About the Artist

Charlene Johnny is a Coast Salish artist and creative entrepreneur from the Quw’utsun Tribes of Duncan, BC, currently residing on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

Since launching her career in 2012 with support from the YVR Art Foundation, Charlene has built a multidisciplinary practice grounded in Coast Salish design and contemporary entrepreneurship. She apprenticed under established artists and completed formal training in silver and copper carving at Native Education College in 2018, becoming a full time artist in 2020.

Her murals and public artworks span communities across British Columbia, with commissions for institutions including BC Women's Hospital and the BC Centre for Disease Control. Her work brings Coast Salish visual language into spaces of care, learning, and public life through culturally informed design.

Beyond public art, Charlene’s collaborations with Fjällräven and Purdy's Chocolatier have introduced Coast Salish design to national and international audiences while raising significant funds for the Stqeeye’ Learning Society, supporting Indigenous youth and cultural education initiatives. Through her ongoing partnership with BCAA, her artwork contributes to initiatives that support communities, wildfire recovery efforts, and environmental stewardship across the province.

Community collaboration remains integral to her practice. In Cowichan, she has co-created projects with Elders and youth, centring intergenerational knowledge and shared leadership. In 2025, she deepened her cultural practice through Coast Salish weaving studies with xʷməθkʷəy̓əm weaver Aleen Sparrow and continues to expand her learning in traditional art forms.

Grounded in community and guided by cultural integrity, Charlene advances Coast Salish design across institutional and global platforms while sustaining an active and enduring presence within her home community.