WÂPOSHPYII (Paityn Savoie)
Calgary, Canada
Paityn Savoie is a Métis-Cree illustrator. They hold a Bachelor of Design in Illustration with a minor in Printmaking from the Alberta University of the Arts.
Working across illustration, paint, print, textiles, and mural work; Paitynʼs practice brings together natural forms with a subtle sense of unease, shaped by the rural landscapes of the midwestern prairies. Their compositions are defined by bold, uncanny forms and restrained, intentional colour palettes.
Paityn carries the cultural name WÂPOSHPYII, meaning ‘Rabbitʼs Footʼ. This name informs a practice grounded in story and land. Through their work, they share symbols and teachings that reflect Indigenous relationships to the natural world, rooted in respect, reciprocity, and continuity.
in 2026, Savoie was one of four artists selected to participate in BUMP’s special project in partnership with ASTRA, to transform the construction hoarding surrounding Calgary’s former Hudson’s Bay building into a large-scale temporary public art installation.
Mural Title
“IN TIMES PAST”
Mural Statement
A magpie sweeps through the Alberta grasslands, carrying stories of the past into the present and toward the future. Woven throughout the landscape are elements of Métis identity and prairie life, including the Métis Sash, red poison berries, and a quilt star. Together, these symbols explore how culture, memory, and place continue to transform while remaining connected to the land and the generations that came before us.
The composition brings different moments in time together, allowing past, present, and future to exist simultaneously. The movement of the magpie echoes the movement of people, stories, and traditions across the landscape, while the plants and cultural motifs serve as reminders of what we carry forward. Through shifting forms, familiar symbols, and the rhythms of the grasslands, the artwork reflects on how our relationships with place evolve, how memories leave their mark, and how cultural knowledge continues to grow and take on new meaning.