Joanna Staniszkis Textile Artist

Teaching is how Joanna Staniszkis communicates her extensive knowledge of weaving and tapestry making. As a young art student in Warsaw, Poland, and later at the Art Institute of Chicago, Staniszkis worked towards a career in interior design. Her plans changed after she was introduced to the loom and "discovered the magic of putting threads across and coming up with a piece of fabric."

After graduating from the Art Institute of Chicago, Staniszkis went on to develop a tapestry and weaving programme at the University of British Columbia that incorporates interdisciplinary course work with the university's School of Architecture and Museum of Anthropology.

Staniszkis's studio work evolved alongside her career as a professor. Her students’ work reflected her early interest in texture and her preference for hand spun yarns and natural dyes as well as her later experiments in form and construction methods. Durability is a concern, as works displayed in public spaces are exposed to environmental stress from excessive heat and cold, light and dust.

In addition to winning the Saydie Bronfman Award in 1981, she was awarded the 125 Canada Confederation Medal in 1993 and The Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002. She is a member of the Royal Canadian Academy for the Arts as well as the International Women's Forum.