Claire Wright is a multidisciplinary artist and musician working in and around Guelph, and a recent graduate from the University of Guelph’s Studio Arts program. Throughout her academic career, she was the recipient of the University of Guelph’s Entrance Scholarship (2018), the Presidents Scholarship for Academic Leadership (2018-2021), and the Michael Scotchmer Scholarship for Visual Arts (2021). She has also garnered recognition within the School of Fine Arts and Music through awards such as Second Place Overall at the Juried Art Show (2022), the Experimental Studio Award (2022), Printmaking Award (2022) and Drawing Award (2021). As a member of the work study program, she took on roles as the student run Gallery Coordinator and Printmaking Monitor, immersing herself within the diverse network of students and faculty at SOFAM. 

She has been deeply involved in the arts since her youth, beginning in music lessons and musical theater and moving on to play in bands, busk on the streets, and take gig & freelance work as an artist throughout her teen years. More recently, she has been living and working in Guelph, engaged in a vibrant music and arts community. She has led music programs for children at the Childrens Art Factory and in local public schools, taken part in music residencies such as Bumaroo’s Co-Create Program, and was a participant in the City of Guelph’s 2019 Emerging Artist Program. Her current major artistic project is her band SHEBAD where she performs under the pseudonym Claire Voy. Since joining forces in 2019, they have played across Ontario and BC, opening the stage for JUNO award winning artists Dear Rouge, Danny Michel and Snotty Nose Rez Kids. 

Post-Grad Plans

Just beginning her post-academic career, Claire is working intimately with local artists and musicians to further cultivate and support her work with SHEBAD as a promising up and coming Canadian music project. As she works on her first self produced album, she looks forward to her largest performance to date, opening the main stage at Riverfest 2023 in Elora. She is also in the process of developing her recently co-founded music education program InnerChildish Co., which is intent on bringing creative and engaging musical experiences to local schools and youth organizations. Leading two major creative undertakings, Claire hopes to be chosen alongside her creative cohorts as one of the City of Guelph’s artists in residence for their 2023 residency program. Looking towards the future of her career, she hopes to continue bringing community, arts, and music together while reaching a wider global audience. Her passion for working with children and youth, and being reciprocally inspired in creative spaces will inform her future choices in and outside of academia, along with her interests in improvisation, mental health, and community care.