mainly to start a conversation. Through art, you are able to talk about so many topics at once, and Kenzie believes that topics such as houselessness, as well as gender and race based violence are important to touch on in modern day society.

My work explores the relationship between personal experiences and identity. I work with a variety of mediums, but the ones I enjoy the most are painting and installation work. Themes that are often present in my work involve aspects of home and what “home” is, houseless representation, and topics of advocacy among survivors of race and gender based violence. I am most inspired by the works of other artists that also work as activists through their practice, such as Jenny Holzer and Faith Ringgold. Through message and process these strong women inspire me not only conceptually but inspire me formally through color, mode, and dissemination of my work.

I often use a more saturated mix of colors in my paintings that involve ideas of memory or lived experiences. When referring back to a time or a place that's familiar to me, I often visualize it differently in my mind, and I want to recreate that kind of familiarity whilst still maintaining a foreign feeling.

Using installation to discuss heavier topics like sexual violence or houselessness is a necessity. These heavy discussions rely on accountability, and veiling a message in metaphors can often take away from the importance of a certain situation. This can also be said about typography within art work. Using text in my art is a surefire way to get my point across, and often the bluntness of one's work can be the most compelling aspect.