Stuart Pagaduan is a Coast Salish artist and a culture and language teacher. He feels honoured to combine art, education, and culture in his work.
Stuart credits his grandparents for teaching him the value of his language and traditions. He works to pass those teachings to the youth in his community.
Stuart thanks his mentor and uncle, the late Seletze’ (Delmar Johnnie), for guiding him in his early art training. That experience turned him into a committed advocate and lifelong student of Coast Salish art.
He works in many mediums and continues to expand modern Coast Salish design. His style reflects his choice of creatures and the ancient Cowichan stories behind them. He remains dedicated to keeping his language and culture strong and carrying forward the legacy of his elders.