Audrey Armstrong is a Nehiyaw Iskwēw with familial roots in both the Thunderchild and Mosquito First Nation communities in Saskatchewan. She is a registered band member of Thunderchild First Nation and was born in Saskatoon, SK, in 1982. Audrey spent most of her life growing up in the North Battleford area and is a mother of three adult sons.
In 2009, Audrey moved to Saskatoon to pursue a degree in Social Work, where she discovered a passion for painting. She has spent her career working in the core neighborhoods of Saskatoon, while also volunteering, painting in her spare time, and attending ceremonies to stay connected to her cultural and spiritual roots.
Audrey cites Norval Morrisseau as her greatest artistic influence. Although she did not begin painting until later in life, her interest was sparked after taking an Indigenous Art History class at university. Despite never having painted before, she created her first piece in 2012 and has
continued ever since.
She describes her artistic process as deeply spiritual:
"Painting connects me to my spirit and my ancestors. It’s an indescribable feeling. The painting just happens; there’s no plan. I just see it in my mind or feel it in my spirit, and I just start painting."
Audrey holds a BISW degree from the First Nations University of Canada and a Mental Health & Addictions Master’s Certificate from Dalhousie University. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree at the First Nations University of Canada.