TANIA’S BIO

Tania Sanhueza is a Toronto based textile artist. Tania studied at Ontario College of Arts and Design and received a Diploma in Fine Arts (1997-2002). Since that time she has worked on wardrobe for film and TV and exhibited throughout the globe both commercially and artistically. Most recent group exhibits, textile and mixed media, have been held with Magic Pony, exhibits in Toronto, and traveling toy exhibits.

Tania learned to sew at age 11, self-taught. Throughout her teenage years she learned about fabric and sewing. During this time she religiously followed fashion and would spend hours sketching designs.
Although her primary love was illustration (once a regular contributor to the Walrus) her focus on illustration and sewing merged and developed into its own unique language. Creating characters based on her drawings and also characters of another artist Derrick Hodgson’s “Bluebee” and other related work. Thus her partnership with Derrick evolved and they created the entity; Hoboyard. Presently Hoboyard is no longer a partnership, Sanhueza currently assumes the identity.

The city squirrel, Ciccioponi, was her first sculpture combining illustration and textile. Ciccioponi’s allure helped represent and remind the public of the presence and purpose of wildlife in the city. Since then her sculpture has been a social commentary on wild animal and environmental preservation, specifically birds, and has most recently evolved into other textile works that are more personal and reflective.

Her sculptures are made from as much donated, recycled and found material as possible. She aims to incorporate as much environmentally sound processes as possible. Using material that can break down, materials that have been grown pesticide free, and alternative fill such as sawdust and herbs.
Each piece is hand made and laboriously stitched together during many, many hours.

Tania does fabric animal sculptures by private commission.