Arts Council Wood Buffalo is pleased to welcome Lori Claerhout as the 2026 Artist in Residence. From now until July 18, Lori will be in residence in Fort McMurray, engaging with the community while developing and sharing her creative practice through printmaking and found-object sculpture.
Based in Athabasca, Alberta, Lori Claerhout creates linocut and screen prints, as well as three-dimensional works assembled from found objects. Her work responds to both natural and social surroundings, exploring the ways hope and despair reveal themselves through landscapes, materials, and everyday objects. Through her practice, Lori invites viewers to reconsider the familiar, discovering new meaning and perspective through objects and imagery that may otherwise go unnoticed.
Inspired by environmental and social issues, Lori’s work reflects a thoughtful engagement with the world around her. She is a member of the Society of Northern Alberta Print-artists (SNAP) in Edmonton, where she inks her prints alongside work created in her home studio. Lori is also an ongoing member of Canadian Artists’ Representation/Le Front des artistes canadiens (CARFAC) and is community-taught.
“The Artist in Residence program creates opportunities for artists and community members to connect through creativity, conversation, and shared experiences,” says Liana Wheeldon, Executive Director of Arts Council Wood Buffalo. “We are excited to welcome Lori to the region and look forward to seeing how her unique artistic perspective engages with Wood Buffalo’s landscapes, stories, and communities.”
The residency will culminate in a final showcase event on Friday, July 17 from 6pm–8pm at the Kirschner Family Community Art Gallery, where community members are invited to experience the work Lori has created during her time in residence and learn more about her artistic process.
