Special Exhibition - Iya Carson

Every month at Art House, a new artist fills the walls of the Drawing Room with their best works for you to enjoy. See a listing of upcoming and past Special Exhibitions and find out how to apply for you own Special Exhibition through our website's Special Exhibition page . This month features "In-Between" by Iya Carson Hang: Tuesday August 4, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm Take down: Monday August 31, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm Vernissage / Album Launch: Thursday August 13, 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm Free Admission - Meet the Artist - Complimentary Wine Artist Statement: IN-BETWEEN is a watercolour series that explores Ottawa through moments of transition; between seasons, weather, memory, and place. Rather than documenting recognizable landmarks, these paintings seek to capture the subtle emotional atmosphere that exists within the city's streets, waterways, rural edges, and quiet corners. My work begins with observation but develops through reflection. A snowfall softening the outlines of a familiar neighbourhood, light dissolving into mist along the river, or a solitary figure moving through changing weather becomes an invitation to pause and consider the spaces between certainty and change. These fleeting moments often reveal a deeper sense of connection to place than any fixed image can convey. Working in watercolour allows me to embrace both control and unpredictability. Granulating pigments, layered washes, and softened edges create surfaces that echo the shifting nature of memory itself. Influenced by my background in Fine Art and Architecture, I am interested in the relationship between structure and atmosphere, permanence and impermanence. For Ottawa's bicentennial, IN-BETWEEN offers a quiet reflection on the city not only as a geographic location, but as a living accumulation of experiences, histories, and personal encounters. Each painting is accompanied by a short poetic text that extends the visual narrative and invites viewers to bring their own memories into the work. Ultimately, this series is about attention, about noticing the beauty that exists in ordinary moments and recognizing how landscapes become part of our emotional lives. Through these paintings, I hope to create a space for contemplation, connection, and wonder. Artist Bio: Iya Carson is a Canadian artist and educator based in Pakenham, Ontario. Working primarily in watercolour, she creates atmospheric landscapes that explore themes of memory, place, and the emotional resonance of everyday experience. Her paintings are characterized by subtle tonal relationships, granulating pigments, and a balance between careful observation and expressive interpretation. A graduate of the Ural Academy of Architecture and Industrial Design, Iya brings together her backgrounds in Fine Art and Architecture to create works that unite structural awareness with the fluid, unpredictable nature of watercolour. Her practice is deeply rooted in the landscapes of the Ottawa Valley, where shifting light, changing seasons, and quiet rural spaces provide ongoing inspiration. Iya is the founder of Ottawa Valley Art Studio, where she teaches both in-person and online courses in drawing and painting. Through her teaching, she has mentored hundreds of students, helping them develop strong observational skills, technical confidence, and personal artistic expression. Her award-winning work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is held in private collections across Canada, the United States, Europe, and Australia. Through both her studio practice and educational work, Iya seeks to foster a deeper appreciation for beauty, observation, and the meaningful connections that emerge between people and the landscapes they inhabit.