Sauga Connections for Older Adults

Join the Art Gallery of Mississauga for a virtual artist talk with Michael Flaherty, a ceramic and textile artist from Newfoundland. In this engaging online conversation, Flaherty will share insights into his artistic practice and the evolution of his work across materials and techniques.

The talk will highlight his newest explorations in crochet, offering a closer look at the ideas, processes, and inspirations behind the textile works currently in development for his upcoming February exhibition. This behind-the-scenes conversation invites audiences to connect more deeply with the artist’s creative journey and discover how experimentation and craft inform his practice.

ABOUT THE ARTIST
Michael Flaherty was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and subsequently spent much of his childhood getting lost in the woods. As an adult he has lived alone for three months on a deserted island, crisscrossed Canada and the United States by bicycle, and inhabited abandoned communities in his home province, all as part of his art practice.

Flaherty studied ceramics at NSCAD University (BFA) and University of Regina (MFA). His work was recognized nationally when he was a semi-finalist for the Sobey Art Award (2011) and a finalist for the RBC People’s Choice Award (2013). Flaherty won the Large Year Award from Visual Artists Newfoundland and Labrador in 2013.

Flaherty resides in Port Union, Newfoundland, where he operates his studio, Wild Cove Pottery. He also teaches in the Ceramic Arts program at Haliburton School of Art and Design. His studio activities are varied, including pottery, sculpture, installation, and performance.