Olive Grey
Make up artist
What the Nominator shared: Olive Grey is a self-taught hair and make-up artist who specializes in fashion and advertising, with experience in bridal, commercial, film, and television. Their work can be found in publications such as TIME Magazine, PhotoVogue, and more, with past clients including Holt Renfrew and Bilal Baig (Sort Of). They are an honouree of the 2023 Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards New Gen list of emerging creatives.
Olive is one of the most professional and talented make-up artists i’ve had the pleasure to work with. They’ve help me expand my own personal ethics and understandings of the evolving beauty standards beyond the make-up industry.
Through their artistry, they aim to create a space where queer and trans individuals can explore and celebrate their identities without fear or judgment. They approach the industry from an anti-oppressive viewpoint, where there is room to challenge historically oppressive beauty standards. Olive's practice is a celebration of authentic beauty, with a focus on enhancing features rather than attempting to "correct" flaws. Their artistic vision revolves around celebrating the uniqueness of each individual, emphasizing their distinct qualities and promoting a sense of empowerment.
In their own words: By challenging traditional beauty standard I aim to create a space where queer and trans inidividuals can celebrate their identites withoufear. My vision emphasizes each peron’s unique qualities, promoting empowerment.
CanAsian Dance is situated in Tkaronto, a Mohawk word meaning “the place in the water where the trees are standing.” It is the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples, and it continues to be the home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.
This land is under the Dish with One Spoon covenant, an agreement between the Anishinaabeg and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. This land is a dish to be shared and cared for and we all share one spoon; the spoon is to be used to take only what is needed and to leave enough for others, thus ensuring a viable and abundant future. We recognize the enduring resilience of Indigenous peoples and we acknowledge that we are accountable to these relationships and these agreements.
We carry these values of responsibility in sharing and caring in abundance with consideration of not only ourselves but of our communities that we share together.
