The art exhibition “Metamorphosis,” co-hosted by The Cura Collective and Misher Festival of Arts and Humanities, opened in St. Albert’s Annex March 19.
Iqra Malik ’28, the gallery’s curator, said she chose the topic “Metamorphosis” because of the meaning behind the word.
“The name literally means transformation and change,” Malik said. “So, I thought it would be a perfect idea to incorporate change and transformation … not just a woman’s perspective but seeing how from childhood to womanhood, the transformations and the growth that you are in.”
In October 2025, Malik sent out a “call for art” inviting St. Joe’s artists to participate in the exhibition to explore the themes of change, growth and transformation through their artwork.
Bailey Shoaf ’28 submitted two pieces for display in the exhibition titled “Flourish” and “Backyard Metamorphosis.”
Shoaf said the pieces she included had personal meaning. The collage “Flourish” represents personal growth, and “Backyard Metamorphosis,” which she created for her sister, represents childhood nostalgia and the brightness of youth.
“I just really wanted to convey an idealistic scene and surrealistic scene in nature,” Shoaf said. “It’s about becoming yourself, or growing into yourself as a person, and flourishing in your talents and in your environment.”
Jax Sowden ’29 said he participated in the exhibit because of how close the topic related to the artwork he already does. Sowden’s piece, “Venus ex sanguine,” reimagines the mythological birth of Venus, where she rose from blood and sea foam stirred up by Titans discarding Uranus’ body into the water.
Sowden said he chose Venus as a way to depict how violence is inflicted on women in both their beauty and sexuality. The piece features Venus staring straight at the viewer as she rises from the water.
“I want it to feel like there’s a sense of accountability and discomfort in the audience,” Sowden said.
Felicia Mihai ’27 submitted a three-piece multimedia work titled “The Anatomy of Letting Go.” The trilogy depicts a story of a toxic relationship. Throughout the trilogy, the subject goes from a victim, to her breaking point and finally to her thriving away from it all.
Mihai said she hopes that her pieces bring inspiration to women in similar situations.
“I want them to understand that if you’re in a bad place, you don’t have to stay there, and most of the time, it looks harder to let go than staying, but it’s actually the opposite,” Mihai said. “There is hope, and there is a lot of power in letting go and reinventing yourself.”
Mihai said the exhibit title reflects “constant evolution.” She decided to participate in the exhibition because of how much the meaning behind the theme means to her.
“The woman empowering movement is something really special that I think that deserves so much more attention,” Mihai said. “I’m just happy that I was able to participate in that.”
