Tara Artist Bianca Artemida Nam Brings a Dreamlike Marshland to the Tom Thomson Art Gallery
Emerging Tara artist Bianca Artemida Nam transforms the Tom Thomson Art Gallery into a breathing marshland in her new exhibition, Where the Willows Weep and Orchids Dream.
The Tom Thomson Art Gallery has been transformed into a dreamscape of sound, light, and texture thanks to Tara-based artist Bianca Artemida Nam. Her latest exhibition, Where the Willows Weep and Orchids Dream, invites visitors into a surreal marshland that feels both otherworldly and deeply rooted in the landscapes of Grey, Bruce, and Dufferin Counties.
Through an immersive blend of collage, projection, and sound, Nam crafts an environment that seems to breathe with life — a place where the natural and digital intertwine. The exhibition is a striking reflection of her growing artistic voice, one that’s already capturing attention across Canada.
We spoke with Bianca about her creative process, her connection to place, and how the quiet beauty of local escarpments continues to shape her work.
Q: What inspired Where the Willows Weep and Orchids Dream, and how does the local landscape influence the work?
Bianca Artemida Nam: The exhibition is one of several iterations of a mythical swamp that I’ve been developing over the past two years.
It’s deeply inspired by the cross-pollination of materials—from organic to synthetic—in an effort to emulate the escarpments found throughout Dufferin County, where I first began creating installations.
Now that I live in Grey-Bruce, the region’s vast array of orchids has profoundly influenced my work, giving rise to a new entity within my immersive swamps.
Q: The installation uses both natural and digital materials… how do you see those elements interacting within the space?
Bianca: The pairing of natural and digital elements represents two opposites: one is delicate and ephemeral, destined to fade, while the other is strong, advanced, and points toward the future.
Their union is meant to exist in harmony, with the natural elements serving as a vessel for the digital organism that emerges from the confines of the swamp—striving for permanence.
Q: What do you hope visitors will take away from the experience of moving through this environment?
Bianca: I hope visitors feel moved by the work—whether it evokes fear, familiarity, or tranquility. My installations contain many layers that invite investigation, and I want viewers to take it upon themselves to interpret and dissect what unfolds before them.
Q: How has your time working in and around Grey-Bruce shaped your approach to art-making?
Bianca: Working in and around the area over the past year has deepened my appreciation for the surrounding landscape, from the showy lady’s slipper orchids that grow outside my home to the subjects I explore through my research.
I’ve also begun to embrace craft more intentionally in my practice, using paper to mimic natural elements within my installations, such as the paper orchids featured in this exhibition—an idea that grew out of hosting craft weekends for children in the community.
Q: What has it been like to bring this exhibition to the Tom Thomson Art Gallery and to share it with a local audience?
Bianca: I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to exhibit at the TOM. As an emerging artist, it can be challenging to find your footing and connect with galleries that support such multidimensional bodies of work. Until now, I’ve only exhibited in Toronto, so being able to share this work with the land and its inhabitants that have inspired it feels like coming full circle. It also offers the local audience a glimpse into the beauty of installation art.
Exhibition Information
Where the Willows Weep and Orchids Dream runs at the Tom Thomson Art Gallery in Owen Sound from October 11, 2025, to January 10, 2026.
Stop by the gallery for an Artist Talk with Bianca Artemida Nam on Saturday, December 6, from 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
As well as Bianca's exhibition, Convergence, a juried exhibition featuring artwork from across Ontario exploring environmental themes, is also on display at the TOM. The Palette to Palate Fundraiser on Nov 1st, is the perfect time to see these two exhibitions + local musical treasures JD Crosstown and Alison MacGregor as well as Chef Jason Merton who has created an all Canadian culinary experience. Tickets at the TOM and online at Tom Thomson Art Gallery.