Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I am a mixed media textile collage artist with personal experience in managing depression and CPTSD. As a mental health advocate, I lead art workshops focusing on mental wellness for individuals navigating mental health challenges, addiction, and trauma.
Facilitated Spring Into Bloom, a 10-week mixed-media workshop series at CAMH’s Patient & Family Learning Space (PFLS) and Collaborative Learning College (CLC), focused on creative wellness, community building, and reflective artmaking. Designed and delivered accessible workshops exploring sculpture, collage, painting, textile art, and experimental mixed-media techniques using affordable and recycled materials. The series encouraged participants to engage with themes of renewal, growth, transformation, and mindfulness through hands-on creative practice. The workshops emphasized process over perfection, creating supportive and judgment-free environments where participants could build confidence, explore self-expression, and strengthen community connection through art. Workshop topics included: • Seed Mosaic Clay Bowls • Plastic Bag Flower Art • Paper Maché Birds • Silk-Screened Spring Textile Collage • Acrylic Dot Art • Cyanotype Flower Art • Intro to Textile Art Keepsake Boxes
Apanaki Designs (APNKI) Visual Artist | Textile Collage Specialist | Creative Entrepreneur Apanaki Designs (APNKI) is the creative studio of visual artist Apanaki Temitayo Minerve, specializing in mixed-media textile collage using vibrant African fabrics. Through my practice, I research and develop thematic concepts, sourcing a diverse range of textiles and materials to bring unique artworks to life. Key focus areas: Artistic Research & Creation – Exploring cultural and thematic narratives to inform my artwork. Material Sourcing & Curation – Selecting high-quality textiles and materials for collage-based pieces. Exhibitions & Sales – Engaging with galleries and exhibitors to showcase and sell artwork. Product & Brand Development – Expanding my art into product lines and merchandise. Workshops & Education – Leading instructional sessions on textile collage techniques and creative wellness. Digital Presence & Marketing – Maintaining an active online presence to connect with audiences and industry opportunities. Through Apanaki Designs, I aim to celebrate cultural storytelling, innovation in textile art, and artistic empowerment through education.
Designed and facilitated a 4-week workshop series, Exploring the African Diaspora through Mixed-Media Textile Art, engaging 10–15 participants in a 2-hour weekly format (1-hour facilitation, prep and clean-up coordination) 4-Week Workshop Series_ Exploring the African Diaspora through Mixed-Media Textile Art The series celebrated Black History Month through the creative transformation of mixed-media art and repurposed books. Each session introduced a distinct technique rooted in textile collage, narrative reclamation, and diasporic reflection: • Introduction to Textile Art Collage and its relevance to the African Diaspora • The Story Within – altering repurposed book covers to reclaim personal narrative • Blackout Poetry using the works of Audre Lorde, integrating fabric embellishment • Pages of Light – sculptural book ornaments and mobiles using upcycled materials. Participants explored themes of resilience, cultural contribution, identity, and renewal while engaging in tactile, accessible art-making practices that support grounding and emotional regulation. The series integrated African textiles, repurposed materials, poetry, and layered collage techniques to create reflective, community-centered learning spaces within a mental health setting.
Invited to deliver a featured presentation for MNP LLP’s Black History Month event, engaging a hybrid audience (in-person and virtual) in a facilitated conversation on creative leadership, cultural intelligence, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship. Delivered a 20-minute keynote-style talk integrating lived experience, identity, and resilience with practical insights on creativity as a leadership competency. Addressed themes of adaptability, innovation, narrative ownership, and building sustainable impact within organizational environments. Showcased selected works from The Muses Collection to explore how art can function as social commentary, strategic reflection, and cultural bridge-building in corporate spaces. Facilitated dialogue following the presentation, supporting audience engagement across diverse cultural backgrounds and fostering discussion on inclusion, representation, and creative problem-solving.
Facilitated a two-hour drop-in Intro to Textile Art Collage Workshop as part of Black Futures Month, engaging 35–40 participants in a culturally rooted, hands-on creative experience. Guided participants in exploring African textiles as tools for storytelling, identity, and self-expression within an institutional setting. Successfully managed a rotating format (12–15 participants per wave) while fostering an inclusive, accessible, and high-energy learning environment.